CIS 3400 Database Management Systems Syllabus

Zicklin School of Business – Baruch College
City University of New York

CIS 3400 Database Management Systems

DRAFT SYLLABUS

Spring 2025

Section EMWA – Monday/Wednesday 2:30 – 3:45

Professor Dr. Richard Holowczak
Phone: 646 – 312 – 3371
Office Hours (Online): Monday and Wednesday 1:30 to 2:30pm or by appointment
E-Mail: [email protected] (Preferred)
Always include the following in the Subject line: CIS 3400 followed by the specific subject of your e-mail.
Instructional Modality Section EMWA will be Hybrid.
Monday In-Person in Room B – Vert 9-150 (Newman Vertical Campus 9th floor)
Wednesday On-Line
Course Description This course provides students with the background to design, implement, and use database management systems. It introduces, the structures, requirements, functions, and evolution of database management systems. After covering conceptual data modeling and the entity relationship data model, the course focuses on the relational data model. Students learn commercial relational database implementations using languages such as Query By Example (QBE) and Structured Query Language (SQL). Concepts including data integrity, security, privacy, transaction processing and ethical stewardship of data are introduced. Students implement a major database application project.
Objectives The main objective of this course is to provide students with the background to design, implement, and use database management systems.

Specific Topics Include:

  • Evolution of database management systems
  • Entity Relationship Modeling and Design (Conceptual Modeling)
  • Relational Data Model (Logical Modeling)
  • Structured Query Language (Physical Modeling)
  • Transaction Processing, Concurrency Control and Recovery
  • Database System Architectures
  • Database Management and application development roles
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Database Management
Course Learning Goals Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the skills to analyze business requirements and produce a viable model and implementation of a database to meet such requirements. In addition students will gain skills to manage data in a professional and ethical manner.
Program Learning Goals Database Development: Students will apply the principles of design and development of relational databases.
System Analysis and Design: Students will elicit, analyze, and model system requirements.
Software Programming: Students will implement software systems using a suitable programming language/ development environment.
Information Technology Management: Students will identify and explain the factors that contribute to the successful design, implementation, and management of Information Technology systems in organizations.
Textbooks / Materials / Resources
Course Content In addition to required reading in the textbook, there will be 3 to 4 homework assignments posted and submitted on Brightspace.
Examinations will consist of three tests (non-cumulative). Tests will be in-person.
A semester-long group project is required.
I also reserve the right to issue unannounced quizzes if I believe the class is not appropriately keeping up with their preparations.
Group Project Every student will participate in a semester-long group project.
Groups will consist of 5 members and will be randomly assigned during the second week of classes.
Groups will be responsible for researching, modeling and building a functioning database system including tables, data entry forms, queries, and reports.
The Project Guidelines and Milestones are posted on this link.
A sample project can be found on this link.
Each of the project milestones will be graded:
Milestone A (10%): Project Proposal
Milestone B (30%): Entity Relationship Model
Milestone C (20%): Relational Model and Normalization
Milestone D (10%): Database schema implementation using SQL
Milestone E (30%): Application implementation and Final Project Report submission
Grading will be done according to: On-time Submission, Model complexity, Revisions required, and Group Member Participation.
Differential grades will be assigned to group members who do not participate equally in the project.
Final Grade Breakdown
  • Test 1
 25%
  • Test 2
 10%
  • Test 3
 25%
  • Project
 25%
  • Homework (average)
 15%

This is a tentative grading schedule and is subject to change. Late homework assignment submissions will be graded down 5 points per day late. Credit will not be given for assignments submitted after homework solutions are discussed or after the last day of classes. There will be no extra credit homework assignments.
Prerequisites CIS 2200 Introduction to Information Systems AND ZICK OR ZKTP Student Group OR STA-BA Plan with 45 credits OR NBTBIN-MIN Plan AND BUS 1000 OR 1001 OR 1011).
Topics / Schedule (Tentative) The following table provides a tentative lecture schedule for the course.

