Applied Database Administration and Design

This intensive, hands-on course is the prerequisite for all advanced database courses in BCIT Computing programs. COMP 1630 is equivalent to the Full-time CST and CIT Diploma database courses and provides an introduction to relational database design concepts and industry standards. Students learn the tools and processes for data modeling in Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) in a Windows PC lab environment. They also focus on the Structured Query Language, SQL to define and manipulate data. Topics include functional dependencies, normalization, database design methodologies, entity relationship modeling and the use of UML as a diagramming notation. Advanced topics include: an introduction to SQL, DDL- data definition language and DML- data manipulation language, views, security, transaction management, triggers and stored procedures. Current trends in database such as replication, object-relational DBMS, data warehousing, OLAP- online analytical processing and database uses web technology are discussed. Students in COMP 1630 are required to attend one face to face meeting each week, participate in group work, and an online component, plus complete reading and assignments outside of class. Upon successful completion, participants will be able to design and implement a database application and be prepared to move on to higher level database courses including: Data Warehouse, Data Quality, MySQL, MS Business Intelligence, MS SQL Server and Oracle.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1002 or equivalent knowledge of a Windows PC and file management.

​Business Analysis and Systems Design is the study of concepts, processes and tools that professionals use to plan and develop computer information systems to industry standards. COMP 2831 continues the established Systems Analysis tradition and provides the foundation for all BCIT Computing development credentials. Students learn how to ask implicit questions, to create and document communication plans and to make better decisions prior to creating an information system. Beginning with an introduction to the SDLC, Software Development Life Cycle, students work in teams to initiate the system process, analyze problems, discover requirements and create a logical design. Topics include: techniques used in the discovery of business requirements, traditional approaches to data and process modelling. There is an overview of Object Oriented Modelling techniques using the Unified Modelling Language (UML) as well as an introduction to Project Management. Agile frameworks including XP, Extreme Programming, and SCRUM are also introduced. Students learn to work in groups to provide detailed written materials and make presentations of their designs. By the end of this course, successful participants will be able to use industry standard tools and methods to analyze, design, and implement information systems. This course is deemed equivalent to the full-time diploma courses COMP1712 and ACIT2831 Students who complete COMP 2831 will be prepared to move on to COMP 2833 Agile Software Development with Scrum and the Agile Development Associate Certificate.
Prerequisite(s): (COMM 1103 or COMM 1106) and COMP 1516 or COMP 1630

Continuing on from COMP 1630 this workshop is a primer on business intelligence, data warehouse and data analytics for those moving on to higher level courses. Students must already understand industry standards in data modeling, relational database design and creating reports with SQL. This weekend workshop provides an overview of data warehouse planning and design for those moving on to the specific Business Intelligence Analytic tools covered in: COMP 4679, COMP 4680 and COMP 4681. Topics include: an overview of business intelligence the role of Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) in the data warehouse, the typical data warehouse lifecycle, plus an introduction to dimensional modeling for data warehousing. Labs focus on ETL, data quality considerations, and dimensional modeling concepts including the star and snowflake schemas. Successful participants will have an understanding of Business Intelligence concepts and industry standards in data design for data structures for information systems.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1630 or equivalent knowledge of data modeling and SQL.

Continuing on from COMP 1630 this course is aimed at students who already understand relational database, data modeling and the importance of improving Data Quality (DQ). Survey topics include the business impact of DQ, data profiling techniques, DQ capability/maturity models, Data Governance, DQ improvement roadmaps and approaches to gaining executive support for the DQ improvement program. In class labs, homework assignments and a project focus on how to use Data Quality techniques and tools. Successful participants learn how to apply a data quality framework to data migration projects and are better prepared to move on to the specific Business Intelligence Analytic tools covered in: COMP 4679, COMP 4680 and COMP 4681.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1630

​This hands-on course is aimed at BCIT Computing students who want to develop and implement an IT project plan. Students focus on Project Management best practices and decisions which apply across the IT sector including software development, building web sites and data analytics systems. COMP 1288 begins with a definition of Project Management fundamentals and terminology. Topics include: stakeholders, scope, deliverables, phases, milestones, deadlines, scheduling, estimates and budgets. Labs and exercises are designed to create project plans that identify and manage risk and take into account quality measures. There is a basic introduction to Microsoft Project software. Participants apply strategies to communicate project progress to stakeholders to keep IT projects on time and on budget. COMP 1288 is an elective in the Applied Computer Information Systems, ACIS and Agile Development Associate Certificates, it is required for the CST/PTS Diploma. Upon successful completion students will have an introduction to project management concepts and be able to conduct a post project evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1002

