Design and Use of Relational Databases (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

Students familiarize themselves with database thinking and the principles of data management from a quality perspective. Key topics include data modeling using ER diagrams, relational schema representations and normalization technique for validating the quality of the database design. In the database use part of the course, students apply structured query language (SQL) to create a database (SQL DDL), and to manipulate and search data in the database (SQL DML). The course consists of self-study materials, exercises, midterm tests, a practical work and final exam.

Learning rounds are the following:
- Introduction
- ER model 1
- ER model 2
- Relational model
- Normalization
- SQL 1: basic queries
- SQL DDL & DML: creating database and inserting data
- SQL 2: more complex queries

The study schedule is personal. Please note, however, that the course and registration to the Ville study platform will close at a certain time.

Objective

After completing the course, the student understands the basics of database systems, and especially the operating principles of relational databases. The student learns how to design and model a database with ER technique, transform it to relational schema and further implement it as a relational database. After the course, the student knows how to use at least one well-known database management system (SQLite, MySQL or similar), can plan and create relational databases as well as apply SQL for most common query and update operations to the database.

Content

In the database design part of the course, students familiarize themselves with database thinking and the principles of data management from a quality perspective. Key topics include data modeling using ER diagrams, relational schema representations and normalization technique for validating the quality of the design. In the database use part of the course, students apply structured query language (SQL) to create a database (SQL DDL), and to manipulate and search data in the database (SQL DML). The course consists of self-study materials and practical exercises with a final test.

Materials

Published in Ville-system

Teaching methods

Remote self-study.
Lecture videos & slides; Exercises, text material and tests in Ville online system

Exam schedules

Final exam will be available in Ville system.

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

Students collect points from exercises and tests in Ville.

Completion alternatives

No

Student workload

Estimated working hours usage:
20 h Reading materials
40 h Exercises
30 h Practical work
30 h Tests and exams

Evaluation methods and criteria

The course is graded on scale 0-5.
Grading is based on total points collected in Ville system. Tests, practical work and the final exam are compulsory. Minimum points to pass the exam is 15 points out of 60 points.
Minimum points to pass the practical work is 80 points out of 200 points.

The division of points is the following:
Tutorials/Exercises: 550 points
Tests: 140 points
Practical work: 200 points
Final exam: 120 points
Total points: 1010 points

Less than 660 points = not graded
660-729 points = grade 1
730-799 points = 2
800-869 points = 3
870-939 points = 4
940-1010 points = 5

Failed (0)

Less than minimum points in the exam (15+15) or practical work (80) or in total (660).

Qualifications

The course is suitable for beginners and no previous studies are necessary.

Further information

Ville-system