Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course name and number: CPSC 6127 - Contemporary Issues in DB Management Systems
Credit Hours: 3
Course Description: This course provides an overview of modern database management systems and issues relating to these systems. Topics include developing a logical model, deriving the physical design, creating data services, creating a physical database, and maintaining a database in a variety of environments.
Required Competencies/Prerequisites: None
Course Offering (days/times and room):
- Section 01 (50% online): 1:30 - 2:45 PM Mondays in SCCT 408
- Section V01 (100% online): None
Course Registration Number (CRN):
- Section 01 (50% online): 26363
- Section V01 (100% online): 26364
Websites:
- The course schedule, assignment descriptions, etc. are hosted at http://csc.ColumbusState.edu/carroll/6109/.
- Grades for each assignment, assignment submissions, quizzes, etc. are hosted in CougarVIEW.
The last day to drop without a grade and receive a 100% refund: Friday, January 10, 2025
Deadline to withdraw with a WP (Withdraw Pass): Friday, March 7, 2025
Instructor Information
- Name: Dr. Hyrum D. Carroll
- E-mail: carroll_hyrum@ColumbusState.edu
- Phone: (706) 507-8182
- Student Drop-in Hours:
I will keep the following Student Drop-In Hours. I will be both in my office and available online. I can also be available at other times by scheduling an appointment at https://drcarroll.youcanbook.me/. During my regular Student Drop-In Hours (if I don't have a meeting) you can start a video chat with me by clicking HERE.
Student Drop-In Hours Day Times Tuesdays 12:30 – 1:30 PM Wednesdays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
12:30 – 1:30 PMThursdays 2:30 – 3:30 PM Fridays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
12:30 – 1:30 PMAnd by appointment 
Textbooks and Materials
Optional Textbook
- Modern Database Management, 13th Edition by Jeff Hoffer, Ramesh Venkataraman, Helikki Topi
- Big Data Fundamentals Concepts, Drivers & Techniques by Thomas Erl, Wajid Khattak and Paul Buhler
Other Optional Resources
- Fundamentals of Database Systems, 6th edition by Ramez Elmasri, Shamkant B. Navathe ISBN-13: 978-0136086208 / ISBN-10: 0136086209
- Learning Spark: Lightning-Fast Big Data Analysis, 1st Edition by Holden Karau, Andy Konwinski, Patrick Wendell, Matei Zaharia ISBN-13: 978-1449358624 / ISBN-10: 1449358624
Course Learning Outcomes
Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, students will- Concisely define each of the following key terms: enhanced entity-relationship (EER) model, subtype, supertype, attribute inheritance, generalization, specialization, completeness constraint, total specialization rule, partial specialization rule, disjointness constraint, disjoint rule, overlap rule, subtype discriminator, supertype/ subtype hierarchy, entity cluster, and universal data model
- Describe the physical database design process and choose storage formats for attributes from a logical data model
- Select an appropriate file organization by balancing various important design factors and translate a relational data model into efficient database structures, including knowing when and how to deformalize the logical data model
- Discover Big Data's fundamental concepts and what makes it different from previous forms of data analysis and data science
- Understand the business motivations and drivers behind Big Data adoption, from operational improvements through innovation
- Work with Big Data in structured, unstructured, semi-structured, and metadata formats
Activity Expectations and Assignment Requirements
Attendance
Attendance is required by the university and will be recorded at the beginning of each class. It may also be used in determining grades. Additionally, it is the student's responsibility to independently cover any materials missed. Makeup exams or quizzes are generally not given, so please make sure you are present for all exams and quizzes.
Section 01 (50% online)
I expect each student to be in attendance for each class in-person. Attendance will be calculated by your arrival and duration in class. It is your responsibility to make sure your attendance gets recorded correctly for every class meeting (see under Student Responsibilities below). If you can not make a class, please inform me and get the relevant materials from a classmate.
Computers are permitted in lecture for note taking and completing exercises. Other activities such as web surfing, stock trading, and social networking are inappropriate. Not only do they distract you but also others.
Students that do not attend both of the first two lectures may be dropped from the course. Refer to the CSU Catalog (https://catalog.columbusstate.edu/academic-regulations/undergraduate-academic-regulations/) for more information on class attendance and withdrawal.
Section V01 (100% Online)
Attendance will be calculated for each module based on completing at least 70% of the activities for that module.
Final Exam
The course final is comprehensive. It will be proctored using Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor. Using Respondus Monitor requires a fee of $15 per year. Respondus Monitor requires a webcam to work. These tools are known to not work with the following devices:
- Chromebooks
- iPads/tablets
- Android devices
- Smartphones
- You can borrow a computer from the CSU library (or a friend)
- You can come to campus and use a computer in the Tutoring Lab, SCCT 450
- You can take a proctored exam at a library. Most libraries offer these services.
Grading
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Assignments | 25% |
| Discussions | 10% |
| Term Project | 40% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
Each of the grading categories is capped at 100%.
Course letter grades are determined by the final course average according to the following chart:| % Range | Course Grade |
|---|---|
| 90 – 100 | A |
| 80 – 89 | B |
| 70 – 79 | C |
| 60 – 69 | D |
| <60 | F |
Expectations
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME
- I will be prepared for lecture each day and will energetically present the material. I will ask questions to verify learning and understanding. I will answer all questions. They can be asked before class, during class, after class, via email or phone or during my Student Drop-in Hours (listed above).
