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6.830: Syllabus

Overview

This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the foundations of database systems, focusing on basics such as the relational algebra and data model, query optimization, query processing, and transactions. This is not a course on database design or SQL programming (though we will discuss these issues briefly). It is designed for students who have taken 6.033 (or equivalent); no prior database experience is assumed though students who have taken an undergraduate course in databases are encouraged to attend.

Classes will consist of lectures and discussions based on readings from the database literature. There will be a semester long project, as well as two exams and 7 additional assignments -- 4 Java based programming "Labs" and 3 problem sets.

Enrollment may be limited.

The course web site is http://db.csail.mit.edu/6.830/index.html.

Lectures

Lectures are held twice a week, from 12:30-2:00 in 32-155. Attendance at lectures is mandatory and you are expected to show up prepared to answer questions and participate in discussion.

Topics Covered

Topics related to the engineering and design of database systems, including: data models; database and schema design; schema normalization and integrity constraints; query processing; query optimization and cost estimation; transactions; recovery; concurrency control; isolation and consistency; distributed, parallel, and heterogeneous databases; adaptive databases; trigger systems; pub-sub systems; semi-structured data and XML querying. Lecture and readings from original research papers. Semester-long project and paper.

Prerequisites

Students should have taken 6.033 (Introduction to Systems) or equivalent as well as 6.006 or 6.046 (Introduction to Algorithms) or equivalent. If you do not have experience in these subjects and would like to take the course, please email the instructor. Prior database experience is not required.

Units

3-0-9. 6.830 is a Grad-H class. It counts as an engineering concentration (EC) subject in Systems. For Area II Ph.D. students in EECS, it satisfies the Systems TQE requirement.

Grading

Grades are assigned based on 6 assignments, 2 quizzes, a final project, and class participation. The grading breakdown is as follows:

Each student is allowed 3 "late days", each of which may be used to turn in one problem set one class meeting later than it is due without penalty. After all three late days are used, assignments will be docked one letter grade for each class meeting they are late.

Late days may not be used for the final project or exams.

Collaboration Policy

For problem sets, you are allowed to discuss your answers with other students, but please write up your own answers and list your collaborators. Copying solutions from other students is never allowed. For the group project you will work in teams and hand in only one written report.

Text

The course readings will primarily be drawn from the 4th Edition of ``Readings in Database Systems'', edited by Stonebraker and Hellerstein as well as the textbook "Database Management Systems" from Ramakrishnan and Gehrke.

Both texts are available from the MIT Coop. Note that the 3rd Edition of "Readings In Database Systems" is a substantially different text (it does not include the same readings as the 4th edition.) Also, note that "Readings in Database Systems" is available online from Books 24x7.com (free registration is required) if you are accessing from an MIT IP address (this URL was updated 10/1/07).

Supplemental Readings

There will be several other readings that will be posted on the course web site.

6.033 is a prerequisite. You may wish to review the 6.033 class notes, especially during our discussion of transactions and logging.

Last change: 8/7/2008.