Spring 2026 - CMPT 454 D100
Database Systems II (3)
Class Number: 5480
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Tianzheng Wang
tzwang@sfu.ca
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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:
CMPT 454 is a systems-oriented course on the design and implementation of relational database systems, the backbone of many today's data-intensive applications, like e-commerce, banking, social-network, telecom, etc. This course provides an in-depth coverage of core topics in the making of relational database systems, topics includes data storage, indexing, query optimization and transaction processing.
This course will not use Canvas. Course schedule, materials, etc. will be available on the course website: https://www.cs.sfu.ca/~tzwang/teaching/cmpt454-spring26
Topics
- Data storage, indexing
- Query processing
- Transaction processing
- Logging and crash recovery
- Other related database systems topics
Grading
NOTES:
To be discussed in the first week of class.
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
Reference Books
- Database Systems: The Complete Book, Hector Garcia-Molina, Jeffrey D. Ullman, Jennifer Widom, 9780131873254, 2nd or latest Edition
- Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques, Jim Gray, Andreas Reuter, 9781558601901
- Database Management Systems, Raghu Ramekrishnan, Johannes Gehrke, McGraw-Hill, 9780072465631, 3rd Edition
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:
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Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
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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:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
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.