Database Programming Syllabus
Course Description
This course deals with concepts and principles of database theory, server application development, and deployment strategies. It focuses on the use of server application components that reside inside the database. The course explores in depth the best practices and approaches to writing database application components that ensure ACID-compliant transactions across two or more SQL statements and/or tables. SQL will be used to query and transact against a sample database inside the procedural coding components.
Course Objectives/Outcomes
- Determine when to use SQL or a stored program.
- Understand transactional processing model.
- Conceptualize, design, and implement database applications.
- Use conditional and iterative logic, and collections.
Textbook
The class will make extensive use of the assigned textbooks and Brother McLaughlin's blog. You shouldn’t limit yourself to only the books and blog because they are only places to start the learning process. Your needs and/or career objectives may require that you buy one or more of the optional textbooks. Not every book is suited to every reader, and as the reader, it is your responsibility to figure out what works best for you. If you’re struggling with a concept, the best recourse is to ask a question.The textbooks are available for free download using the links below:
Required
Oracle Database 12c PL/SQL Programming
Errata for Oracle Database 12c PL/SQL Programming
Optional
Linux Command Line (Free download)
Should you wish to purchase your own copy for reference, you can compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. This will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.
Hardware Requirements
Students must have a laptop computer with the following requirements: 6GB RAM and a 64-bit processor capable of hyper-threading.
Grading Components
| Assignment | Labs | Reading Quizzes | Presentations | Exams | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Development Overview | 10 | 20 | 30 | ||
| Week 2: PL/SQL Basics | 40 | 20 | 60 | ||
| Week 3: Language Fundamentals | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 4: Control Structures | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 5: Collections | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 6: Error Management | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 7: Functions & Procedures | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 8: Packages | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 9: Large Objects | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 10: Object Types | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 11: Triggers | 25 | 20 | 10 | 55 | |
| Week 12: Native Dynamic SQL (NDS) | 25 | 20 | 45 | ||
| Week 13: Final Project | 100 | 100 | |||
| Week 14: Course Conclusion Final Exam | 100 | 100 | |||
| Total: | 300 | 250 | 90 | 200 | 830 |
Lab Assignments
The lab assignments develop knowledge of using PL/SQL in an Oracle environment. As stated by Elder Bednar, students should be enabled to act not be acted upon (Seek Learning by Faith). Objectives are noted on each lab assignment. The MySQL portions are individual assignments and should be performed individually.
Quizzes & Exams
All quizzes are open book. There is a comprehensive final exam, which is also open book.
The quiz/exam review questions are drawn from the primary textbook but require internalization and extension of concepts. The quizzes are true/false or multiple-choice questions. Quizzes are designed to examine whether you understand what you’ve done in the labs and how that integrates to theory and applied concept.
If you are unable to take a scheduled quiz because of a qualifying emergency, you must notify the instructor by email no later than the Wednesday of that week. A qualifying emergency includes serious illness, personal injury, death of an immediate family member, et cetera.
If you miss a scheduled exam or quiz for reasons other than a qualifying emergency, you lose the opportunity to earn those points. You are responsible for your education and should use the course to help develop skills that will help you in the job market or graduate school.
Grades
The following shows the grading matrix for the course:
| Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | 93 - 100% |
| A- | 90 - 93% |
| B+ | 87 - 90% |
| B | 83- 87% |
| B- | 80 - 83% |
| C+ | 77- 80% |
| C | 73 - 77% |
| C- | 70 - 73% |
| D+ | 67 - 70% |
| D | 63 - 67% |
| D- | 60 - 63% |
| F | 0 - 60% |
Note: This course does not curve grades.
Participation
Each week you will participate in a core competency discussion. In other courses, many students mechanically post and reply on discussion boards. If you do that in this course, you will lose participation points. Carefully review the selected presentation and then write thoughtful, intelligent, and articulate responses that reference what you’ve learned and what you still need to learn. This is a critical part of this course. Your level of internalization of course material generally contributes to your successful job interviewing and placement. The discussion boards are a great place to demonstrate and reveal your level of internalization. It will be graded accordingly.
Class Policy
In addition to the qualification of assignments and participation, these are the course policies:
- Please read and understand the BYU-Idaho Honor Code.
- Please ensure that individual work submitted is your own, which complies with the BYU-Idaho Honor Code.
- Please use the instructor’s email for messages. Please make sure that you manage your BYU-Idaho email account to ensure messages are deliverable and your inbox is not too full.
- Brigham Young University-Idaho standards are outlined in the student handbook. Students are expected to abide by the college Honor Code. No cheating will be tolerated.
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at (208)-496-1130.
- Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the Disability Services. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures.