IST 210: Organization of Data (4 credits)

   		      Fall 2008

		       Syllabus
____________________________________________________________

Time        : TR 09:45A - 11:00A
Location    : 113 IST


Overview
--------

This is an introductory course to teach the fundamentals and
basic principles of databases and their related
technologies. Throughout this course, students will explore those
areas, which are fundamental to the design, development, and
implementation of enterprise wide information systems. In this
course, we will cover the following major topics:

- Introduction to Databases and Database Technologies
- Conceptualization of Database Designs
- Database Design Refinement
- Database Design Implementation
- Database Management and Administration
- The Future of Databases

Textbook 
--------

Fundamentals of Database Management Systems by Mark L. Gillenson
(ISBN:0471262978) is the required textbook. PSU Bookstore should
have new copies ready, but "feel free to buy used books for
bargain."

DBMS 
----

We use the Microsoft SQL Server in IST's VLabs environment. 
If you are within PSU IP domain, you can read related books from 
O'Reilly's Safari for free. Our choice of the DBMS has nothing to do
with the superiority of the product. Therefore, by all means, if
you are already familiar with other one, you are free to use
other DBMS for your projects (i.e., MySQL, PostgreSQL, mSQL, DB2,
Oracle, etc).

Staff
-----

Professor: Dongwon Lee, Email:  dongwon -at- psu.edu
TA: Su Yan, Email: syan -at- ist.psu.edu
Helpdesk: IST 201, x38803, 777-0035 (ITS)

Office Hour
-----------

Professor: W 10:00A - 12:00P (313A IST)
TA: TR 01:00P - 02:30P (313D IST)

Grading
-------

Grading is based on the CURVED policy (detailed ranges are
subject to change)

- Top   7% : A
- Next  8% : A-
- Next  10%: B+
- Next  10%: B
- Next  10%: B-
- Next  20%: C+
- Next  20%: C
- Next  10%: D
- Bottom 5%: F

Grading Proportion (Subject to change)
--------------------------------------

- 5 Un-announced Quizzes: 5%
- 4 Homework: 15%
- 3 Projects: 25% (5:10:10)
- 2 Closed Book Midterms: 25%
- 1 Closed Book Final: 25%
- Miscellaneous (e.g., attendance, class participation, PBL): 5%
- Penalty points (e.g., cell phone, gaming, or surfing in class): -10%

ID/PWD
------

Web page password: to be announced in the first class