INSC 584
A graduate introduction to how organizations store, model, and retrieve data — from entity-relationship design and SQL to a working prototype you build yourself.
A note from your instructor
Humans generate a staggering amount of data every day. From medical records to course enrollments, new data arrives faster than ever. How is it stored? In many cases, the answer is a database.
Databases sit at the center of modern infrastructure. They keep data intact and make it available when we need it. This course covers the principles behind those systems, then asks you to apply them in a project that looks like work you might do after the degree.
We meet live on Zoom. Email me when something is unclear. I reply within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends, and I will tell you if I will be away. Write to jiangen@utk.edu.
At a glance
Assistant Professor, School of Information Sciences
Fall 2026 · 3 credit hours · graduate standing required
Defining data needs, data structures, the role of operating systems in data management, file organization, database management systems, logical data models, internal data models, database administration, and evaluation. Design and implementation of applications using database management systems. Graduate standing required.
Lectures, in-class exercises, and discussion happen live on Zoom. Slides go up in Canvas after class. You will complete a database design and prototyping project that stands in for a real-world scenario. The project can demonstrate MSIS program outcomes 6, 7, 8, and 9.
By the end of the term
After this course you should be able to do the following.
Explain information needs in organizations and the environment in which databases operate.
Describe the database development process and the technology that supports it.
Use database terminology precisely enough to work with developers, analysts, and clients.
Design data models with entity-relationship diagrams.
Map ER diagrams onto relational models and normalize the result.
Implement a prototype application in a relational DBMS.
Retrieve and modify data with Structured Query Language.
Identify issues that matter once a database is in production.
Week by week
Dates can shift. Use Canvas for current readings, due dates, and Zoom links. Week dates below are Mondays.
Week 1 · Aug 17
Week 2 · Aug 24
Week 3 · Aug 31
Week 4 · Sep 7
Week 5 · Sep 14
Week 6 · Sep 21
Week 7 · Sep 28
Week 8 · Oct 5
Week 9 · Oct 12
Week 10 · Oct 19
Week 11 · Oct 26
Week 12 · Nov 2
Week 13 · Nov 9
Week 14 · Nov 16
Week 15 · Nov 23
Week 16 · Nov 30
Week 17 · Dec 7
How you are evaluated
The course is worth 1,000 points. I mark individual work with comments and points, not letter grades. Your letter grade comes from total points at the end of the term.
Most database work is team work. About half of our meetings are studio sessions: one class to do the exercise, the next to present and discuss.
Hands-on practice with data structures and SQL. Advanced skill comes from exploring the software and fixing what breaks.
Work alone or in a group. Choose a real setting, run a needs analysis, draw a conceptual design, and build a prototype. The focus is the back end: structure, integrity, and queries. Scope should match the size of your group.
Short reviews in the Practice Exercises module, with instant feedback. Two attempts. You earn full credit if you reach 90% correct on your last attempt.
Closed book, remotely proctored, about 15 short queries. Coverage includes SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE/ALTER TABLE, WHERE, ORDER BY, simple joins, and aggregate functions. A practice exam will be posted. Wednesday, November 18, due 8:00 pm ET.
Read before class and join the discussion. Unexplained absences affect this score. If you miss class, tell me, keep the due dates, watch the recording, and get notes from Canvas.
Unless we arrange otherwise in advance, late work loses 10% of the points for each day past the due date. If you will miss a deadline, write before it passes. When the situation warrants it, we will set a new date together.
| Letter | Points | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| A | 93–100 | Superior performance (4.0 quality points) |
| A− | 90–92.99 | Intermediate superior performance (3.7) |
| B+ | 88–89.99 | Very good performance (3.3) |
| B | 83–87.99 | Good performance (3.0) |
| B− | 80–82.99 | Intermediate good performance (2.7) |
| C+ | 78–79.99 | Fair performance (2.3) |
| C | 73–77.99 | Satisfactory performance (2.0) |
| C− | 70–72.99 | Unsatisfactory performance (1.7) |
| D+ | 68–69.99 | Unsatisfactory performance (1.3) |
| D | 63–67.99 | Unsatisfactory performance (1.0) |
| D− | 60–62.99 | Unsatisfactory performance (0.7) |
| F | 0–59.99 | Failure (0.0) |
Expectations
Know the Hilltopics Student Handbook and follow UT academic policy, including the Honor Statement and the Academic Integrity Policy.
“As a student of the University, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and integrity.”
Study, preparation, and presentation should be your own work unless a team effort is clearly specified. When you use other scholars’ work, cite the source. Infractions are penalized according to severity and may include a course grade of F.
Plagiarism in any form is not tolerated. Claiming you did not understand the rules is not an excuse. Examples include:
If you are unsure, ask. The University Libraries maintain a citing sources guide.
Acceptable reasons include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular or job requirements, military obligation, severe weather, religious holidays, official university activities, and court-imposed legal obligations. Others are at the instructor’s discretion. Tell me as soon as you can.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The campus syllabus collects policies and resources that apply to every UTK course. Please read them and use the support listed below. At UT we are committed to a high-quality learning experience.
— Dr. John Zomchick, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor
If you may need an accommodation based on a disability, contact Student Disability Services in 2227 Dunford Hall at 865-974-6087, or by video relay at 865-622-6566, to coordinate reasonable academic accommodations.
University accessibility policy and training live at accessibility.utk.edu.
The Student Counseling Center is the university’s primary place for personal counseling, psychotherapy, and psychological outreach. The Center for Health Education and Wellness manages 974-HELP, the distressed student protocol, case management, the Sexual Assault Response Team, and the Threat Assessment Task Force. See also wellness.utk.edu.
When you are alerted to an emergency, take appropriate action. Learn what to do and sign up for UT Alerts at safety.utk.edu. SIS cancels class when the university closes. Check the SIS student listserv for closing messages.
UT faculty support students and uphold gender equity laws outlined by Title IX. If you tell a faculty member about sexual misconduct, dating violence, or stalking, we must inform the Title IX Coordinator, who can connect you with resources. Confidential options include the Student Counseling Center (865-974-2196) and the Student Health Center (865-974-3135). More at titleix.utk.edu.
Improving teaching and learning is a shared responsibility. You will be invited to evaluate the course at the end of the term. Please respond; those notes help the next group of Volunteers.
The instructor reserves the right to revise this syllabus as needed. Students will be notified in writing or by email of any changes. Canvas is the source of truth for dates and announcements.
