IST 210: Organization of Data (4 credits)

  		     Spring 2009

		       Syllabus
____________________________________________________________

Time        : T R 01:00P - 02:15P
Location    : 110 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, in particular, 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.

From the textbook, we will mainly focus on chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
9, and 15. In addition, more advanced SQL features (than what are
covered in the textbook) will be covered.

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: Tue 3:00P - 5:00P (313A IST)
TA: Thur 3:00P - 5:00P (325D IST)

Grading
-------

Grading is based on the HYBRID CURVED policy.

- Top     7% or > 93 : A
- Next    8% or > 88 : A-
- Next   10% or > 83 : B+
- Next   10% or > 80 : B
- Next   10% or > 75 : B-
- Next   20% or > 70 : C+
- Next   20% or > 60 : C
- Next   10% or > 45 : D
- Bottom  5% or <= 45: F

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

- 5-6 Pop Quizzes and PBLs: 10%
- 2 Homework: 10%
- 3 Projects: 25% (6%, 8%, 11%)
- 2 Midterms: 30% (15% each)
- 1 Final: 25%
- Penalty points (e.g., cell phone, gaming, or surfing in class): up to -10%

ID/PWD
------

Web page password: to be announced in the first class