CS 235: Introduction to Databases

Fall 2003

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 - 2:50 pm, Ryerson 251

This document will be updated throughout the quarter. Please, check out the latest version at http://www.classes.cs.uchicago.edu/classes/archive/2003/fall/23500-1/index.html
Announcements | Course Description | Personnel | Prerequisites | Textbooks | Oracle Info | Office Hours | Grading Policy | Lateness Policy | Collaboration Policy | Syllabus | Exams | Resources

Announcements

  • Starting October 29, Xuehai's office hours will be held in Ryerson 257.
  • The midterm (open book/notes) will be held in class on Thursday, October 30.
  • Subscribe to the mailing list!

    Course Description

    This course is an introduction to database design and programming. You will learn how to design effectively database applications and the fundamental principles behind good design. You will also learn how to program your databases applications using a commercial database system.

    Personnel

    Name Role Office Office hours Phone Email
    Svetlozar Nestorov Instructor Ryerson 257C Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-4 pm (773) 702-3497 evtimov at cs.uchicago.edu
    Xuehai Zhang TA Ry 257 Mondays and Wednesdays, 5-6pm (773) 834-4416 hai at cs.uchicago.edu

    Prerequisites

    CS 117 or equivalent.

    Textbooks

    The textbook for the course is A First Course in Database Systems by Jeff Ullman and Jennifer Widom. However, if you plan to study databases beyond this introductory course, you may consider buying Database Systems: The Complete Book by Hector Garcia-Molina, Jeff Ullman and Jennifer Widom. This book contains our textbook as its first ten chapters.

    You may also find it useful to have a reference book on SQL such as "A Guide to the SQL Standard" by C. J. Date and H. Darwen, Addison-Wesley, 1999.

    Oracle Info

    Office Hours

    The office hours will be announced during the first week of class.

    Grading Policy

    The grades for the class will be based on your results on the weekly written homework, multipart project, midterm, and final. The approximate weights are:

    Lateness policy

    You have two 48-hour extensions. Using an extension allows you to turn in your work on Thursday instead of Tuesday. You can use at most one extension before the midterm, and at most one extension after the midterm.

    Collaboration policy

    We encourage you to discuss the course material with you fellow students. However, submitted assignments should be your own work. If you discuss in details specific problems or assignments with other people, please, acknowledge them on the front of the work that you turn in. You should also read and understand the official University policy on Academic Honesty. If you have any questions, please, talk to the instructor.

    Syllabus

    This schedule of the lectures, readings, and assignments is tentative and may change as the class progresses.

    Exams

    Resources

    The textbook homepage has a comprehensive list of relevant resources.
    Last modified: Wed Oct 29 16:56:32 CST 2003