Course Title: Database Applications

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Database Applications

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ISYS1101

City Campus

Postgraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012

ISYS1101

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2021

ISYS1101

City Campus

Postgraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

ISYS1102

City Campus

Undergraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012

ISYS1102

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2021

ISYS1102

City Campus

Undergraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

ISYS2034

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006

ISYS2099

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Viet2 2021

ISYS2099

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

Viet2 2022,
Viet2 2023

ISYS2105

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006

Flexible Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ISYS1101

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

PGRDFx2020 (All)

ISYS1102

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

UGRDFx2020 (All)

Course Coordinator: Dr. Santha Sumanasekara

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9673

Course Coordinator Email: santha.sumanasekara@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 14.9.9

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment, by email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-requisite courses

Successful completion of:

ISYS1055 / ISYS1057 / ISYS2095 / ISYS3376 - Database Concepts (Course ID 004083) OR ISYS3412 / ISYS3414 - Practical Database Concepts (Course ID 053790) OR COSC2803 - Programming Studio 1 (Course ID 054081) OR ISYS2390 - Database Concepts (Course ID 038981)   AND   COSC2413 / COSC2430 / COSC2453 / COSC2690 - Web Programming (Course ID 039990) OR COSC1073 / COSC2081 / COSC2135 / COSC2681 - Programming 1 (Course ID 004065) OR COSC1284 - Programming Techniques (Course ID 004301) OR COSC2531 - Programming Fundamentals (Course ID 045682) OR COSC1295 - Advanced Programming (Course ID 004316) OR COSC2820 - Advanced Programming for Data Science (Course ID 054137) OR COSC2815 - Advanced Programming in Python (Course ID 054117) OR  COSC2803 - Programming Studio 1 (Course ID 054081)
OR
COSC2769 - Full Stack Development (Course ID 053172)     Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.   For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.

 

 

***Fundamental knowledge in relational database concepts, including relational modelling & design,  SQL, conceptual modelling, and database normalisation, equivalent to ISYS1055/1057 Database Concepts.

AND


Intermediate programming skills, equivalent to COSC1073 Programming 1 OR COSC1284 Programming Techniques OR COSC2531 Programming Fundamentals.


Course Description

Databases and the database technology are having a major impact on the growing use of computers. They play a critical role in almost all areas where computers are used.

This course introduces you to advanced database design and implementation concepts, database design techniques, and efficient data management. It will extend the database concepts and design skills developed in database concepts course and introduces you to database indexing, database security, query optimisation, concurrency control and transaction management, stored procedures and triggers, database backup strategies, and non-relational databases.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following capabilities: 

  • Enabling Knowledge: You will gain skills as you apply knowledge with creativity and initiative to new situations. In doing so, you will: Demonstrate mastery of a body of knowledge that includes recent developments in computer science and information technology; Recognise and use research principles and methods applicable to computer science and information technology.
  • Critical Analysis: You will learn to accurately and objectively examine and consider computer science and information technology (IT) topics, evidence, or situations, in particular to: (i) Analyse and model requirements and constraints for the purpose of designing and implementing software artefacts and IT systems; (ii) Evaluate and compare designs of software artefacts and IT systems on the basis of organisational and user requirements.
  • Problem Solving: Your capability to analyse problems and synthesise suitable solutions will be extended as you learn to: Design and implement software solutions that accommodate specified requirements and constraints, based on analysis or modelling or requirements specification. 


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Apply advanced data analysis and modelling concepts, physical design, integrity, security and transaction management;
  2. Create triggers, stored procedures and functions to enhance the usability of a database;
  3. Apply techniques for efficient storing, accessing, securing, and recovering of data;
  4. Build an efficient database application with an emphasis on storage management, indexing and query optimisation;
  5. Use MongoDB for store and retrieve non-relational data;
  6. Develop a simple web-based interface for a database.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • Lectorials: In general, lectures will be based upon the weekly reading pack and lecture notes. Where other material is used, explicit references will be given, with preference going to material that is widely available (e.g. freely available on the internet or in the library). Because this course has an emphasis on database application development in practice, there will be collaborative coding activities and demonstrations during the lecture. So, you will be required to bring in a laptop to lectorials. More details about the nature of activities will be discussed in the first lectorial.
  • TuteLabs: In general tutelab exercises are practical in nature and mostly relate to the assignment work so that students incrementally gain the skills required to develop a database application rather than having to apply a broad range of knowledge and combine a number of different skills and capabilities in a single large effort.
  • Canvas: All learning materials will be available on Canvas including lecture notes, tute/lab exercises, example source code and recorded lectures. Students will also participate in discussion with staff and other students via the online discussion board.

 


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the School. 

Lists of relevant textbooks, reference texts, resources in the Library and relevant internet sites will be provided, on Canvas. 

This course requires the student to have their own laptop.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

 

Assessment tasks

Assessment 1: Take-home assignment on building an efficient database application with an emphasis on storage management, indexing and query optimisation|
Weight: 25%
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment 2: Take-home assignment on NoSQL and MongoDB
Weight: 25%
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 4, 5

Assessment 3: Mid-semester Test
Weight: 15%
This assessment supports CLOs  1, 2, 3, 5

Assessment 4: Database Optimisation Summative Assessment
Weight: 35%
This assessment supports CLOs 1 – 5

Please note that postgraduate students are expected to demonstrate deeper knowledge and a higher-level application of knowledge and skills than undergraduate students. There may be a postgraduate and an undergraduate version for both the mid-semester test and the end-of-semester summative assessment.