I. Introduction to database systems:

    This portion of the course serves as an introduction into the basic concepts of database (DB) systems.

• Terminologies
• Motivation for the use of DB systems
• General architecture of a DB system
• Current state of the art
• Overview of the remainder of the course

II. Relational data model and systems

         A good part of the course will be spent on the relational data model since this is the most dominant model used in today's DBMSs. However, it will not totally dominate the course as it does in some textbooks.  We will also study other currently relevant and emerging data models and paradigms.

• Relational data model and theory
• SQL
• Relational algebra
• Other relational model concepts: constraints, stored procedures, triggers, etc.
• Relational DBMS - We will be using Microsoft SQL Server 2000 in this class. 

III. Database design

• Introduction to transaction systems and the database design life cycle
• Semantic data models. We will emphasize on the ER model (and it's derivatives) as the representative data model of this category
• Mapping to relational data model
• Normalization theory of the relational model
• Application development systems - We will be using Microsoft Visual Studio.NET with Visual Basic.NET or C#.NET.

• Query processing/optimization
• Transaction processing
• Concurrency Issues
• Security and Integrity

V. Web services technologies

• WSDL (Web Service Description Language)
• XML and XML SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)
• Implementing Web services in the .NET environment

VI. Other topics of interests in database management

      These topics include current topics of interest in database management in database research and/or my current topics of interest.

• Object-oriented models/systems
• Object-relational systems
• Active database systems
• Web-based database applications
• XML and its applications to database management
 

       Throughout the semester, homework assignments would be given, using SQL Server 2000 and Visual Studio.NET. Also, I plan to have a project that should begin before or at the middle of the semester and is due at the end of the semester, using SQL Server 2000, Visual Studio.NET (VB.NET and C#.NET).