IT 125 Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus

IT 125 Using Structured Query Language and SQL Servers

Instructor DC Shoemaker

Office: Instruction Building 2-3-20A Phone: (206) 527-5663

Note – This syllabus is a proposed modification of a previous course, and is expected to be available in the near future. Its availability will be announced on this site.

What this course is: This is an introcuctory course providing instruction in techniques for creating, modifying, deleting, and querying Database Management Systems (DBMS) using SQL servers. This course focuses on understanding and designing SQL databases, tables and queries using the MySQL Linux Server. These concepts and techniques carry across to other relational DBMS such as Postgres (PostgreSQL), Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Redbrick or Microsoft Access. This course involves hands-on work by students in addition to lectures and demonstrations by the instructor. Eligibility for ENG 093/094 or higher is strongly recommended. Work experience or a prior class (such as IT 101 or 103) using a DBMS, and IT 138 Unix for Network Technicians are recommended, but not required. This course is particularly recommended for students who have taken, or plan to take, IT 228, SQL Server Administration, as it provides a view of the user’s perspective.

What this course is not: While you will deal with a variety of SQL statements on both the client and server, this is not a programming course, nor will it make you an SQL database expert. Expertise in SQL will require more than one academic quarter.

Course Outcomes/Learning Objectives. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand and describe the functional characteristics of a DBMS.

2. Connect to a MySQL database server with a client front-end such as Access.

3. Access a MySQL server directly through a Unix shell account.

4. Use SQL commands to create and modify database tables and to query a relational database.

Required and supplemental texts and materials: To be determined by instructor. Students should not purchase texts until after the first class meeting. With the exception of Microsoft Access, all programs used are freely-available Open Source software which students may if they wish download and install on their own computers.

Course Outline:

I. Overview of the server

A. The relational model, data and relationships

B. The Client/Server Model

C. Connecting to the server directly through a Unix account and via Access.

D. Backups and restores

II. Defining the structure of the database, tables and relationships

A. Indexes

B. GRANT, REVOKE and DENY Permissions

III. Adding, Modifying, and Deleting Data in Tables

A. The INSERT and DELETE Command

B. The UPDATE Command

IV. Querying data stored in tables

A. The SELECT and SELECT DISTINCT commands

B. The FROM, WHERE and GROUP BY clauses

C. Aggregating functions and calculations

D. The HAVING and ORDER BY clauses

E. The IN and NOT IN conditions

F. The EXISTS condition and using EXISTS versus NOT IN

G. Joins

Course Requirements / Expectations of Students

1. Participating in class sessions.

2. Reading as indicated by instructor.

3. Completing course assignments and exams as indicated by instructor.

4. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to perform specific competencies listed under "Course Outcomes/Learning Objectives" above.

Course Outcomes / Learning Objectives. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. List and describe the functional characteristics of a DBMS.

2. Connect to a MySQL database server with a client front-end such as Access.

3. Use the relational data base model and identify how data and relationships are stored using this model.

4. Use SQL to create and modify database tables and to query a relational database.

NSCC General Education Learning Outcomes and/or Related Instructional Outcomes (for technical courses) met by this course:

4. Access, evaluate, and apply information from a variety of sources and a variety of contexts.

There will be two scheduled examinations and an unspecified number of quizzes and exercises to check progress. Grades will be assigned as follows:

60-70% 2.0-2.5

71-80% 2.5-3.0

81-90% 3.0-3.5

91%-100% 3.5-4.0

Comportment:

You are responsible for attendance. Punctuality is mandatory. Missed lecture and lab material may be obtained from your class members. Absences may be excused by the instructor under appropriate circumstances. This class will discuss techniques that can, like any knowledge, be used for ill as well as for good. Students are reminded that they are responsible for their behavior; use of this information for illegal purposes is not acceptable, and will not be condoned, on-campus or off. As this class is conducted partly in a lab environment, safety and appropriate behavior will be stressed. Any behavior deemed by the instructor to be disruptive to the class may be cause for dismissal under the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct.

Open Labs:

There are open computer labs available to students who have paid either the UT or CT fees. These labs have the widest variety of software on the campus and are open for walk-ins. Hours vary each quarter; check the campus website http://www.northseattle.edu/services/complab.htm or in the lab for specific lab hours. Students will have access to class severs from remote locations (home, work, etc.)

Internet Use:

It is the NSCC policy not to restrict student Internet access. It may be deemed disruptive behavior to view Internet material offensive to those around them. Use of the Internet which is deemed by the instructor to be disruptive behavior during lecture or labs, may lead to dismissal under the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct.

One must learn by doing the thing; for, though you think you know it, you have no certainty, until you try.

-Sophocles