This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Postgraduate Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)
Module COMP50215: DATABASES AND APPLICATIONS
Department: Computer Science
COMP50215: DATABASES AND APPLICATIONS
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 4 | 15 | Not available in 2015/2016 | Durham |
Pre-requisites
- None.
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- Many web and internet-based applications use databases; many technologies and architectures are available to support the use of modern OO-based database server-side systems. The module addresses databases from the web perspective, covering both principles of design and practical applications using modern technologies.
Content
- Introduction
- E-R management, relational model and algebra, SQL, and database design, more PHP
- Data storage, B+ Tree indexing and query evaluation
- Database security and access control
- Advanced transaction operations and management
- Distributed and parallel databases
- Internet databases, XML and information integration
- Decision support and data warehousing
- Object-oriented databases and object-relational databses
- Database design case study - the internet flight booking system
- Requirements analysis
- Conceptual and logical design
- Schema refinement
- Physical database design
- Information integration from multiple bac-end data sources
- Security
- Application Layers
- System Testing and Evaluation
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- Specialist knowledge: advanced knowledge of the theory, principles and practice of web database management systems
- Practical design skills: data storage, database security, internet databases and XML; the module project
- Management: the module project and lab assignment
- Design integration: integration of various techniques including data storage, transactions, security and concurrency control techniques; the module project
- the engineering of software systems: engineering of distributed DBs, internet DBs, OODBs and ORDBs; the module project
- Professional skills: module assignments, the project for database design case study
Subject-specific Skills
Key Skills
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- The module comprises 1 week's intensive directed reading and laboratory exercises; 5 days of lectures, tutorial, and reading and two weeks undertaking a major assignment. The overall workload conforms to the standard SLAT requirement of 150 hours equivalent to 15 credits.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | 2 per day in week 2 | 1 hour | 10 | Yes |
| Tutorials | 4 | weekly | 1 hour | 4 | Yes |
| Practical | 5 | daily in week 1 | 6 hours | 30 | Yes |
| Laboratory | 10 | daily in weeks 3,4 | 6 hours | 60 | Yes |
| Preparation and Reading | 46 | ||||
| Total | 150 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory report | 100% | Laboratory report | 100% |
Formative Assessment
Staged written feedback of laboratory and practical work by staff/demonstrators. Level of success in practical programming exercises, using written feedback from demonstrators.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.