About this course: Database Management Essentials provides the foundation you need for a career in database development, data warehousing, or business intelligence, as well as for the entire Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence specialization. In this course, you will create relational databases, write SQL statements to extract information to satisfy business reporting requests, create entity relationship diagrams (ERDs) to design databases, and analyze table designs for excessive redundancy. As you develop these skills, you will use either Oracle or MySQL to execute SQL statements and a database diagramming tool such as the ER Assistant to create ERDs. We’ve designed this course to ensure a common foundation for specialization learners. Everyone taking the course can jump right in with writing SQL statements in Oracle or MySQL.

Created by: University of Colorado System

Taught by: Michael Mannino, Associate Professor
Business School, University of Colorado Denver

Basic Info	Course 1 of 5 in the Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence Specialization
Commitment	7 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week
Language	English, Subtitles: Chinese (Simplified)
How To Pass	Pass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings	4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Course Introduction

Module 1 provides the context for Database Management Essentials. When you’re done, you’ll understand the objectives for the course and know what topics and assignments to expect. Keeping these course objectives in mind will help you succeed throughout the course! You should read about the database software requirements in the last lesson of module 1. I recommend that you try to install the DBMS software this week before assignments begin in week 2.

4 videos, 6 readings

Video: Specialization Introduction video lesson
Video: Course introduction video lecture
Video: Course objectives video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1
Video: Topics and assignments video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Reading: Optional textbook
Reading: Overview of database management software requirements
Reading: Oracle installation notes
Reading: Making a connection to a database on a local Oracle server

Introduction to Databases and DBMSs

We’ll launch into an exploration of databases and database technology and their impact on organizations in Module 2. We’ll investigate database characteristics, database technology features, including non-procedural access, two key processing environments, and an evolution of the database software industry. This short informational module will ensure that we all have the same background and context, which is critical for success in the later modules that emphasize details and hands-on skills.

7 videos, 8 readings, 1 practice quiz

Video: Database characteristics video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Practice Quiz: Learning check-in
Video: Organizational Roles video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: DBMS overview and database definition feature video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Video: Non-procedural access video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Video: Transaction processing overview video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 5
Video: Data warehouse processing overview video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 6
Video: DBMS technology evolution video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 7
Reading: Optional reading

Graded: Module02 Quiz

WEEK 2

Relational Data Model and the CREATE TABLE Statement

Now that you have the informational context for database features and environments, you’ll start building! In this module, you’ll learn relational data model terminology, integrity rules, and the CREATE TABLE statement. You’ll apply what you’ve learned in practice and graded problems using a database management system (DBMS), either Oracle or MySQL, creating tables using the SQL CREATE TABLE statement and populating your tables using given SQL INSERT statements.

5 videos, 11 readings, 1 practice quiz

Video: Basics of relational databases video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Integrity rules video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Basic SQL CREATE TABLE statement video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Reading: University database statements for Oracle and MySQL
Video: Integrity constraint syntax video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Video: Assignment 1 Notes video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 5
Reading: Optional reading
Reading: DBMS installation and configuration notes
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 3
Practice Quiz: Quiz for Module 3 practice problems
Reading: Extra Problems for Module 3
Reading: Assignment for Module 3

Graded: Module 3 Assignment

WEEK 3

Basic Query Formulation with SQL

This module is all about acquiring query formulation skills. Now that you know the relational data model and have basic skills with the CREATE TABLE statement, we can cover basic syntax of the SQL SELECT statement and the join operator for combining tables. SELECT statement examples are presented for single table conditions, join operations, and grouping operations. You’ll practice writing simple SELECT statements using the tables that you created in the assignment for module 3.

5 videos, 11 readings, 1 practice quiz

Video: SQL Overview video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1
Reading: University database examples
Video: SELECT statement introduction video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Join Operator video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Video: Using Join operations in SQL SELECT statements video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Video: GROUP BY clause video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 5
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 4
Practice Quiz: Quiz for Module 4 Practice Problems
Reading: Extra Problems for Module 4
Reading: Assignment for Module 4
Reading: Optional reading
Reading: DBMS installation and configuration notes

Graded: Module 4 Assignment

Extended Query Formulation with SQL

Now that you can identify and use the SELECT statement and the join operator, you’ll extend your problem solving skills in this module so you can gain confidence on more complex queries. You will work on retrieval problems with multiple tables and grouping. In addition, you’ll learn to use the UNION operator in the SQL SELECT statement and write SQL modification statements.

