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Introduction to Databases

COMPSCI X409.1

40645
Delivery Options Online
 

In this course, students learn the principles of effective database design and gain a general overview of database management systems (DBMS). The emphasis is on relational and NoSQL database management systems which have a variety of applications in modern website development, software development, and data science. Students learn dimensional, object-oriented, and object-relational architectures, along with best practices for managing data integrity and security.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for this course. Prior knowledge of SQL or experience querying databases is helpful but not required.

Course Outline

Expand or collapse section

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

 

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

Learner Outcomes

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to: 

  • Choose applicable database architectures for typical business use cases.
  • Create a relational database schema, including data structures (tables and related components), load data into the tables, and perform various queries using the database schema.
  • Write basic queries for document and graph databases.
  • Create database designs that support business transactions as well as the reporting of historic data.
  • Choose appropriate physical database architectures for a variety of database applications.
  • Choose indexing strategies for relational database tables.
  • Choose implementation strategies for various NoSQL database architectures.
  • Specify security requirements and techniques to protect the assets contained in the database.
  • Create an implementation specification for database applications, including:
    • Cursor processing options
    • Transaction management methods to ensure database consistency
    • Incorporation of alternative data structures
  • Design data warehouse schemas and implementation plans.
  • Design data mart schemas and implementation plans.
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Sections

Section 032

Start Anytime

Type: Online, Start Anytime

Instructor:

  • Andrew Oppel

Cost: $995.00

See section 032 Details

Type Online, Start Anytime

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

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

2 semester units

Section Notes

Online, enroll anytime. This continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 60 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.

Section Materials

  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    SQL & NoSQL Databases by Andreas Meier, Michael Kaufmann

    © 2023 Springer Vieweg 2nd edition ISBN 978-3031279072

Fall 2025 enrollment opens on June 16!

This course applies to the following programs:

Professional Program in Data Analysis

Expand or collapse section

SQL and Databases

  • Introduction to SQL
  • Introduction to Databases
  • Data Mining Using SQL
  • Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence

Visualization

  • Data Visualization

Analytics

  • Introduction to Data Analytics
  • Python for Data Analysis
  • R for Data Analysis

Data Analytics Capstone

  • Data Analytics Capstone

Learn More About This Program

Program in Data Science

Expand or collapse section

Databases & Big Data

  • Introduction to Big Data
  • Introduction to Databases

Data Science

  • Introduction to Data Science
  • Introduction to Machine Learning Using Python
  • Machine Learning and Deep Learning
  • Artificial Intelligence Foundations
  • Data Visualization

Data Science Capstone

  • Data Science Capstone

Learn More About This Program

Program in Software Development

Expand or collapse section

Programming

  • Data Structures and Algorithms

Front-End Development

  • Front-End Web Development
  • JavaScript Frameworks

Databases

  • Introduction to Databases
  • Advanced Databases

Back-End Development

  • Modern Web Applications and Cloud Computing

Elective

  • Software Quality Assurance
  • Software Design Patterns

Capstone

  • Software Development Capstone

Learn More About This Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-techeng@berkeley.edu

Instructional Types

Live Online
Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). Learn more about the Live Online format.
Online, Start Anytime
Continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.
Online, Fixed Date
Enroll in this course by its start date and complete it by its specified end date. There are no live sessions, but plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your classmates and instructor.
Classroom
Take classes in-person at one of our buildings or partner locations.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All of our courses are taught in English. If English is not your first language, please use the following test scores as guides in order to be successful:

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS Academic Format: 7
  • DAAD: C1
  • TEM-4 or TEM-8: Level 70
  • Duolingo: 125

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

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Berkeley, CA 94704-7000

extension@berkeley.edu

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Course Fee

Andrew Oppel

Andrew Oppel, B.A., Extension Honored Instructor, is a retired data architect and data modeler. Previously, he was 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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