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Course Outlines

https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/COMPSCI/751/1233

COMPSCI 751 : Advanced Topics in Database

Systems
Science
2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription
Database principles. Relational model, relational algebra, relational calculus, SQL, SQL and programming
languages, entity-relationship model, normalisation, query processing and query optimisation, ACID
transactions, transaction isolation levels, database recovery, database security, databases and XML. Research
frontiers in database systems. Recommended preparation: COMPSCI 220, 225.

Course Overview
Databases are at the core of most modern software applications. In this course you will learn the foundations of
database systems, enabling you to build eective and ecient database applications. The course is divided into
two parts: the rst teaches you how to design and use a database application and the second covers
transaction and looks in-depth at how database systems are built to work in the current changing environment.

Course Requirements
Prerequisite: Approval of the Academic Head or nominee Restriction: COMPSCI 351, SOFTENG 351

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science (Honours)

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Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe and explain the foundmental concepts and structures of how databases and database systems
work. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
2. Demonstrate and apply conceptual data modelling techniques for a database design. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5)
3. Use and apply the relational data model and conversion of conceptual data models into relational
databases. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
4. Develop the practical skills associated with Structure Query Language (SQL) to build database solutions in
line with their usage. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
5. Use and apply theoretical database knowledge such as relational algebra, functional dependencies and
normalisation. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
6 . Critically evaluate quality aspects of relational database design in terms of functional dependencies and
associated normal forms. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
7. Describe and explain the key implementation techniques of database management systems, such as file
storage, data retrieval and indexing, etc. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
8. Describe and explain the key concurrency techniques of database management systems, such transaction
processing, recovery, serializability, etc. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
9 . Describe and explain the advanced data models and modern query languages. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
10. Describe and explain modern distributed database systems and their applications. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6)

Assessments
Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 15% Individual Coursework
Term Test 10% Individual Test
Final Exam 45% Individual Examination
4 types 100%

Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Assignments         

Laboratories          

Term Test     

Final Exam          

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Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacic students providing topic specic tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuākana Programme
website https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacic-at-the-faculty/tuakana-
programme.html.

Key Topics
Database Systems and Concepts
Data Modeling – Entity-Relationship (ER) diagrams
Relational Data Model and Database Design
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Relational Algebra, Functional Dependencies and Normalization
Transaction processing
Storage and Retrieval
Data Models and Query Languages
Distributed Data

Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in
each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect:

3 hours of lectures
A 1-hour tutorial
4 hours of reading and thinking about the content
2 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation

Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
This course is designed for in-person delivery.

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to receive credit for components of the
course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will not be available as
recordings.
The course will not include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test. Attendance on campus is not required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

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Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes
reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course Material:
The course materials will be covered by the lecture notes, lab exercises and assignment handouts.
No required course book and textbooks are associated. There are two reference textbooks for the purpose
of additional reading only.
Piazza is the course forum for posting questions, answering and discussions. Students are encouraged to
actively participate in the online discussions of the material taught in the course.

Recommended Readings:
Fundamentals of Database Systems 7th, Elmasri and Navathe, Addison Wesley, 2016.
Designing Data-Intensive Applications: The Big Ideas Behind Reliable, Scalable, and Maintainable Systems.
Martin Kleppmann. 2017.

Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the sta responsible for the course
and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool
called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Lab work percentage has been increased and a project is added to increase practical learning.

Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in
coursework as a serious academic oence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's
own work, reecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged
and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be
reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the
wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to
raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright
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The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may
have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under
license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto
any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course
content to another person.

Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written
form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible
and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the
Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is aected by illness or other personal circumstances outside
of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances signicantly aect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible
written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-
exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching
and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has
contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet
the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies.
You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer
to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through
Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process
and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The
University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other
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students and sta so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit
Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-
and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for
enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the
right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or
other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements
may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short
notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon
as possible, through Canvas.

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