5 videos, 10 readings, 1 practice quiz

Video: Query formulation guidelines video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Multiple table problems video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Problems involving join and grouping operations video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Video: SQL set operators video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Video: SQL modification statements video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 5
Reading: Optional textbook reading material
Reading: DBMS installation and configuration notes
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 5
Practice Quiz: Quiz for Module 5 Practice Problems
Reading: Extra Problems for Module 5
Reading: Assignment for Module 5

Graded: Module 5 Assignment

WEEK 4

Notation for Entity Relationship Diagrams

Module 6 represents another shift in your learning. In previous modules, you’ve created and populated tables and developed query formulation skills using the SQL SELECT statement. Now you’ll start to develop skills that allow you to create a database design to support business requirements. You’ll learn basic notation used in entity relationship diagrams (ERDs), a graphical notation for data modeling. You will create simple ERDs using basic diagram symbols and relationship variations to start developing your data modeling skills.

4 videos, 7 readings

Video: Database development goals video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Basic ERD notation video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Relationship variations I video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Video: Relationship variations II video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Reading: Optional textbook reading material
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 6
Reading: Assignment for Module 6

Graded: Module 6 Assignment

ERD Rules and Problem Solving

Module 7 builds on your knowledge of database development using basic ERD symbols and relationship variations. We’ll be practicing precise usage of ERD notation and basic problem solving skills. You will learn about diagram rules and work problems to help you gain confidence using and creating ERDs.

5 videos, 8 readings

Video: Basic diagram rules video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Extended diagram rules video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: ERD problems I video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Video: ERD problems II video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Video: ER Assistant Demonstration video
Reading: ER Assistant download
Reading: Optional textbook reading material
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 7
Reading: Assignment for Module 7

Graded: Module 7 Assignment

WEEK 5

Developing Business Data Models

In Module 8, you’ll use your ERD notation skills and your ability to avoid diagram errors to develop ERDs that satisfy specific business data requirements. You will learn and practice powerful problem-solving skills as you analyze narrative statements and transformations to generate alternative ERDs.

4 videos, 7 readings

Video: Conceptual data modeling goals and challenges
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Analyzing narrative problems
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Design transformations I
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Video: Design transformations II video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Reading: Optional textbook reading material
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 8
Reading: Assignment for Module 8

Graded: Module 8 Assignment

Data Modeling Problems and Completion of an ERD

Now that you have practiced data modeling techniques, you’ll get to wrestle with narrative problem analyses and transformations for generating alternative database designs in Module 9. At the end of this module, you’ll learn guidelines for documentation and detection of design errors that will serve you well as you design databases for business situations.

3 videos, 6 readings

Video: Data modeling problems I video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Data modeling problems II video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Finalizing an ERD video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Reading: Optional textbook reading material
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 9
Reading: Assignment for Module 9

Graded: Module 9 Assignment

WEEK 6

Schema Conversion

Modules 6 to 9 covered conceptual data modeling, emphasizing precise usage of ERD notation, analysis of narrative problems, and generation of alternative designs. Modules 10 and 11 cover logical database design, the next step in the database development process. In Module 10, we’ll cover schema conversion, the first step in the logical database design phase. You will learn to convert an ERD into a table design that can be implemented on a relational DBMS.

3 videos, 6 readings

Video: Goals and steps of logical database design video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Conversion rules video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Conversion problems video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Reading: Optional textbook reading material
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 10
Reading: Assignment for Module 10

Graded: Module 10 Assignment

WEEK 7

Normalization Concepts and Practice

Module 11 covers normalization, the second part of the logical database design process. Normalization provides tools to remove unwanted redundancy in a table design. You’ll discover the motivation for normalization, constraints to reason about unwanted redundancy, and rules that detect excessive redundancy in a table design. You’ll practice integrating and applying normalization techniques in the final lesson of this course.

6 videos, 8 readings

Video: Modification anomalies video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 1 and extras
Video: Functional dependencies video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 2
Video: Normal forms video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 3
Video: Practical concerns video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 4
Video: Normalization problems video lecture
Reading: Powerpoint lecture notes for lesson 5
Video: Course Conclusion
Reading: Optional textbook reading materials
Reading: Practice Problems for Module 11
Reading: Assignment for Module 11

Graded: Module 11 Assignment

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Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 of 1,097 ratings

Excelente curso me permitió notar cosas que las daba por sentadas y son muy importantes

Very nice course that will guide you in the basics of diagrams and SQL.

Excelent, this course it is a good foundation for begin in Data base career.

I have taken a few courses on Database concepts and SQL and was never quite satisfied with the theoretical explanations. Professor Mannino does a really good job explaining important concepts like joins and some of the pitfalls to avoid. If you are like me , then you want to listen more than once to each video. His query formulation guidelines are very valuable technique to use when approaching difficult problems. I am not yet done with the course but i feel already it deserves an honest review.