W1 Setup · Pick your tools
Set up the tools you'll use throughout the course: Microsoft Access for visual exploration and Oracle APEX for the SQL work. Both are free and run in your browser.
W2 "How does data live in tables?" · Tables, Keys & Basic SQL
Decision: How does relational data actually live in tables?
Topic page
Focus
Tables, primary/foreign keys, basic SELECT in Microsoft Access and Oracle APEX. HW-1 assigned.
Due
- Optional: Oracle MyLearn 2.1 — Exploring Data
W3 "How do I get the data I need?" · SELECT Mastery, JOINs, Subqueries
Decision: How do I extract exactly the slice of data the business is asking for?
Topic page
Focus
SELECT mastery, JOINs (inner/outer/self), subqueries, CTEs. DDL · DML · TCL — the three SQL sublanguages.
Due
- Optional: Oracle MyLearn 2.2 — SQL & Relational DB 101
W4 "How do I design a DB that won't break?" · DB Design end-to-end
Decision: How do I take a business need and turn it into a working database?
Topic page
Focus
End-to-end database design. Creating a database from a SQL script in Oracle APEX. Using a GenAI coding assistant in the design process.
Due
- Optional: Oracle MyLearn 2.3 — Oracle SQL Explorer
W5 Database Design (cont.) · Constraints & Normalization
Decision: How do I keep bad data from getting in?
Focus
Constraints (PK, FK, UNIQUE, NOT NULL, CHECK). Normalization 0NF → 3NF. Where MS Access vs. APEX let you set constraints. Exam 1 study guide released.
W6 Database Design (cont.) · Advanced topics + Triggers
Decision: How do I enforce business rules in the database itself?
Topic page
Focus
Advanced design topics. Triggers (Prescription Audit case). Practice exercises continue
W7 Self-check 1 (optional)
Self-check covering Weeks 1–6 — try it on paper, no time limit.
Due
- Self-check: concepts & methods
- Practice exercise
W9 EERD & HealthOne DB · Self-Joins & More
Decision: How do I read complex relationships in an enterprise schema?
Topic pages
Focus
Enhanced ERDs. The HealthOne medical database. Self-joins and more advanced query patterns. HW-1 solutions reviewed.
W10 "Operations or analytics?" · Data Warehouse & ETL
Decision: Should this data live in an operational or analytical store?
Topic page
Focus
Data warehouses, ETL pipelines, dimensional modeling, data marts. Get started building a web-database app.
Due
- Practice exercise
W11 "How do I put a database online?" · MySQL on Hostinger
Decision: How do I move from a local DB to a real production stack?
Topic page
Focus
Shared web hosting on Hostinger. Live MySQL setup. In-class activity: unpack someone else's database + mini-presentation. Practice and apply.
Due
- Practice exercise
W13 API + Web App · PostgreSQL · Advanced & Emerging Topics
Decision: What modern stack should I be building toward?
Topic pages
Focus
API + web app with SQL & PHP. Intro to PostgreSQL & RaptorDB. Concurrency, transactions, security. APEX time-invariant design of HealthOne (if time).
Due
- HW-3 — ETL, PL/SQL
W14 Build the Web-Database App · Exam 2 Study Guide
Bring everything together: build out a working web-database application. Exam 2 study guide released.
Due
- Optional: Oracle MyLearn 2.4 — MySQL Explorer
- Practice exercise
W15 Self-check 2 (optional)
Self-check covering Weeks 9–14 — try it on paper, no time limit.
Due
- Self-check: applied case
W16 Project Presentations
Share your capstone — a working artifact plus a short walkthrough.
Due
- Capstone project
W17 Final Exam Week · Project Report Due
Wrap up your capstone project. Submit, share, or add it to your portfolio.
Due
- Group Project — Final report
- Optional extra-credit assignments