Introduction to Databases

Course Objectives

• Define the primary components of relational, hierarchical, network, object-oriented, object-relational, dimensional, and NoSQL databases, along with the fundamental differences between them.
• Use forms-based tools and SQL statements to define, maintain and retrieve data from DBMS products.
• Create normalized database designs for those intended to support business transaction processing.
• Create star schema designs for databases intended to support historical reporting and analytics (i.e., business intelligence applications).
• Create data models, including the ability to recognize and use common data structure patterns.
• Translate logical database designs into physical implementations, including specifications for network-connecting the database, indexing, deployment on a cluster server, and accessing the database using various programming languages.
• Understand the security ramifications when implementing databases and implement security and data access controls.
• Design data warehouse and data mart schemas for use in business intelligence applications.

What You Learn

• Database fundamentals and history
• Database components
• Traditional relational databases
• NoSQL databases
• Forms-based queries (using Microsoft Access as an example)
• SQL fundamentals
• Database lifecycle
• Normalization
• Star schema design
• Data and process modeling using patterns
• Physical design of relational databases
• Indexing
• Deployment on cluster servers
• Connecting databases to the Web and to applications
• NoSQL database implementations: unstructured, columnar, document, key-value, graph
• Database security and encryption
• Cursor processing
• Transaction management
• Alternative data structure: XML, JSON
• Object-oriented database management
• Data warehouses
• Data marts

How You Learn

• Reading assignments
• Discussion assignments
• Writing assignments and quizzes
• Online midterm exam
• Proctored final exam

Is This Course Right for You?

The course is recommended for anyone trying to build a foundation in database design and management, whether for personal or professional use. The course is designed specifically for those who are new or relatively new to database technology; however, those requiring a refresher should also find the course material valuable. Specifically, the following individuals will find the course helpful for improving their understanding of databases:

• The novice new to database design and query languages such as SQL
• The analyst or manager who wants a better understanding of how to design, implement and access databases
• The data analyst or database administrator who wants to learn more about database design
• The QA engineer or technical support professional who must understand database design in order to validate database applications
• The software engineer who wishes to better understand how application designs and database designs can work together to solve business problems