Sound relational database design means taking the time to ensure your database conforms to certain tried-and-true rules. This module introduces techniques you can use to improve your database designs without worrying about the relational math.

After completing the lessons in this module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the requirements for third normal form (3NF)
2. Identify transitive dependencies
3. Normalize a relation to 3NF
4. Describe Codd's 12 criteria for a fully relational RDBMS
5. Explain how Codd's 12 criteria relate to normalization
6. Explain what type of dependencies might require normalization beyond 3NF
7. Define denormalization and identify when it might be useful

The next lesson discusses limitations of second normal form.