Diploma in IT Syllabus

Database Systems

Rationale:

A database system is nowadays the central software of most data processing

applications. A Database Management System supports the operation of database
applications within an integrated, controlled and accessible framework.

Aim:

To provide candidates with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the
principles and practice of database systems development

Objectives:

 To introduce the theory of the relational model and relational programming

languages
 To write data manipulation commands in SQL
 To write data definition commands in SQL
 To specify the functional and data requirements for a typical database
application
 To produce detailed data models and their associated logical schemas
 To design the structure and functionality of a forms based user interface for a
database application
 To be able to describe data distribution and data connectivity over a network

Prior Knowledge Expected:

Candidates are expected to be familiar with the material covered in the Certificate
syllabuses.

Content:

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FEATURES OF A RELATIONAL DATABASE

PRODUCT

(e.g. ORACLE) including its data management and application development techniques
(e.g. Forms generators and programming tools). Programming environments.

DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Comparison of a data-centred approach with file-based approach.

Data integrity and quality control. Transaction processing.

Logical and physical data independence how it is achieved.

DATA ANALYSIS AND DATA MODELLING

Entity relationship diagrams and conceptual modelling.

Relationship constraints and translation to relational model.

THE RELATIONAL MODEL AND RELATIONAL LANGUAGES

Functional Dependency theory and Normalisation.

Relational modelling.

Simple relational algebra programs. Features of relational algebra in SQL.

SQL

Standards and basic structure of SQL for data definition, views, updates, insertion and
referential integrity constraints.

DISTRIBUTED AND MULTI-USER DATABASE SYSTEMS

Concurrency, recovery and database integrity.

Client-server model as a distributed database architecture.

Primary Texts:

Howe D. R., Data Analysis for Database Design, Butterworth Heinemann (3rd Ed),
2001, ISBN: 0750650869

Other Texts:

Groff & Weinberg, SQL: The Complete Reference, McGraw Hill (Osbourne Media), 2nd
Ed., 2002, ISBN: 0072225599

McFadden J.A., & Hoffer F.R., Modern Database Management, Benjamin Cummins
(7th Ed), 2004, ISBN: 0131453203

Korth, Silberschatz, Sudarshan, Database System Concepts, McGraw Hill (5th Ed),
2001, ISBN: 007124476X

Watson, R.J., Data Management: Database & Organizations, Wiley (4th Ed), 2003,
ISBN: 0471452254