Week Topics Chapter in Textbook MS Access Skills
1 Course Introduction and Introduction to Databases 1 Windows File Manager, Screen Shots
2 Systems Analysis and Database Modeling Appendix E and Chapter 6 Creating DB and Tables
Tutorial 1-5
3 Entity Relationship Modeling (E-R Modeling) and Advanced Data Modeling Appendix E and Chapter 6 Queries and Forms
Tutorial 6-11
4 Converting E-R models to Relational Models
Homework #1 Due 2/24/25		 5 Advanced Table Design
Tutorial
5 The Relational Model and Normalization 5 Advanced Forms
Tutorial
6 Test #1 3/3/25 (Tentative)
7 Physical Database Design and SQL
Homework #2 Intro to SQL Due 3/10/24		 3 and 4 Custom Reports and Queries
Tutorial
8 Structured Query Language (SQL) 3 and 4
9 Structured Query Language (SQL) Continued 3 and 4
10 Homework #3 SQL Due 3/31/25
Test #2 4/2/25 (Tentative)
11 Database Administration 8 and 9 Visual Basic
Tutorial
12 Transaction Processing, Concurrency Control and Recovery 7 Visual Basic
Tutorial
13 Database System Architectures 9
14 Legal and Ethical issues in data management
Homework #4 Advanced SQL Due 5/12/25		 8
16 Test #3 T.B.D. Final Exam period (In Person)

Please note that the above schedule is subject to change. Students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to participate. The associated textbook chapters should be read ahead of time.
Important Dates for this Semester Baruch Academic Calendar for Spring 2025

- January 25     Saturday      Official start of the Spring Semester
- January 27     Monday        First Class session for CIS 3400
- January 29     Wednesday     No Class
- February 12    Wednesday     No Class
- February 17    Monday        No Class
- February 18    Tuesday       Classes follow Monday schedule
- March 6        Thursday      Classes follow Wednesday schedule
- March 31       Monday        No Class
- April 1        Tuesday       Last day to withdraw with "W" grade
- April 12-20	 Spring Recess
- April 14       Monday        No Class
- April 16       Wednesday     No Class
- May 14         Wednesday     Last class for CIS 9760
- May 16-22      Final exams
- May 27         Tuesday       Final Grades Submitted
Final Letter Grades Letter grades are calculated according to the Official Grading System of Baruch College. The instructor reserves the right to curve the scale when computing final grades, if deemed necessary.

Grade Grade Point Equivalent Score
A 4.0 93.0 – 100
A- 3.7 90.0 – 92.9
B+ 3.3 87.1 – 89.9
B 3.0 83.0 – 87
B- 2.7 80.0 – 82.9
C+ 2.3 77.1 – 79.9
C 2.0 73.0 – 77
C- 1.7 70.0 – 72.9
D+ 1.3 67.1 – 69.9
D 1.0 60.0 – 67
F 0.0 below 60
Grade Distribution The Paul H. Chook Department of Information Systems and Statistics expects to see a reasonable distribution of grades in each class. For undergraduate courses this distribution is:

A and A- 30% or less
B+, B & B- 30% or less
C+, C & C- 30% or less
D & F any students who have earned these grades

Due to these guidelines, the professor reserves the right to curve final letter grades up or down.
Academic Integrity Statement I fully support Baruch College’s policy on Academic Honesty, which states, in part:

“Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the college’s educational mission and the students’ personal and intellectual growth. Baruch students are expected to bear individual responsibility for their work, to learn the rules and definitions that underlie the practice of academic integrity, and to uphold its ideals. Ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable excuse for disobeying them. Any student who attempts to compromise or devalue the academic process will be sanctioned.”

Academic sanctions in this class will range from an F on the assignment to an F in this course. A report of suspected academic dishonesty will be sent to the Office of the Dean of Students. Additional information and definitions can be found at https://provost.baruch.cuny.edu/teaching-learning-student-success/academic_honesty/

