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CSI 410 Introduction to Databases
Spring 2019
Spring Semester Dates: January 23, 2019-May 8, 2019
Class Meeting Days/Time: MWF 9:20am - 10:15am Room: BB B012
First Class Meeting: Wednesday, January 23; Last Class Meeting: Wednesday, May 8
A final project will be due at the end of the semester in place of a final exam (we do not
meet exam week). Information and resources for this project will be posted on Blackboard.
Other Important Dates for our class:
 Spring Break/ Classes Suspended: Saturday, March 16 - Friday, March 22
 Last day for undergraduate students to drop semester length course ("W"
assigned): Monday, April 8
 Passover/Easter Break: we do not meet on Monday April 22 (Classes Resume at
12:35 pm).
 Expected date that final grades will be posted to UAlbany: May 21
Instructor: Dr. Carol Cusano
Email: cacusano@albany.edu
Office Hours by appointment
Catalog Course Description
ICSI 410 Introduction to Databases (3 credits)
Introduction to using relational database software and database management systems. Indepth
coverage of a practical Structured Query Language (SQL), physical and logical
database design, rollback and recovery techniques, and access methods including interfaces
to programming languages.
Prerequisite(s): two semesters of course work in computer programming or equivalent
experience. Familiarity with data structures and operating systems concepts is helpful but
not required
Course Introduction and Objectives
This course is a study of database architecture and the components used in their
implementation. Using the Structured Query Language, topics including file structures and
access methods; database modeling, design and interfaces; components of database
management systems; information storage and retrieval are explored. At the end of this
course, students will be able to:
 Understand Modern Database Systems
 Understand and apply Database Architecture
 Understand and apply the Entity–Relationship Model
 Understand the role of the Database Administrator
 Evaluate Physical Database design and performance issues
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 Understand and apply the Relational Database Model
 Apply SQL to store, retrieve, and update data in databases
 Apply Object Oriented Design and Development approaches using Databases
 Build a Database application
This course will build on research, writing, concept practice, and presentation. Each week,
we will study (through lecture and research) topics related to databases, and practice
application of these concepts in assignments.
Each week, a module with topic(s), lecture (s), and resources will be added to
Blackboard to support our class and assignment work.
Course Materials
iClickers are required for this course. You can purchase or rent an iClicker from the
bookstore. The iClicker 2 Remote is recommended as it has a LCD display (the iClicker+
Remote does not have a display). Without a display, applying the settings/answering
questions is more difficult as you cannot see if your settings/answers have been accepted.
Note: We will not be using the mobile app portion of iClicker for our class. iClicker
attendance/participation will begin Wednesday, February 6.
Textbooks: You do not need to purchase a textbook for this course. Resources to support our
topics will be provided on Blackboard under each module. The following textbooks (in PDF
format) are available on Blackboard and will be used as our main resources:
Ramez Elmasri & Shamkant B. Navathe (2012). Database Systems, 6th edition.
Joel Murach (2015). Murach's MySQL, 2nd Edition
CSI 410 Policies and General Information
In order to succeed in this course, you must take an active part in learning the course
material. You must do the readings on time, attend the class consistently, and complete your
assignments with diligence and patience. Most weeks, there will be an in-class activity
(worksheet or quiz)--this in-class work cannot be made up as these activities contribute to
your class participation.
All assignments will be graded within two weeks of their due dates with grades posted to
Blackboard.
All assignments (unless otherwise noted) are to be submitted to Blackboard.
Each week, there will be a module added to Blackboard with resources, materials and
assignments for the weekly topics. You will find all weekly information and assignments
(including due dates) on Blackboard.
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Late Work/Make up Policy
Assignments: Most weeks there will be an assignment related to the topic we are discussing
in class. Due dates are firm—each day an assignment is late, there will be a reduction of
10 points; no work will be accepted after five days past the due date. For exceptional
cases, late work after five days will be accepted if you have documentation from the Office of
the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education located in LC-30—this includes all family and
medical emergencies. Medical excuses are also provided by Student Health Services for
some conditions. For more information, see
http://www.albany.edu/health_center/medicalexcuse.shtml.
Exams/Final Project: Make-up exams and an allowance for submitting a late final project
will be given only in the case of emergencies such as a death in the immediate family or
hospitalization (appropriate documentation from the Office of the Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Education is required).
Students with genuine, continuing hardship situations should email/speak to me ASAP.
Technical issues are not valid reasons for late work!
Class Policies
Students are expected to attend every class and to arrive on time. Please do not disrupt the
class by entering late or leaving early without instructor approval. Attendance will be taken
at every class meeting. Each unexcused absence will result in a one point deduction from
your class participation grade (excused absences will be considered individually and must be
discussed with me prior to the absence or documentation can be provided by the Office of the
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (see Late Work/Make up Policy above).
Students are expected to refrain from working on personal activities (checking email, texting,
social media, etc.) or completing other course work during lectures—being in class means
taking an active role in the day’s topic and activities. I prefer, instead of using a laptop,
students use a notebook to take hand written notes—a 2016 published study found students
who take notes by hand perform (and listen) better!
