Course Syllabus
Course: CS 1520
Division: Natural Science and MathDepartment: Computer Science & Engineering
Title: Introduction to Databases
Semester Approved: Fall 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2025
End Semester: Spring 2026
Catalog Description: This course is designed for those with interests in business and technology and will teach the application of database skills in business contexts. Students will learn the basics of the SQL language and how to put data into and out of a database. (Students with database, Excel or Access experience, may take this course at the same time as BUS-2010, otherwise it might be best to take BUS-2010 first.) *Successful mastery of this course and BUS-2010 will qualify you for the Snow College 'Foundations of Data Analysis' internal certificate.*
Semesters Offered: TBA
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Justification: This course is a practical application of database and SQL skills. It (in connection with BUS-2010) qualifies students to perform novice data analysis employment. This course comprises three credits of the 6-credit Snow College internal certificate of "Foundations of Data Analysis". This course is also an agreed upon match for three hours of transfer credit from an online education partner.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Understand and apply the concepts of data normalization. Students will be assessed through quizzes, exams, and/or homework.
Understand how to communicate database design using ERDs. Students will be assessed through quizzes, exams, homework, and/or projects.
Understand and demonstrate how Structured Query Language (SQL) works for DDL and DML Students will be assessed through quizzes, exams, and/or homework.
Understand and demonstrate how common business tools Excel and Access can be used to answer business questions. For example: Invoices and line items, accounts payable and accounts receivable, invoice terms and discounts, ratios. Students will be assessed through quizzes, exams, homework, and/or projects.
Understand SQL Select and methods for creating data reports useful in business environments. Students will be assessed through quizzes, exams, and/or homework.
Content:
The student will be able to apply these technology skills and use them to answer business questions based upon data. Skills are:
- Relational Database Principles (beginning data normalization)
- Structured Query Language (SQL) for data creation/edit/deletion
- SQL for creation of tables, indexes and constraints
- Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD) for communication databases
- Excel for tables, pivot tables, charts and database functions
- Access for GUI interaction with databases
- Database Query Report Writing
Key Performance Indicators:
Homework exercises. 30 to 40%
Quizzes. 5 to 15%
Team-based project deliverables. 10 to 20%
Exams. 25 to 40%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
SQL in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself. Publisher: Sams
SQL: A Beginner's Guide. Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be delivered through in class discussions, lecture and project mentoring.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 24
Optimum Class Size: 20