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  • Berkeley Global

Introduction to Databases

COMPSCI X409.1

40645
Delivery Options Online

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

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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
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Sections

Section 022

Start Anytime Online

Course Fee(s)

Course Fee credit (2 units)

$895.00


Type Online, Start Anytime

Enroll anytime and progress through the curriculum at your own pace.

Dates
Start Now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled.

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

2 semester units

Instructors

  • Andrew Oppel

Section Notes

Online, enroll anytime. This continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. (Learn more.) You have a minimum of 60 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course. This section requires a proctored final exam.

Section Materials

  • Textbook (Mandatory) Databases: A Beginner's Guide by Andy Oppel © 2009 McGraw-Hill ISBN 9780071608466

This course applies to the following programs:

Certificate Program in Data Science

Expand or collapse section

Programming

  • Introduction to R: Data Exploration and Visualization
  • Python for Data Analysis and Scientific Computing
  • Introduction to Data Science
  • Introduction to Data Science Using R

Machine Learning

  • Introduction to Machine Learning Using Python
  • Machine Learning and Deep Learning With Spark
  • Practical Machine Learning (With R)
  • Machine Learning With TensorFlow

Core Courses

  • Practical Statistics for Data Scientists Using R
  • Introduction to Big Data
  • Data Science Principles and Practice Using Python
  • Data Visualization

Electives

  • Introduction to Databases
  • Introduction to SQL

Learn More About this Program

Professional Program in Data Administration and Management

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Required Courses

  • Introduction to SQL
  • Business Intelligence With SQL Server
  • Data Mining Using SQL
  • Managing Data(bases) Using SQL

Electives

  • Introduction to Databases
  • Introduction to Big Data

Learn More About this Program

Professional Program in Data Analysis

Expand or collapse section

Data Analysis Courses

  • Introduction to Data Analytics
  • Introduction to R: Data Exploration and Visualization
  • Python for Data Analysis and Scientific Computing
  • Data Analytics and Visualization
  • Practical Statistics for Data Scientists Using R

SAS Analytics Courses

Data Management Courses

  • Introduction to Databases
  • Introduction to SQL
  • Business Intelligence With SQL Server
  • Data Mining Using SQL

Learn More About this Program

Certificate Program in Software Development and Programming

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Core Course

  • Introduction to Computers and Programming

Software Development Lifecycle Courses

  • Software Project Management
  • Software Quality Assurance

Data and Databases Courses

  • Introduction to Data Analytics
  • Introduction to Databases
  • Data Mining Using SQL

Programming Courses

  • First Course in Java
  • Introduction to C Language Programming
  • Programming Python

Operations, Networking and Security Courses

  • Introduction to DevOps
  • Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • Fundamentals of Data Communications and Networking

Web Development Courses

  • JavaScript and jQuery: An Introduction
  • Fundamentals of Website Development

Current Topics Courses

  • Introduction to Quantum Computing With Applications
  • Blockchain Fundamentals

Learn More About this Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-techeng@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-4151

Prerequisites

Recommended

  • Ability to program in at least one high-level programming language such as Python, Java, Ruby, JavaScript, C or C++. Need to fulfill this prereq? Take a course in:
    • Introduction to Computers and Programming COMPSCI X444.4
    • Programming Python COMPSCI X434
    • First Course in Java EL ENG X429.9
    • JavaScript and jQuery: An Introduction COMPSCI X452.1
    • Introduction to C Language Programming EL ENG X24
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Course Fee

Online

Andrew Oppel

Andrew Oppel, B.A., Extension Honored Instructor, is a senior data solutions architect at GoodData Corporation, who has more than 40 years of experience in information technology and more than 35 years of experience teaching at UC Berkeley Extension.  He is also author of Databases Demystified (McGraw-Hill/Osborne 2004), SQL Demystified (McGraw-Hill/Osborne 2005), Databases: A Beginner's Guide (McGraw Hill, 2009), Data Modeling: A Beginner's Guide (McGraw-Hill, 2010), Databases Demystified, 2nd Edition (McGraw-Hill, 2011), SQL: A Beginner's Guide, 4th Edition (McGraw-Hill, 2015) and co-author of SQL: The Complete Reference, 3rd Edition (McGraw-Hill, 2009).

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