Instructor General Information
As an adjunct faculty member, I am typically on campus only for my class meetings. That
said, I am available to help you and I will respond to your emails within 24 hours on week
days and 48 hours on weekends.
Note: Please do not email me in a panic just before an assignment is due—I will not
necessarily be online.
Communications/Announcements/Class-wide emails: Course announcements will be
posted to Blackboard and also sent as class emails. I also email the class regularly—please be
sure to check your UAlbany email daily (and always before class as any last minute
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information or schedule changes will be emailed to students). You are expected to read
course announcements and the class emails as they contain important information to support
our class work.
All information on lectures, assignments, exams, projects, etc. will be posted to
Blackboard—it is your responsibility to check Blackboard for this information (Note:
smartphone/app entry to Blackboard does not provide easy access to all the information
placed on Blackboard—be sure to use a laptop/computer to check Blackboard so you do not
miss important information).
Grading

The final grade will be determined by a weighted average of scores using the following
weights (The ‘Weighted Total’ column on Blackboard has your weighted total grade to date;
this total is not accurate until all grades are submitted at the end of the semester; also, the
points system Blackboard uses by default is not an accurate representation of your grade as
the weights are not applied to these points):
 Assignments: 40%
 Exam 1: 10%. In class, Monday, March 11
 Exam 2: 10%. In class, Monday, May 6
 Group Project: 10% (students will present their projects in class; sign-up
sheet/link will be available on Blackboard)
 Final Project (in place of Final Exam) 20%. Due EOD Friday, May 10
 In Class Activities/Participation/Attendance 10%
Final grades are computed based on the above criteria and are NOT negotiable. Per
department policy, “…students may not submit additional work or be re-examined for the
purpose of improving their grades once the course has been completed and final grades
assigned.”
Grades are earned; instructors record these grades—do not ask me to give you a grade you
did not earn. An instructor should never receive such a request as they are a violation of
academic integrity standards and are morally questionable. Per the university catalogue: "As
a community of scholars, the University at Albany has a special responsibility to integrity
and truth".
Grading Scale:
 A: 100-95% A-: 94-90 %
B+: 89-87% B: 84-86% B-: 83-80%
C+: 79-77% C: 74-76% C-: 73-70%
D+: 69-67% D: 64-66% D-: 63- 60%
 E: 59% and below
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Incomplete/”I” Grades
An incomplete grade can be requested by a student and assigned by the instructor ONLY
when the student has nearly completed the course requirements but because of
circumstances beyond the student’s control the work is not completed. Written
documentation must, upon request, be supplied about the circumstance either by you or the
University’s administration.
Under no circumstances will the condition for completing an incomplete be that the entire
(or almost the entire) course be completed as an independent study or retaken later without a
new registration.
Policy on Cheating/Plagiarism/Academic Integrity
1. Cheating/Plagiarism on the exams or the final project will result in an E grade
for the course. Further, the students involved will be referred to the University
Judicial System.
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, to "plagiarize" means:
 to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
 to use (another's production) without crediting the source
 to commit literary theft
 to present as new and original an idea or product derived from
an existing source
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing
someone else's work and lying about it afterward.
 A tutorial on plagiarism can be found here.
 Information on summarizing, paraphrasing and using/quoting another’s work as
well as how to use (required) in-text citations will be provided on Blackboard.
The university’s librarians are also specialists in how to avoid plagiarism and are a
valuable resource when researching and writing academic assignments. See this library
page for contact and other library research assistance information.
2. Answers for every individual assignment/programs, quizzes, and exams must be
written by you. For non-group assignments, you are welcome to discuss the class
material, the problems and ideas for solutions; but each person is expected to complete
the answers he or she submits independently, without copying. Cheating on an
individual assignment, basic exam, or other assignment/exercise will result in a zero for
that assignment and for all the students involved.
Students who cheat in two or more research, problem solving or programming assignments
will receive an E grade for the course. Reports of cheating incident may also be made to the
Department Chair or the Provost in accordance with the University regulations concerning
“Academic Integrity” in the college bulletin.
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3. Responsible Computing
Students are required to read the University at Albany Policy for the Responsible Use of
Information Technology
(http://www.albany.edu/its/policies_responsible_use_of_IT.htm). Students are expected
to apply the policies discussed in this document to all computing and electronic
communications in the course.
Disabilities/Accommodations
Reasonable accommodations will be provided for students with documented physical,
sensory, systemic, cognitive, learning and psychiatric disabilities. If you believe you have a
disability requiring accommodation in this class, please notify the Director of the Disability
Resource Center (Campus Center 137, telephone: 518-442-5490). This office will provide
the course instructor with verification of your disability, and will recommend appropriate
accommodations.
For more information, refer to the University’s Disclosure Statement regarding Reasonable
Accommodation found at the bottom of the document at the following website:
http://www.albany.edu/disability/docs/RAP.doc. This website can be reached by following
the link under “Reasonable Accommodation Policy” at the following webpage
http://www.albany.edu/disability/faculty-staff.shtml