Course Information
CIT 177 Database Management Systems and Spreadsheet
CONTACT DETAILS
Name of Lecturer: Dr. Hani Brdesee
Office Location: Building A, CIT Department
Office Telephone: TBA
E-mail: haniid@hotmail.com
Office hours: Monday: 10am – 11:30pm
Brief Description:
This course is intended to introduce the key concepts of storage structures and database systems. The
course will discuss the different types of commercial database systems and using the relational model as
an example. The course also will introduce the usage of database management systems and Spread
Sheet software.
CIT 177:
Database Management Systems and Spreadsheet
Cr Lec Lab
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Introduction to the basic elements, exploration of additional components and common
database management problems related to the Microsoft Access program. Computer
spreadsheet skills for solving business problems using Excel, including calculations,
forecasting, projections, macro programming, database searching, extraction, linking,
statistics, and matrix manipulation. Production of graphs and reports. Project design using
multiple, integrated spreadsheets
Prerequisites: FAOYC
Microsoft Access (Latest Version), Pamela R. T, SELECT series:
Textbook(s):
Comprehensive Volume. Prentice Hall
Course Objectives:
After completion of this course the students will be able to:
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Place database programs within the larger context of recent computer history.
Identify the various types of database management programs.
Describe the main features, advantages, and limitations of this specific program.
Operate the database program and the microcomputer on which it runs, at an
elementary level.
Create database files.
Add, delete and alter records within the database files.
Retrieve information for screen display and printing.
Use a full complement of database commands and selection tools.
Access multiple files simultaneously (as supported by specific database software).
Use various numerical, character, date and logical expressions.
Present database records in various organized ways (alphabetic, numerical, by date,
etc.)
Investigate solutions for a variety of common data management problems.
Employ specific special production features of the database program.
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Course Outline:
I. Introduction to history and theory of databases
a. History of databases and file management
b. Survey of data types
II. Overview of the specific database being studied
a. Main features
1. Files
2. Fields
3. Records
4. Reports
5. Indexes
6. Other
b. Advantages and limitations
1. Capacity
2. User-friendly aids and shortcuts
3. Frequent problems and disadvantages
III. Running the specific database program
a. Database environment; keyboard; function keys; screen; other
b. Launching/quitting the program
c. Issuing commands and making menu selections
IV. Creation of simple database files
a. Making elementary file structures
b. Filling the file with appropriate data
c. Changing the file
1. Altering the file's structure
2. Changing, deleting, and adding records
V. Information retrieval
a. Retrieving files, records, and fields
1. Global and selective retrieval
2. Elementary query methods
b. Viewing and printing the results
1. Browsing, displaying, listing data on the screen
2. Sending organized data to a variety of printers
VI. Database commands and selections
a. Syntax of database commands
b. Options for database commands
VII. Creating varied expressions
a. Mathematical computations
b. String manipulations
c. Dates and their uses
d. Logical operators
e. Sums, averages, counts, and other statistics
f. Functions
VIII. Formatting the Spreadsheets
a. Data Type
b. Adjusting style, color, Border , Alignment
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c. Understanding Formula Basics
IX. Reordering the database
a. Permanent reorganization
1. Sorting
2. Other
b. Indexing
X. One or more of these typical database management problems
a. Payroll
b. Real Estate management
c. Personnel files
d. Inventory
e. Grades and rosters
f. Information files
g. Other examples
Evaluation / Grading:
The official grades in this course are:
Marks
95-100%
90-94%
85-89%
80-84%
75-79%
70-74%
65-69%
60-64%
0-59%
Grade
A+
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
Item
Homework / Assignments/Lab
Quizzes
Exam I (Written)
Exam II (Written)
Final Exam (comprehensive)
Marks
10%
10%
20%
20%
40%
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Student Responsibilities:
Home works, Assignments & Lab-work:
 Home works and assignments are individual unless mentioned by the instructor otherwise
 Lab activities will be assigned individually or in group. If any lab is missed the student is
responsible to arrange for a make up.
 The devices in the Lab must not be used for any other activities and/or in any other ways than
that which is explained by the instructor
 Each week’s home works, assignments or Lab reports are due on the first event of the next
week and must be submitted in the suggested format
 Late assignments will be penalized as follows: one day late...1 grade reduction, two days
late...two grades reduced, after three days...1/2 credit.
 If a student submits more than two late assignments in a term, additional late papers may not
be accepted and extra work might be assigned
Attendance:
 NO ABSENCE AND NO LATE WILL UPGRADE ALL PASSED MARKS TO THE NEXT
GRADE.
 Registration to a course and dropping procedure is a student’s responsibility
 The proof of registration should be shown in the first class
 The students are expected to be in class from the beginning of class.
 Those who come in the class within 10 minutes are considered LATE
 After ten (10) minutes the students are marked absent
 After three weeks equivalent absence, a grade of “DN” (Denied) will be issued
 It's responsibility of the student to keep the record of his absences .
 Electronic devices must be turned off during all class and Lab times. Otherwise he may
be asked to leave class and earn an absence.
It's responsibility of the student to keep the record of his absences .
Learning Resources:
Textbook: "Essentials:
Microsoft Office Access 2003: Level One", by Pamela R.
Toliver, Prentice Hall, 2004
Supplemental Text Book:
“Microsoft Access 2003: For Dummies”, by John Kaufeld, Wiley, 2003
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