Syllabus

Prerequisites
The prerequisite for this course is MIS 325 (Introduction to Databases) and a desire to learn. Some programming background is desirable or find someone in class with programming experience who can partner with you.

Text and Reading Material
The area of database systems has grown tremendously in the last few years. I am not aware of any database book that covers all the topics of interest to us (i.e., database concepts, Web-database connectivity, data warehouse and Oracle). The only way I can cover such diverse and difficult subject is by selecting many books. However, I have chosen one book that covers the database basics very well.

Required Text
Thomas Connolly, Carolyn Begg and Anne Strachan. Database Systems - A practical approach to Design, Implementation, and Management, Addison Wesley, Second Edition.

I will make available my own notes on SQL, PL/SQL and web-database connectivity (hopefully, these material will be part of my future book on databases). Oracle documentation will also be made available to you as when required.

Grading
Your course grade will be based on a curve. Not more than 30% of the class will receive an "A." At least 10% of the class may receive a grade of "D" or lower. The rest 60% of the class will receive either a B or a C. Cut-off for the various grades will depend on the grade distribution. Please note that the percentages stated here may be changed at the discretion of the professor depending on the class performance. For instance, if the entire class performs well then no one will receive a grade "D" or lower. Likewise, if too many students do well then the percentages of A's and B's will increase. A grade of X (incomplete) is very uncommon and will be given only for very unusual circumstances as determined by me (medical emergencies to you or your immediate family members that occur after the official drop date). You need to provide sufficient evidence of the problem and notify me as soon as it occurs. Since the grade is based on a curve, sharing your work with your friends will hurt your grade in some way.

The course grade will be decided based on the following:

Note: This course cannot be taken for pass/fail since there is a significant project component. If you plan to take this course, you must take this for credit. Also, a student receiving an incomplete grade in the course is required to complete such work by the end of the next academic session. If you disagree with the points tally on any assignments/exam you need to submit a short memo addressed to me within 5 (working) days of the time they are received. This memo must state why the assigned points tally is incorrect. If the error is a calculation error you can contact me immediately after the class. If you disagree with the final course grade please contact me ASAP.

Class Participation
Every student is encouraged to participate in this class via the message board and e-mail. Please share your experiences related to databases or systems development. If you have an interesting article or news about databases (e.g., article on systems-related problems of e-brokerages reported in the Wall Street Journal), please discuss this on the class message board or inform class students by e-mail. If any student is interested in presenting an important topic to the class please let me know. I will also provide a set of topics that you can research on and discuss online (e.g., comparative study of various commercial database systems, issues in e-brokerage design, benefits of object-relational systems, Universal severs). Students will be suitably rewarded for the efforts by way of extra-credit. Also, students can volunteer to share some of the useful features of Oracle with other students through self-made handouts.

Scholastic Dishonesty
Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Please refer to the Student Judicial Services Website at http://www.utexas.edu/depts/dos/ or the General Information Catalog to access the official University policies and procedures on scholastic dishonesty. In this class, unless otherwise specified, all the assignments must be done individually. You are free to seek help from the professor or TA or any tutors. No one should share his/her code or program logic with friends. However, you are free to seek help if you are confused about the syntax or syntax errors. If you seek any help from your friends, you must record their name and the type of help received from them. This information must be provided along with the assignment submission.