What this course is. This is a course in the design, analysis, and use of relational database systems, both from the viewpoint of theory and practice. Students will learn the theoretical models underlying relational database system design. Then they will learn the SQL database query and definition language, and use this language to define, populate, and query real MySQL databases and Microsoft Access databases.
What this course is not. This is NOT a course in how to use Microsoft Access, nor is it a course in the development of Microsoft Access applications. Students who want to learn these things should read the excellent book by Roger Jennings, Using Access 97, Que Corporation, 1997 (or the Access 2000 edition).
Syllabus in PDF format, (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, you probably have it, but if not it is free from http://www.adobe.com.)
Projects
Quick Microsoft Access Tutorials. These tutorials are intended for computer science students who need a quick introduction to Microsoft Access, but they will be useful to anyone needing such an introduction. They come before the material on MySQL because Microsoft Access comes before MySQL in alphabetical order.
MySQL Database Resources. The tutorial which comes with the MySQL database management system, and which is available over the Web, is one of the best sources available for mastering the SQL database query and definition language. Also, we will be using the MySQL database management system, so here is a list of MySQL Database Resources. (The SQL language was invented by IBM, not the estimable folks at MySQL.)
Java JDBC Resourses. We will NOT be writing Java programs in this course, but for those who want to know how to communicate with databases using Java, here is a list of Java JDBC Demos. (JDBC stands for "Java Database Connectivity".)
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