Basic Information

This course serves as an introduction to databases. Through both hands-on assignments and conceptual learning, students will become comfortable designing, manipulating, implementing, and coding for relational databases.

This website is subject to change as more content is added. Check it often!

zyBooks Activities - zyBooks "participation" activities and readings are should be read before the class they are assigned.  Each section usually takes on average 10 minutes complete (although some might take a little more time and some might take a little less time).  "Challenge" activities are more like regular homework and should be tried as you read the material so that you have time to ask questions about them in class. Both zyBooks participation and challenge activities for the week are due each Friday at midnight (11:59:59pm).

Lab Work - At different points in the class, we will pause from regular lectures to implement a learned concept during a lab (in-class or on your own). These labs are meant to give you experience outside of your textbook chapter with a real database. In-class labs are typically meant to be finished within the regular class period, but if they are not completed in class, they must be completed by the due date.


Date Activities Topics/Notes Due Dates
(all due by 11:59pm unless otherwise stated)
Week #1
8/21		 Get the online textbook:
Instructions here 		Class Notes - Course Introductions
8/23 zyBooks 1.1 - 1.3 Introduction to Databases
8/25 zybBooks 1.4 - 1.5
Lab 1.6 - start		 Introduction to Databases
Demonstration of Lab 1.6		 zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #1  
Week #2
8/28		 zyBooks 2.1
Lab 1.6 - finish		 Relational Database and Basic SQL
Lab 1.6 - Finish		 Lab 1.6 due 
8/30 zyBooks 2.2- 2.3 Relational Database and Basic SQL
9/1 zyBooks 2.4-2.5
Labs 2.6-2.7		 Relational Database and Basic SQL
(Note: 2.5 activities due the following week.)		 zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #2 
Week #3
9/4		 Holiday, no class
9/6 zyBooks 2.8
Lab 2.9		 Relational Database and Basic SQL Lab 2.6-2.7 due
9/8 zyBooks 2.10 Relational Database and Basic SQL
Class Notes - NULL Logic		 zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #3
Lab 2.9 due
Week #4
9/11		 zyBooks 2.11
labs 2.12-2.14		 Relational Database and Basic SQL
test database script - Do not double-click the file. First open workbench, connect to your database, then open this file by selecting File -> Open SQL Script
9/13 Review Exam 1 Study Guide
Walkthrough for Labs 2.6, 2.7, 2.9
Walkthrough for labs 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 		labs 2.12-2.14 due
9/15 Exam 1
Room Sabin 102		 45 minute eLearning test, 4x6 notecard allowed zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #4
Week #5
9/18		 zyBooks 2.15 - 2.16 Relational Database and Basic SQL
9/20 zyBooks 2.17 - 2.18
Labs 2.19-2.21		 Relational Database and Basic SQL
9/22 zyBooks 2.22 Normal Forms
Practice Exercise - Normal Forms (Part 1)
Class Notes - Normal Forms (Part 1)		 zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #5
Labs 2.19-2.21 due
Week #6
9/25		 zyBooks 2.23
 Normal Forms
Class Notes - Normal Forms (Part 2)
9/27 No class
zyBooks 3.1		 Advanced SQL
Watch Video
Workbench script - Practice along with the lecture
9/29 No class
zyBooks 3.2		 Advanced SQL
Class Notes - Local Variables
Watch video
Workbench script - Practice along with the lecture		 zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #6
Week #7
10/2		 zyBooks 3.3
Lab 3.4		 Advanced SQL
Workbench script - Practice along with the lecture
10/4 zyBooks 3.5 Advanced SQL
Practice Exercise - JOIN Practice
Workbench script - Practice along with the lecture		 Lab 3.4 due
10/6 No class
zyBooks 3.6
Labs 3.7-3.9		 Advanced SQL
Watch video over alternative JOINS here		 zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #7
Week #8
10/9		 zyBooks 3.10 Advanced SQL
Workbench script - Practice along with the lecture		 Labs 3.7-3.9
10/11 zyBooks 3.10
Labs 3.11-3.12		 Continue previous lecture
Workbench script - Practice along with the lecture
10/13 zyBooks 3.13 Advanced SQL zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #8
Week #9
10/16		 Review Exam 2 Study Guide

The following links can give you additional practice. Be sure to glance at the solution before solving each problem to make sure the solution doesn't contain elements no discussed in class, then try to solve the problem yourself.

Subquery Practice
JOIN Practice
Aggregate Function Practice
Wildcards, Order By, Group By Practice
labs 3.11-3.12 due
10/18 Exam 2
Room Sabin 102		 Exam 2 eLearning exam takes place in SABIN 102
10/20 zyBooks 4.1-4.2
(graded next week)		 Database Design (No zyBooks readings due this week)
Week #10
10/23		 zyBooks 4.3 Database Design
EER diagram developed in class
10/25 In-class lab work day
Lab 4.4		 Lab 4.4 - Create a basic EER Diagram Database Design
10/27 zyBooks 4.5 Database Design
Section 4.5 EER diagram developed in class		 Lab 4.4 due
zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #10 (includes 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6)
Week #11
10/30		 zyBooks 4.6 Database Design
Section 4.6 EER diagram developed in class
11/1 zyBooks 4.7 - 4.9
No Class		 zyBooks Section 4.7 Video
zyBooks Sections 4.8-4.9 Video
Final EER diagram developed in class
11/3 No Class No Class, get caught up zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #11
Week #12
11/6		 zyBook 4.10 Database Design
11/8 zyBooks 5.1 Database Programming
Python code
11/10 In-class Lab 5.2 Bring your laptop! zyBooks participation and challenges due for week #12
Week #13
11/13		 Review Review for Exam #3 Lab 5.2 due
11/15 Exam in SABIN 102 Exam #3
11/17 No class Introduction to Hands-On Project Video
Note: Dates in the video will differ slightly. Final project is due 12/7.		 Final Project Specification - due 12/7 at 11:59pm
Week #14
11/27		 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Creating a discovery statement for your new database
(2) Thinking about data importing 		 
11/29 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Defining keys, relationships, and attributes 		 
12/1 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Creating sql file for your queries with comments (phase 2)
Week #15
12/4		 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Python Questions (phase 3)
12/6 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Turning everything in		 Final Project Due 12/7 at 11:59pm
12/8 Optional Final Review Optional Final Review Study Guide  
12/12 (Tues) Sabin 102 Optional Final from 1:00pm-2:50pm