Learn effective database design, and gain a general overview of database management systems (DBMS). While the main focus is on relational database management systems, coverage of dimensional, NoSQL, object-oriented, object-relational, and legacy architectures are included.
You begin by studying the fundamentals and components of databases, including data structures and relationships. You then apply that knowledge to access databases using Microsoft Access forms-based queries, followed by Structured Query Language (SQL) queries using DBMS products such as MySQL and Oracle. You then pay particular attention to database design follows, including the database life cycle, the normalization process and a survey of common data structure patterns. You also study physical design issues, such as the translation of logical designs into physical DMBS implementations, including indexing and cluster server deployment. You and the rest of of your classmates discuss security issues, followed by techniques for implementing and deploying databases in network-connected configurations. Your study concludes with presentations of data warehouses, data marts and the use of databases in business intelligence applications.
Course Outline
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