Instructor Information

NOTE: Office hours and office location are valid for weeks the instructor is on campus and the course has a face-to-face format. For the other weeks office hours will be held online by appointment.

Summary

Course Objectives

• create, maintain, and query databases using at least two DBMS's
• understand and apply the normalization process to the design of a database
• represent a database design in accordance with the ER Modeling scheme and UML notation
• create, maintain, and query relational databases using SQL
• manipulate a database from control of a program
• design, create, and query a non-relational DBMS
• articulate understanding of related issues such as database administration, transactions, query processing/optimization, etc.

Grading

homework		25%
online checkins		9%
exam #1		22%
exam #2		22%
final exam		22%

A		90	–	100
B		80	–	89
C		70	–	79
D		60	–	69
F		0	–	59

Overall Course Structure

Online Checkins

• Connect to the DB Teams Meeting Room (https://josephus.sergeantservices.com/meeting_room/db) before the start of the session (1:00pm).
• Participate appropriately in the session with your camera on and remaining engaged until the session is dismissed by the instructor. NOTE: You will lose a point for each minute you are not present (not to exceed 10 deductions in a checkin session).
• You must be in a distraction-free environment, ready to take notes and to work on your computer throughout the sesssion. During the session it is not appropriate to be eating, driving, turning your camera on and off, interacting with people who are not part of the session. If your living space does not offer such an environment then you should be in the classroom for the checkin session.
• If you are unsure of whether something will be appropriate or not, use this as your standard: If you were interviewing for your dream job, would you do the thing you are considering?

Homework Assignments

Due dates and times for homework assignments are provided in Canvas. Late homework assignments will receive a 20% point penalty and must be completed within a week or the original due date. Assignments that miss the one week deadline will receive a grade of 0 (unless there are extenuating circumstances).

In order to do well on the exams it will be necessary for each student to work homework assignments independently. Each assignment will give specific, detailed instructions regarding allowed and disallowed resources.

All assignments will be submitted in Canvas according to the instructions for that assignment.

Exams

AI and Learning

Here is the pattern you need to follow with regard to homework assignments:

1. When you hear a lecture or watch a lecture video you should plan to take notes on paper. Why take notes? It enhances learning. Why paper? Multiple studies have shown that physically writing something produces different activities in the brain than typing the same thing ... and you remember better when you write.
2. When taking notes you should especially dot down notation and concepts that are being introduced. The total knowledge that exists about databases could fill many college courses. What is presented in this course is the curated gold. If you master the concepts presented in this course you have a solid foundation for acquiring additional knowledge and can become truly productive.
3. When you are faced with a homework assignment you MUST only use those resources that have been expressly allowed for that assignment. Imagine if this course had the goal of getting you ready to run a marathon. A homework assignment asking you to run a 5-mile route could be finished much more quickly and easily if you hop on a motorcycle and drive the route! The problem, of course, is that you did not accomplish the purpose of the assignment. The purpose was not to traverse the route, but rather was to produce in your endurance, muscular development, bone density, cardiovascular growth, etc. None of those benefits come by riding the motorcycle.
4. If you find yourself struggling with a homework assignment that is a good thing. It is in the struggle that you actually learn. Getting help should be your last resort. And when you get help, it MUST be ONLY using the resources that are allowed for that assignment.
5. If there are 5 days between when an assignment is given and when it is due you need to think of it as needing 5 days of your attention. So, you need to start it on the day it is assigned. When you first read an assignment you should write down the major steps that you'll need to take and then start assembling the parts you need. If you don't know how to start then you should review notes and lectures. If that doesn't help then ask your instructor for guidance. If you want until the due date to start an assignment there is not time for you to do the needed steps to complete it.

Students with Disabilities

Student Support

In addition, all full or part-time students are eligible to receive free, confidential, and voluntary counseling services at HSU. Services include consultation, evaluation, counseling, and crisis support services for students facing issues impacting their overall well-being. To obtain any of these services, students may call The Office of Counseling Services at (325) 671-2272, email counseling@hsutx.edu, or begin the intake process by completing our online forms at:https://www.hsutx.edu/intake.

Computer Account Use

Attendance

Accordingly, absence from more than 25 percent of class meetings and/or laboratory sessions scheduled for a course (including absences because of athletic participation) is regarded as excessive, and a grade of F may be assigned as deemed appropriate by the professor.

Exam Dates