- Below are my target response times:
Target Response Times Deliverable Target Email responses ≤ 2 school days Quizzes posted ≥ 4 days (so that it's open at least 3 days) Assignments posted ≥ 5 days before it's due Projects posted ≥ 7 days before it's due Quizzes graded ≤ 2 classes later Assignments graded ≤ 4 school days Discussion boards reviewed ≤ 5 school days Projects graded ≤ 7 days Exams graded ≤ 2 classes later
WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM YOU
Information regarding student rights and responsibilities can be found in the CSU Student Handbook.
As a student in this course, you are responsible to:
- Be respectful to both your peers and instructors in all interactions.
- Manage your time and maintain the discipline required to meet the course requirements.
- Be prepared to ask questions to maximize your understanding of the material.
- Complete all readings and watch all assigned videos,
- Complete all assignments,
- Complete all quizzes and exams,
- Ask questions when something is not clear.
- Actively participate in classroom discussions.
- Submit work that is completely your own creation and not author by someone or something else.
Course Communication
- Use your official CSU account for all e-mail communication.
- Regularly check your official CSU email (at least every 36 hours).
- Follow common sense in writing and sending e-mail. As this course is a semi-public space, be cautious about sharing personal information such as your address or phone number.
- Read and think about e-mail before sending. Email is a permanent record of your communication.
- To help me prioritize responding to your email, please start the subject line with "CPSC 6109-01: " for my face-to-face students and "CPSC 6109-V01: " for my online students.
Technical Requirements/ Support
See the CougarVIEW Starter Guide for support with navigating this system.
Hardware Requirements
See the System Checker here. (GeorgiaVIEW’s system checker is compatible with CougarVIEW.)
Software Requirements
- An office suite such as Microsoft Office or Open Office
- Microsoft Office 365 is available free to all CSU students through MyCSU.
- OpenOffice can be downloaded for free.
- Acrobat Reader offers additional features for PDF files.
Browser Plugins (.pdf files, QuickTime files, .mp4 files) can be obtained at a browser's website:
Privacy Policies
Below are the links to the privacy policies for the tools that we will be using in this course:CSU Institution-wide Policies
Academic Honesty
Students: Please refer to the CSU Student Handbook (2024-2025) for complete information on academic honesty.
All students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. As a basic and minimum standard of conduct in academic matters that students be honest and that they submit for credit only the products of their own efforts. Both the ideals of scholarship and the need for fairness require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit. They also require that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable or unethical conduct related to their academic work.
In an effort to foster an environment of academic integrity and to prevent academic dishonesty, students are expected to discuss with faculty the expectations regarding course assignments and standards of conduct. In addition, students are encouraged to discuss freely with faculty, academic advisers, and other members of the academic community any questions pertaining to the provisions of this policy.
Student handbook policies relevant to the use of AI (ChatGPT or other)
Academic Misconduct Regulation #4
No student shall receive or give assistance in preparation of any assignment, essay, laboratory report or examination to be submitted as a requirement for any academic course in such a way that the submitted work can no longer be considered the personal effort of the student submitting the work. In cases where collaboration is permitted by the instructor (i.e., tutoring, peer review, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and similar instances of assistance), a special effort must be made to retain the distinction in the assistance received and the integrity of the student’s personal performance.
Academic Misconduct Regulation #5
In some cases, permitted collaboration may border on academic irregularity; in the case of course requirements for a grade, it is the student’s responsibility to clarify the instructor’s policy. If the student is uncertain as to the direction of the instructor, it is the student’s responsibility to seek clarification from the instructor.
Academic Misconduct Regulation #6
Plagiarism in any form is prohibited. When the ideas of another or works previously submitted by the student are incorporated into any assignment, they must be appropriately acknowledged.
ADA and 504 Statement
Columbus State University provides reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. You may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and/or physical accessibility. We recommend that you contact the Center for Accommodation and Access located in Schuster Student Success Center, Room 102, 706-507-8755 as soon as possible if you think you are eligible for accommodations. The Center for Accommodation and Access can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan, in identifying additional resources, and in providing support. Accommodations may be able to assist you to meet the requirements. Technical support may also be available to meet your specific need. Please contact Sarah Secoy if you have questions. She can be reached at 706-507-8755 or at caa@columbusstate.edu.
Title IX Discrimination
Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, harassment based on sex, including non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual penetration, stalking, domestic and dating violence, and harassment or discrimination because of pregnancy or related conditions, is prohibited. If a student would like to file a complaint for Title IX discrimination or has any questions, please contact the CSU Title IX Coordinator (Sarah Secoy, Schuster 102, secoy_sarah@columbusstate.edu, 706.507.8757), Deputy Title IX Coordinator (Dr. Amber Dees, Richards Hall 313, 706-507-8634, dees_amber@columbusstate.edu) and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Atlanta Office, U.S. Department of Education, 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Suite 19T10, Atlanta, GA 30303-8927, 404.974.9406, OCR.Atlanta@ed.gov).
CougarVIEW Accessibility Statement
CougarVIEW is our institution's version of D2L Brightspace, an online course platform. The accessibility page from the D2L website states, "We believe that every mind matters and access to high-quality learning should be universal...We constantly strive to ensure that our learning platforms work seamlessly with various assistive technologies to provide a great learning experience to people with diverse needs. We integrate the latest global accessibility standards into our product process and openly report conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AAA standards and compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, 1973." For more information go to D2L Accessibility.
CougarVIEW Privacy Statement
Read the CougarVIEW learning management system developer's (D2L Brightspace) privacy statement here.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Information regarding student rights and responsibilities can be found in most current student handbook on the Resources for Students page.