Power BI is a Microsoft collection of tools and an analytics service for data visualization and business intelligence reporting. This hands-on course was designed for database professionals, data analysts, business analysts and managers. It follows on from COMP 2362, it assumes that students have an understanding of statistics for data analysis and advance functions of MS Excel. Students begin with a brief introduction to the building blocks of Microsoft Power BI and its related services. They are shown how to get a variety of data into the Power BI Desktop from multiple sources. In class labs and exercises focus on how to model, explore, clean and transform simple data for business reports. Topics include: Data Analysis Expressions, DAX, relationships and Data Visualization. Labs and assignments are designed to provide best practices that can be transferred to the workplace. COMP 2156 is an elective in several BCIT Computing credentials including the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC). By the end of this course successful students will be able use the Power BI unified analytics platform to build and publish high quality dashboards to the web.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 2362 Microsoft Excel Advanced or equivalent knowledge.

Crystal Reports is a cost effective business intelligence application provided by SAP for small businesses. It has a very large install base and it is used to design and generate reports from a wide variety of data sources. Students are first introduced how to plan Crystal Reports designs and then how to develop basic business intelligence reports. After the mid-term they learn to apply best practices for enhanced report design. Participants learn how extract and manipulate data, saving time to develop automated and custom reports. By the end of this course, successful participants will know how to use Crystal Reports to produce a variety of different charts and multiple ways to depict data. COMP 2252 is an elective in the Applied Computer Applications (ACA), and the Applied Database Administration and Design (ADAD) Associate Certificates, as well as the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC) and the CST/PTS Diploma. Please note: COMP 2252 will only be offered in the January and September terms.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1002 and COMP 2010; or equivalent understanding of MS Windows and Office.

This hands-on course is designed for database professionals, data analysts, business analysts and managers, who want to analyze and visualize data from a variety of sources. Students begin with a foundation in data visualization techniques and principles. Effective data analysis techniques, and industry standard best practices are discussed. Through hands-on labs, assignments, projects and group work, participants learn how to build insightful and interactive dashboards. Participants learn to present compelling visuals via lab exercises and assignments. Tableau dashboard performance considerations are discussed. Students registered in COMP 2256 will receive a student license for Tableau software for their home machines for the duration of the course and have access to a Tableau subject matter expert with industry experience. This course is an elective in five School of Computing and Academic Studies credential programs; Computer Systems Technology Diploma (CST/PTS), Applied Computer Information Systems (ACIS), Applied Computer Applications (ACA), Applied Database Administration and Design (ADAD) and Technical Writing. COMP 2256 is a requirement for the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC). A project presentation is required and designed to help the students become better communicators. By the end of this course successful participants will be able to produce highly interactive graphs, reports and dashboards that access and visualize data from a multiple sources.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1002 or equivalent knowledge, plus a working knowledge of MS Excel. We recommend that students working toward a Computing credential complete COMP 1630 first.

Windows PowerShell is a popular task automation and configuration framework from Microsoft built on .NET. PowerShell includes scripting tools to automate and control systems, programs and files to improve productivity and reduce effort in all aspects of Windows computing. This hands-on lab course is aimed network or database administrators and software developers. PowerShell scripts are used for network or database automation, monitoring and maintenance. PowerShell scripts can also automate tasks for testing software programs and rapid application development. Starting with a basic introduction to scripting with the Command Prompt window, the course then focuses on how to use MS PowerShell with Windows. Successful participants will be able to automate many tasks with PowerShell and reduce effort by creating scripts that can run interactively or automatically. This course is an elective in the Applied Network or Applied Database Administration and Design Associate Certificates, plus the CST Diploma from Computing Part-time Studies. COMP 3771 is offered in April and September.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1451 or COMP 1630 or COMP 3700

​Following on from COMP 1630, students who already understand data modeling, relational database design and SQL are provided with an in-depth understanding of designing MS SQL Server 2016 databases. This hand-on course is SQL Server 2016 specific, so those who have taken MS SQL 2000/2005/2008/2012 will also benefit and be able to better plan migration to SQL Server 2016. Topics include: architecture, installing and configuring SQL Server, physical database design, creation, maintenance, security, and high availability solutions. Exercises and labs focus on creating, deploying, optimizing and maintaining enterprise SQL Server 2016 databases to help students obtain an understanding from a database administrator perspective. Successful participants will learn to install and configure SQL Server 2016, to plan and set policies for system access, end-users, back-ups, disaster recovery, and to troubleshoot and to manage database security. Please note: COMP 4677 will be offered in the winter (January) and spring (April) terms.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1630 or equivalent knowledge.

