Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Database Systems

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Xiuzhen Jenny Zhang

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2774

Course Coordinator Email: xiuzhen.zhang@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 14.09.05

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment.


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-requisites
Successful completion of the following course/s:

  • ISYS1055 Database Concepts (Course ID: 004083) and
  • COSC3119 Algorithms and Analysis (Course ID: 056579) or
  • COSC1285/2203 Algorithms and Analysis (Course ID: 004302).

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.

If you have completed prior studies at RMIT or another institution that developed the skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible to apply for credit transfer. Alternatively, if you have prior relevant work experience that developed the skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.

Please follow the link for further information on how to apply for credit for prior study or experience.

 


Course Description

The course aims to deepen your knowledge of database systems. You will cover the design and implementation of file structures, indexing and analytical details that will enable you to understand efficiency in query evaluation. The concept of the transaction is introduced along with the necessity of concurrency control and serialisability. Issues of backup and recovery for databases are also introduced.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.

 


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

  1. Explain and critique data structures and algorithms used to efficiently store and retrieve information in database systems;
  2. Evaluate, critically analyse and compare alternative designs for implementation of database systems, including data models, file structures, index schemes, and query evaluation;
  3. Analyse techniques for transaction processing, concurrency control, backup and recovery that maintain data integrity in database systems;
  4. Design, implement and report on significant software components of a database system (such as file structures and index schemes) according to analysis of requirements and specified constraints.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. Lectorials will cover the various concepts, techniques and algorithms used in database systems. Your understanding of the lectorial material is complemented by online assessment tests and deepened through problem solving and critical analysis exercises during tutorial classes and the assignments. The laboratory classes will develop programming skills that you can apply when implementing components of a database system in the assignments.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.

 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. You will make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the School. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises formative weekly online exercises, assignments, and a take-home 24 hour exercise.
Assessments for postgraduates will require demonstrating deeper mastery of more complex concepts to solve more complex problems.

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment tasks
Assessment Task 1: Formative weekly online quizzes
Weighting: 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs: 1, 2 & 3.

Assessment Task 2: Assignment 1
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs: 1, 2 & 4.

Assessment Task 3: Assignment 2
Weighting: 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs: 1, 2 & 4.

Assessment 4: Assignment 3 (take-home 24 hour exercise)
Weighting: 20% 
This assessment supports CLOs: 1, 2 & 3.

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.