CIS 303 - Introduction to Database

1. Compare traditional file systems to databases
   1. Discuss the historical roots of databases
   2. Explain the purpose of databases
   3. Differentiate between data independence and structural independence
   4. Discuss the benefit of reducing data redundancy
   5. List advantages and disadvantages of using databases for data storage
2. Provide an overview of DBMS technology
   1. Describe key concepts of database processing
   2. Define common database terminology
   3. Describe data organization, storage, and access in a database
   4. Describe the differences between 3 database models; hierarchical, network, relational
3. Understand relational technology
   1. Describe the structure of a relational database
   2. List common database objects (tables, attributes, relationships).
   3. Distinguish between primary and foreign keys
   4. Discuss the importance of integrity constraints
   5. Identify common characteristics of data dictionaries
   6. Describe the purpose of query optimizers
   7. Lit some common front end tools for easy user access
4. Categorize Information architecture
   1. Utilize external schema - the user’s view of data
   2. Create conceptual schema - logical data model
   3. Explain internal schema - physical data structures
5. Design relational databases
   1. Develop a logical data model
   2. Develop a conceptual schema
   3. Define the data dictionary
   4. Model and Entity-Relationship Diagram
   5. Discuss normalization techniques
   6. Determine the difference in logical and physical database design
6. Create a relational database using a popular PC RDBMS
   1. Open the database software
   2. Create a new, empty database
   3. Create a table
   4. Change the design of a table
   5. Enter and edit data in a table
   6. Describe relationships between tables in the database
   7. Enforce relationships between tables in the database
7. Access a relational database
   1. Identify SQL as a non-procedural query language
   2. Discuss the evolution of ANSI versus proprietary vendor extensions of SQL.
   3. Differentiate between data definition, data manipulation, and data control
   4. Explain the purpose of views, indexes aliases, synonyms, and sequences
   5. Discover issues related to the use of embedded SQL
   6. Retrieve data stored in a relational database
8. Understand advanced design and implementation issues
   1. Describe the concept of changing data into information
   2. Discuss the use of information systems in business and industry
   3. Understand the purpose of a systems development life cycle
   4. Explain the database life cycle
9. Identify database directions and trends
   1. Examine different models of database development (i.e. Client/server architecture, 2 tiered and 3 tiered).
   2. Discuss the trend of data warehousing
   3. Identify unique properties of object-oriented databases
   4. List CASE tools used in database development
   5. Discuss considerations for publishing data on the Web
10. Discuss important responsibilities of database administration
    1. Explain the evolution of the database administration function
    2. Differentiate between a DBA?s managerial role and technical role
    3. List some common database administration tools
    4. Compare multiple data administration strategies
    5. Discuss database security concerns and use of firewalls