The use of AI (ChatGPT and similar) for coursework and assignments is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of AI-generated text, speech, programming code, diagrams or images, as well as the use of AI tools or software to complete any portion of a project, assignment or exam. Any use of AI tools to complete your work or a portion of your work will result in a grade of 0.
Students with Disabilities Students with disabilities may receive assistance and accommodation of various sorts to enable them to participate fully in courses at Baruch. To establish the accommodations appropriate for each student, please alert me to your needs and contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, part of the Division of Student Development and Counseling. For more information contact the Director of this office in NVC 2-271 or at (646) 312-4590.
Baruch College Counseling Center At Baruch, we acknowledge that as a student, you are balancing many demands. During the semester, if you start to experience personal difficulties or stressors that are interfering with your academic performance or day to day functioning, please consider seeking free and confidential support at the Baruch College Counseling Center. For more information or to make an appointment, please visit their website at studentaffairs.baruch.cuny.edu/counseling/ or call 646-312-2155. If it is outside of business hours (Monday-Friday 9-5pm) and you need immediate assistance, please call 1-888-NYC-WELL (888-692-9355). If you are concerned about one of your classmates, please share that concern by filling out a Campus Intervention Team form at studentaffairs.baruch.cuny.edu/campus-intervention-team.
Student Academic Consulting Center The Student Academic Consulting Center (SACC) offers tutoring for CIS 3400. Please visit their web site to schedule an appointment.
Additional Notes
  • No makeups will be given for missed quizzes or exams.
  • The instructor retains all exams.
  • Grades will not be given out via e-mail.
  • If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out about any announcements or assignments you may have missed.
  • In general, the time to let me know about any problems or issues concerning missing class, long term illnesses, job related problems, etc. is before you have missed a week or two of classes.
  • All homework assignments are to be done individually. Students handing in similar work will both receive a a 0 and face possible disciplinary actions.
  • We will use MS Access on MS Windows in class. If you do not have a Windows laptop, you may:
    a) Borrow a Windows laptop from the Library
    b) Install VirtualBox (or Parallels for Mac ), then MS Windows and then MS Access (or Office).
    c) Install Bootcamp, MS Windows and then MS Access (or Office).
    d) Use CUNY Apporto Virtual Desktop.
    e) Remotely access the computers in the main lab in the Baruch Library building by going to https://onlinelabs.baruch.cuny.edu
    f) Use the computers available in the Baruch Computer Labs.
  • Microsoft Access 2019 or 2021 can be downloaded for free as part of MS Office.
    Please review This CUNY page for more information.
    Additional Microsoft software can be downloaded from Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching site (formerly Microsoft Imagine software library).
  • Students are expected to spend significant time outside of the classroom learning to use MS Windows and MS Access. It is assumed students know how to run multiple programs at the same time, make backups of their work on several e-mail accounts or thumb drives (USB drives), cut/copy and paste text and images between applications, and how to work with the accessories that come with MS Windows such as a Web Browser (Internet Explorer, FireFox, Safari, etc.), Windows Explorer (file management), MS Paint, Notepad and WordPad.
  • Other helpful software tools to have include a decent word processor (e.g., MS Word) and a drawing tool such as LucidChart. MS PowerPoint can be used for the latter. Again, the Baruch computer labs have all of these tools.
  • Assignments will be turned in via Brightspace in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format only.
  • Make backups of all of your work! This includes any assignment and project materials you and your group produce. Copy files onto 2 or 3 thumb drives (USB Drives) or e-mail accounts or cloud storage and photocopy or scan diagrams and other materials to share with your group.
  • You may wish to join the Student chapter of Association for Information Systems and/or the the ISACA Cybersecurity Club

 

BBA Program Learning Goals

Goals Significant Part of the Course Moderate Part of Course Minimal part of
Course		 Not Part of Course
Analytical Skills X
Technological Skills X
Communication Skills: Oral X
Communication Skills: Written X
Civic Awareness and Ethical
Decision-Making		 X
Global Awareness X

 

Course Mapping with Learning Goals

Course Learning Goals BBA learning goals Assignments/Projects
have the skills to analyze business requirements and produce a viable model of a database Analytical skills
Technological skills		 Assignment 1 (ER Modeling), Assignment 2 (Normalization), Test #1 and semester group project.
have the skills to implement a database system to meet such requirements Analytical skills
Technological skills		 Assignment 3 (SQL), Assignment 4 (SQL), Test #2 and semester group project.
gain skills to manage data in a professional, ethical, and global fashion Technological skills
Communications skills
Civic Awareness and Ethical Decision-Making
Global Awareness		 Test #3 and semester group project.

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