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Course Summary (updated)
The objective of this course is to study both the theoretical and practical
aspects of database systems. We will also study the application of database
concepts to web and information retrieval activities. Some of the topics covered
are: levels of abstraction of data; relational databases, relational algebra
and calculus; examples of query languages; storage and indexing structures;
query processing; transaction management.
Prerequisites
COS 217 and 226.
Administrative Information
Meeting time: Tues, Thurs 11:00--12:20 AM
Meeting place: Room 401 CS building
Extra meetings: We may need to make up a class or two that we
miss due to my schedule. Any make-up class will be scheduled during reading
period and/or in the evening during the semester. Class participants
will be consulted before any make-up class time is chosen.
Professor: Andrea
LaPaugh, 304 CS Building, 258-4568,
aslp@cs.princeton.edu,
or Forbes College Office*, 258-5232
Office hours Wednesday 3pm - 4pm in my CS Building Office or by
appointment. Please send email to make an appointment.
* in my "other life" I am Master of Forbes College; you are welcome
to call me at either office.
Course secretary: Mitra Kelly, 323 CS building, 258-4562,
mkelly@cs.princeton.edu
Reading
Required text: Raghu Ramakrishnan and Johannes Gehrke,
Databse
Management Systems, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Supplemental reading on reserve at Engineering Library
-
Abrahamn Silberschatz, Henry Korth, and S. Sudarshan,
Database System
Concepts, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2001.
Communication
This course will be essentially ``paperless''. All assignments will be
posted only on the course Web site. ``Handouts'' and copies of any
transparencies
used in class will be posted on the course Web site as well. Important
announcements on all aspects of the course will be made on the ``What's
new'' page.
Students are responsible for monitoring the postings
under ``What's new''. Schedule changes will be made on the on-line
schedule
page. and announced under ``What's new''. The only paper we will exchange
is your solutions to the problem sets, which will be graded and handed back,
the exam questions and your responses, and your project reports.
You are encouraged to use electronic mail to set up appointments, leave
messages, and ask quick questions (like ``What was that reference you gave
today in class?'' or ``I've been at McCosh Infirmary all week; can I have
an extension on my assignment?'') However, an old fashioned face-to-face
meeting is still best for clarifying confusions and other technical discussions.
Work of the Course
The course will have the following components weighted as indicated:
-
Problem sets 20%
-
Midterm Exam 20%
-
Second Exam 20%
-
Design Project 30%
-
Class Participation 10%
Problem sets
There will be 7 problem sets distributed throughout the semester. Most
will be written work, although you may be asked to write a few very short
programs.
Exams
There will be two take-home exams, each of equal weight.
Each exam will be handed out and due within
a single week. The first exam will be during week 7 of the
semester (right after spring break) and the second during the last
week of the semester.
There is no exam during final exam period.
Project
You will do a final project of your own design that address issues of
database design or use.
This project may be done in pairs.
A.S. LaPaugh
Mon Feb 3 11:59:11 EST 2003
