6.893 Database Systems, Fall 2004
Inside of a hard drive. (Image courtesy of Brandon Blinkenberg and
stock.xchng.)
Highlights of this Course
This course features a complete set of downloadable problem sets and solutions in the
assignments section. In addition, an extensive bibliography of assigned and recommended readings is provided in the
readings section.
Course Description
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.