CS4420: Introduction to Database Systems

Spring 2017
02:00 PM – 03:15 PM
MSCX 230

Class information
Instructor: Dr. Alberto Arteta
Class Days and Time: Tuesday, Thursdays 2:00PM – 03:15PM
Term of Course: Spring 2017, 01/11/2017 - 05/02/2017 -Lecture
Class Location: MSCX 112
Instructor Office Location and Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 3:30PM- 5:30PM
Or Friday by appointment
Instructor Contact: ph: 334-670-3409, e-mail: aarteta@troy.edu

Course Information
Credit Hours: 3
Course Description and Objectives:
The fundamental concepts and structures necessary for the design and implementation of
a database management system. Students design, load, and query a database using tools
such as E-R diagrams and SQL. Also includes data normalization and file and index
organization.
Textbook: Database Systems. Introduction to database and Datawarehouse. Jukic,
Vebsky. Publisher: Pearson.
Fundamentals of Database Systems, Elmasri and Navathe, 6th Edition, Addison Wesley,
2010.
Prerequisite: CS 3323 or 3330.

Grading Methods
Weighing Policy: Exam I 20%
Exam II 20%
Final Exam 30%
Quizzes 10%
Assignments and Projects 20%
Final Grades: The final letter grade will be determined based on the following criteria:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0-59
Attendance Policy Any student missing a lesson is
responsible for any material assigned or covered in class during his or her
absence. If students miss more than 10% classes without excuse final grades
might be affected.
Missed Exam Policy: Exams are taken at the scheduled class time or at the scheduled
 final period. In the rare case when this is not possible, a make-up exam may be
possible. However, this has to be approved by the instructor before the scheduled
exam time. Make-up exams are not guaranteed to be the same as the exam given
in class. If arrangements have not been made in advance, a missed exam will be
recorded as a zero. Family deaths and extreme medical emergencies are handled
specially (official proof is required). This policy is also used by quizzes.
Late Exam Policy
Dates and times for exams must be strictly respected. The student should be in
the classroom when the exam starts. If the student is late and has not a proper
written excuse
(doctor letter, police report…) might not be granted to take the test and might be
asked to leave.

Deadlines Quiz and projects:

Deadlines must be respected. There are No exceptions. For quizzes a proper
written excuse can grant an extension. When a quiz is missed and there is no
proper written excuse, the missed quiz will be graded with 0 points.
Once the quiz due date is past, the quiz will no longer be available on blackboard
and those students without proper excuse will not be able to take the missed quiz.
As per the final project, there will be about one month to complete the project.
The students can submit the project any time either before or in the due date.
Unless there is a proper reason with excuse like long sickness (more than 3
weeks), submission extensions will not be granted. The student should be
responsible enough to complete and submit the project on time.
Academic Policies
Academic honesty policies: All work submitted for grading must be the student's own
work. Plagiarism will result in a score of zero on the test or assignment. Also, the
Dean of Students office will be informed.
ADA Policy: Troy University supports Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which insure that postsecondary
students with disabilities have equal access to all academic programs, physical
access to all buildings, facilities and events, and are not discriminated against on
the basis of disability. Eligible students, with appropriate documentation, will be
provided equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills and potential
through the provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations.
Further information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at
the link for Troy University’s Office of Human Resources at
http://intranet.troy.edu/humanresources/documents/ADAPolicy2003.htm
Use of Cell Phone and Other electronic Devices Policy: Use of any electronic devise
by students in the instructional environment is prohibited unless explicitly
approved on a case-by-case basis by the instructor of record or by the Office of
Disability Services in collaboration with the instructor. Cellular phones, pagers,
and other communication devices may be used for emergencies, however, but
sending or receiving non-emergency messages is forbidden by the University.
Particularly, use of a communication device to violate the Troy University
“Standards of Conduct” will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
NOTE This syllabus represents a general plan for the course and deviations from
this plan may be necessary during the duration of the course.