This is a graduate level theoretical course, which deals with system aspects of database management systems. Students are expected to have a good knowledge of set theory and mathematical logic. This course deals with theory of concurrency (serializability theory), theory of recoverability, and transaction management. The study of these topics requires a very good understanding of process concept and their parallel and concurrent execution, which are covered in CS431 (Introduction to Operating Systems). Students are advised to refresh their understanding of process management.
The course also requires that all students should participate in class discussion and learn to do literature survey, read and understand research papers, and suggest better solutions for database management problems. All these are part of class discussion and in addition to students performance in homework, seminar, and tests, I will use the level of involvement for assigning final grade.
In addition to the textbook, which is a very good book, students are encouraged to consult and read other books on these topics. Sufficient lecture notes will also be provided on the web.