Syllabus for ITS-130
DATABASE FUNDAMENTALS
Database Fundamentals examines the fundamental concepts and applications of database systems. Topics include relational database components, database queries, structured query language (SQL), the database life cycle, logical database design using normalization, physical database design, data and process modeling, online transaction processing (OLTP), online analytical processing (OLAP), and extensible markup language (XML). The course explores security concepts and controls to protect databases against cyberattacks.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
CO1 Describe the structure, purpose, and relationships of core database components.
CO2 Compare and contrast current database design models.
CO3 Use relational data modeling tools to design and develop logical database objects.
CO4 Use Structured Query Language (SQL) code to develop and implement database objects and to manipulate data.
CO5 Develop SQL code to implement database security policies.
You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. To purchase course materials, please visit the University's textbook supplier.
ISBN-13: 978-0134601533.
Database Fundamentals is a three-credit, online course consisting of six modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.
For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete written assignments, take a proctored midterm examination, take quizzes, complete Infosec labs, and complete a final project. See below for details.
Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in this document.
In addition to an ungraded Introductions Forum, you are required to participate in six graded online class discussions.
Communication with your mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online class discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a discussion question and at least two subsequent comments on classmates' responses.
All of these responses must be substantial. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate or your mentor, state and support your position.
You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation, including your use of relevant course information to support your point of view, and your awareness of and responses to the postings of your classmates. Remember, these are discussions: responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, mature, and respectful.
You are required to complete one written assignment. For specific details, consult the individual course module.
You are required to complete and submit results for three Infosec labs for this course. Each lab is either 90 minutes or 120 minutes in duration, regulated by a timer. They are designed to be completed in one sitting to simulate a real experience, so you cannot save your progress to return later. For an optimal experience, use a Chrome web browser with an Internet connection to run the labs. While completing each lab, take a screenshot of the performance report screen. Submit both the screenshot and your lab reflection to your mentor using the appropriate “Infosec Lab Results” link in Moodle. Your mentor will review your submissions and give you credit for each completed activity. Be sure to reference the Course Calendar for due dates.
Please see the Infosec Learning Labs section of the course website for further details and instructions.
You are required to complete four quizzes for this course. All quiz items are true-false and you may use course materials when taking the quizzes. There is no time limit for taking each quiz.
Most students find that quiz-taking is an excellent way to master the fundamental concepts, terms, and events related to the course content. Therefore, you will be able to take each quiz an unlimited number of times, and the gradebook will record your most recent score.
This arrangement will allow you to go back and reread portions of the text that you need to review and then take the quiz again for further practice.
For a list of key concepts that may appear on your midterm exam, refer to the exam study guide available in the Examinations section of the course website.
The midterm exam is two hours long and covers material from Modules 1, 2, and 3 in the course. It is closed-book and contains multiple-choice and essay questions.
In addition to the exam study guide, a practice midterm exam is available. The practice exam is ungraded, and you may take it as many times as you'd like for additional review. The practice exam contains questions that are similar to those on the graded exam and provides feedback, so it is an effective way of preparing for the exam. In the Examinations section of the course website, click on the Practice Midterm Exam link to begin.
For the midterm, you are required to use the University's Online Proctor Service (OPS). Please refer to the Examinations and Proctors section of the Online Student Handbook (see General Information area of the course website) for further information about scheduling and taking online exams and for all exam policies and procedures. You are strongly advised to schedule your exam within the first week of the semester.
You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:
If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.
You are required to complete a two-part final project. This project puts the theoretical knowledge gained from the coursework into practice. By applying the concepts learned to a real-life database, you will gain insight into the actual tasks performed by database designers and administrators. Additionally, the research portion of the project brings you into contact with vulnerabilities and attack vectors being used in the wild right now. Building a strong, secure database solution requires an awareness of the mindset of an attacker, and familiarity with attacks is critical to learning to think like an attacker and defending your solution accordingly.
For full details and requirements, please reference the Final Project area of the course website. Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:
A | = | 93–100 | C+ | = | 78–79 | |
A– | = | 90–92 | C | = | 73–77 | |
B+ | = | 88–89 | C– | = | 70–72 | |
B | = | 83–87 | D | = | 60–69 | |
B– | = | 80–82 | F | = | Below 60 |
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a course not in your area of study), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings).
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:
Consider the following study tips for success:
To ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University, familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies including those related to academic integrity, course late submissions, course extensions, and grading policies.
For more, see:
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