Database Systems & Information Modelling

Subject 615-570 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbookSearch for this in the current handbookSearch for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Three contact hours per week, in the following general pattern: One lecture, of approximately 1 hour Immediately followed by one tutorial or lab of approximately 1 hour Immediately followed by one discussion/lecture of approximately 1 hour
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Entry into the Masters offering the subject. This subject is aimed at students with little or no experience with database systems or information modelling. Nonetheless, as a postgraduate subject, it covers a considerable amount of material, with an emphasis on the modelling more than on the technology.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

To be advised

Contact

Steve Goschnick

Subject Overview:

The subject introduces key topics in modern information organization, particularly with regard to structured databases. The well-founded relational theory behind modern structured query language (SQL) engines, has given them as much a place behind the web site of an organization and on the desktop, as they traditionally enjoyed on corporate mainframes. Topics covered include: the managerial view of data, information and knowledge; entity relationship (ER) and extended entity relationship (EER) modelling; normalization and denormalization; database modelling in UML; the SQL language; data integrity; transaction processing and data warehousing. In addition to traditional database applications, alternative technologies such as XML, web services, data mining and organizational memory technologies such as groupware will be briefly surveyed.

Assessment: A diagram/data model based first assignment due in the first quarter of semester (10%); a mid-semester assignment - SQL answers to database questions (15%); a diagram/data model based final assignment due in the third quarter of the semester (25%); a 2-hour open book written examination in the examination period (50%). Satisfactory completion of the examination and assignment components is necessary to pass the subject.

Prescribed Texts: There are no prescribed texts for this subject. An extensive set of subject notes will be available from the University Bookshop.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Generic Skills

The student will acquire skills in Information Modelling - a generic skill that will serve the student well throughout a career in Information Systems. Scoping within analysis is also a valuable cross-discipline skill honed during this subject.

Links to further information: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/current/postgrad/subjects/
Notes:

Student Feedback

We welcome your comments about this subject - those things you liked and those you think we could improve on. You can provide this feedback in several ways:

  • Speaking directly to the lecturer
  • Speaking to your student representatives or the MIS/MIT Program Director
  • Completing the Quality of Teaching survey administered towards the end of each subject

The feedback provided by students in these ways will be communicated to lecturers and taken into account in subject planning and staff training.

Related Course(s): Master of Information Technology
Master of Information Technology

Download PDF version.