Goals

Students are introduced to database systems and motivates the database approach as a mechanism for modeling the real world. An in-depth coverage of the relational model, logical database design, query languages, and other database concepts including query optimization, concurrency control; transaction management, and log based crash recovery. Distributed and Web database architectures are also discussed.

Prerequisite

Minimum grade of C- in CMSC351 and CMSC330; and permission of CMNS-Computer Science department. Or Must be in the (Computer Science (Doctoral), Computer Science (Master's)) program.

Course Grading

Weekly homeworks: 12%, Two midterms: 25%, Final: 25%, 6 Projects/Programming Assignments: 30%, In-class participation: 7%, Meet with the instructor: 1%
Final: There will be probably be a combined final for the two sections. Details TBA.

Here is the tentative schedule for assignments/midterms etc.

Late Submission Policy

Reading homeworks: No late submissions will be counted for reading homeworks, but you can miss 2 out of the 14 and still get full points. However, not doing a reading homework will make it harder for you to follow the lectures and discussions, and may impact class participation grade. The reading homeworks will be designed to take about 1.5 hours on average (except for the couple of occasions where they are intended to make up for a class, e.g., the first reading homework).
Projects: See the projects tab.

Class forum

This semester, we are using Piazza for class discussion (link at top). The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, TAs, and instructors. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, we encourage you to post your questions on Piazza. You and other students can answer a question and edit the answer, with the teaching staff chiming in as appropriate. Use Piazza to ask anything, from questions about assignments to when the next quiz is.

Textbook

"Database System Concepts"; Silberschatz, Korth & Sudarshan; 6th Edition, McGraw Hill.
Note that: the readings for the course will refer to the 6th edition. You should be able to get by having an earlier edition, but you will have to figure out the mapping.
The book website (http://db-book.com/) has a lot of supplemental material that you may find useful.

Excused Absenses Due To Illness

A student claiming a excused absence must apply in writing and furnish documentary support (such as from a health care professional who treated the student) for any assertion that the absence qualifies as an excused absence. The support should explicitly indicate the dates or times the student was incapacitated due to illness. Self-documentation of illness is not itself sufficient support to excuse the absence. This instructor is not under obligation to offer a substitute assignment or to give a student a make-up assessment unless the failure to perform was due to an excused absence.

Accommodations for disabilities

You must notify me within 2 weeks from the beginning of class if you require special accommodations due to disabilities. All such requests must be accompanied by documentation from DSS. Requests received after this deadline will not be accommodated.

Academic Integrity

The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu. To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (assignment).