Databases (G6031)

15 credits, Level 5

Autumn teaching

This module provides an introduction to the concepts of database software, database design, management, and programming. This includes conceptual database design (using the entity-relationship approach), logical database design and physical database design.

The module focuses on the relational data model. You will learn how to design and implement a relational database using SQL. You will also learn how to retrieve and manipulate data via SQL queries, as well as how to normalize relational databases, what normal forms there are, and how this eliminates certain anomalies based on redundancy. Security via permission rights and indexes for tuning database queries are addressed. You will learn how to write stored procedures and triggers using procedural SQL and how use Java Database Connectivity libraries (JDBC) to access databases in Java programs.

The exercise classes and coursework are based on a series of examples that help you understand the theoretical principles. Practical experience is acquired by implementing these examples in a database management system and a graphical query browser.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 32 hours of contact time and about 118 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2023/24. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to COVID-19, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let our applicants know of material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses:

• Computer Science (with an industrial placement year) BSc
• Computer Science (with an industrial placement year) MComp
• Computer Science BSc
• Computer Science MComp
• Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (with an industrial placement year) BSc
• Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence BSc
• Computing for Business and Management (with an industrial placement year) BSc
• Computing for Business and Management BSc
• Computing for Digital Media and Games (with an industrial placement year) BSc
• Computing for Digital Media and Games BSc
• Finance and Technology (FinTech) (with a professional placement year) BSc
• Finance and Technology (FinTech) BSc