​Following on from COMP 1630, students who already understand data modeling, relational database design and SQL are provided with an in-depth understanding of designing and implementing MS SQL 2016 Server databases advanced T-SQL and scripting methods. There is an overview of BI tools (MS SQL Server Reporting Services, MS SQL Server Integration Services) and comparisons between different editions of MS SQL Server. Topics include: architecture, new SQL 2016 components, T-SQL review, new T-SQL constructs for SQL Server 2016, programmable objects, security for the database developer and performance tuning procedures. Exercises and labs help students obtain a thorough understanding of Microsoft SQL Server 2016 from a database developer perspective, with a focus on how to create views, stored procedures and triggers. Successful participants will be able use procedural code in TSQL and .NET to develop and manage the data layer for software applications. Please note: COMP 4678 will be offered in the winter (January) and fall (September) terms.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1630 or equivalent knowledge.

​Following on from COMP 1630 and COMP 3838, this course is for students who already understand relational database design, data modelling, SQL programming and data warehouse foundations for business intelligence. Participants are provided with an in-depth understanding of authoring, managing and delivering traditional and interactive reports using Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services (SSRS). Topics include: How to Install, configure and manage SSRS, author reports using SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), and apply multiple levels of report security. Students receive an overview of Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Analysis and Integration Services, which provides additional business intelligence architecture concepts and some preparation towards the Microsoft certification exams. Successful participants will learn to extract the data from its multiple collections of applications and data sources, how to deliver and manage reports, to integrate SSRS reports and apply best practices for reports authoring, deployment and management. Please note: COMP 4679 will be offered in the Spring (April) and Fall (September) terms.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1630 and COMP 3838

This advanced course follows on from COMP 4677 and is designed for those who already understand relational database design, data modelling, SQL programming and MS SQL Server Administration but have little or no extract, transform, and load (ETL) experience. The course will cover ETL fundamentals, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) tools, and SSIS package development. Students will use Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) in the lectures and labs to work with control flows, data flows, variables, package configuration and deployment, security, troubleshooting, logging and tuning. Students will also be introduced to ETL for the data warehouse. This course also helps to prepare for the SSIS component of the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Business Intelligence Developer, which is available through third parties for additional fees. Successful participants will gain a deeper understanding of ETL and Business Intelligence using Microsoft tools. COMP 4680 is currently under review and is not being offered at this time.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 4677

This hands-on course follows on from COMP 1630 and COMP 3838. Students who already understand relational database design, SQL programming and data warehouse foundations are introduced to SSIS. COMP 4681 is a blended BYOD course, participants must provide their own Windows 10 dual core laptop with a minimum of 8GB RAM to participate in this course. Please note: BCIT does not provide technical support for student's hardware or operating systems. Topics include: how to install, configure and manage SSAS; designing multidimensional Business Intelligence Semantic Model (BISM), accessing different data sources, creating multidimensional databases, data mining, interacting with cube data using Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) queries from MS Excel. Labs and exercises show how to use SSAS to design, create and manage multidimensional structures containing data from other sources. Participants are shown how to create and maintain an Analysis Services database. MS Excel and MS SQL Reporting Services are used to present data from SSAS. COMP 4681 is an elective in the Applied Database Administration and Design, ADAD Associate Certificate; the Applied Data Analytics Certificate, ADAC and the Computer Systems Technology, CST/PTS Diploma. Participation online via the BCIT Learning Hub and attendance are mandatory during scheduled class hours plus online activities for a minimum of 4 hours per week. Students should also plan for 9+ hours reading and homework each week. Please note: COMP 4681 will be offered in the winter (January) and fall (September) terms. Upon successful completion of COMP 4681 students will be able to use SSAS to deploy an Analysis Services database with multiple levels of security for data mining, they will be able to extract data from collections of multiple data sources and applications.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1630 and COMP 3838