Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - CMPT 454 D100

Database Systems II (3)

Class Number: 5526

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 9, 2025
    Tue, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    (CMPT 201 or CMPT 300) and CMPT 354, with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An advanced course on database systems which covers crash recovery, concurrency control, transaction processing, distributed database systems as the core material and a set of selected topics based on the new developments and research interests, such as object-oriented data models and systems, extended relational systems, deductive database systems, and security and integrity.

COURSE DETAILS:

Topics:

–I/O cost metric and scalability for large data
–Data storage, organization, and indexing
–Evaluation of relational operators and SQL queries
–Transaction management and concurrency control
–Recovery from system crash

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The objective of the course is to understand the design goals of the database system and how these goals are achieved through physical implementation of database systems. After this course, the student will  understand how the database system internally works and how it processes simple queries (like SQL) efficiently on very large databases, how it supports queries and updates from multiple users while maintaining consistency of data, how it recovers from unexpected system crashes to keep.

Grading

  • 3 assignments 30%
  • Midterm 30%
  • Final 40%

NOTES:

- Later submission is not accepted. Only submissions received in the system before deadlines will be marked.
- Students need to pass the exam component, i.e., miderm and final, in order to pass the course.

REQUIREMENTS:


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Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Database Management Systems, Raghu Ramakrishnan/Johannes Gehrke, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill. Answers to odd numbered questions available on internet
ISBN: 9780072465631

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The following are default policies in the School of Computing Science. Please check your course syllabus whether the instructor has chosen a different policy for your class, otherwise the following policies apply.
 
  • Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
  • All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes, or no later than one week after a student adds a course. After considering a request, an instructor may provide a concession or may decline to do so. Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability can contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca).

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.