Key facts

UNE unit code: COSC210

*You are viewing the 2024 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 1 - On Campus
  • Trimester 1 - Online
Campus
  • Armidale Campus
  • UNE Sydney Campus
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • No
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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The widespread application of digital information systems in society today produces vast amounts of data. Appropriate management of this data is essential for it to be an effective tool for decision making and value adding.

Introducing you to the concepts of database design, this unit takes you from the conceptual level through to the physical level of database management systems, developing your understanding of the techniques underpinning these systems.

You will study relational databases and learn how to model, create and efficiently query them using Structured Query Language (SQL), using relational algebra to provide more generalised data and query definitions within relational database systems.

Design strategies to avoid redundancy, concepts of functional dependency, normalisation and relational decomposition are examined.

Exploring approaches for connecting external applications to databases, you will also gain an awareness of security issues involved with data access.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 1On Campus, Armidale Campus
Trimester 1On Campus, UNE Sydney Campus
Trimester 1Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
COMP131 or COMP131A or COSC110 or SCI210 or candidature in a postgraduate award
Restrictions
COMP382 or COMP382A or COMP389 or COMP389A or COMP502 or COMP589

Notes

COSC210 requires a knowledge of, and programming experience with, a high level programming language.AMTH140 is a recommended unit.Experience with the use of the Linux/UNIX operating system is highly recommended.

Study at the UNE Sydney Campus is only available to international students admitted as an on-campus Sydney student.

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of Edmund Sadgrove
Edmund SadgroveLecturer in Computer Science - School of Science and Technology

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. describe the essential components of database management systems (DBMS) and apply data modelling approaches to design databases for real-world scenarios;
  2. explain the principles of the relational model, implement databases using a relational DBMS and understand the architectures that allow application software to use data stored within a database schema;
  3. work with data stored in a relational DBMS by applying SQL to create database tables, extract, present and modify data, and implement integrity that reflect business logic;
  4. understand and apply the principles of normalisation and functional dependencies to assess and optimise a relational schema;
  5. explain the concepts of transaction management, query processing, physical storage and database indexing; and
  6. explain the societal issues around information privacy, as they relate to the storage and dissemination of data, and apply views and permissions to implement security constraints.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Assessment 1Yes20%All offerings

Theory assignment. All assessment tasks must be attempted. An overall mark of 50% across all assessment tasks is required to pass the unit.

No. Words: approx 1000

Assessment 2Yes10%All offerings

Practical assignment 1. All assessment tasks must be attempted. An overall mark of 50% across all assessment tasks is required to pass the unit.

Assessment 3Yes10%All offerings

Practical assignment 2. All assessment tasks must be attempted. An overall mark of 50% across all assessment tasks is required to pass the unit.

Online QuizzesYes10%All offerings

10 online quizzes worth 1% each. An overall mark of 50% across all assessment tasks is required to pass the unit.

Final ExaminationYes50%All offerings

It is mandatory to pass this component in order to pass the unit.

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Fundamentals of Database Systems

ISBN: 9781292097619

Elmasri, R. and Navathe, S.B., Addison-Wesley 7th ed. 2016

Text refers to: All offerings

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