Spring 2008 Course Syllabus
Course: 9110.001.
Course Title: Topics in Algebra: Introduction to Computational Algebra.
Time: MW 2:40 - 4:00 PM.
Place: Wachman Hall CC 527.
Instructor: Lorenz, Martin W.
Instructor Office: Wachman Hall CC 528.
Instructor Email: martin.lorenz@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: (215)204-5013.
Office Hours: MWF 11:20 - 12:20 and by appointment.
Prerequisites: Math 575/576 or equivalent or permission of instructor.
Textbook: D. Cox, J. Little, and D. O'Shea: "Ideals, Varieties, and Algorithms", 3rd ed., Springer-Verlag, 2007, ISBN: 978-0-387-35650-1.
Course Goals: This course gives an introduction to the computational methods in algebra. The emphasis will be on Groebner bases and their uses.
Topics Covered: A rough list of topics for this course, probably too ambitious to be covered in full, is as follows: (1) Groebner bases; (2) Affine Algebraic Varieties; (3) Invariant Theory of Finite Groups; (4) Field (Galois) Theory.
Course Grading: The course grade will be based on homework assignments (40%), one presentation on a topic from this course (30%), and an in-class final exam (30%).
Exam Dates: The final exam, according to the official exam schedule, is to be given on Friday, May 9, 2 - 4 PM. If this is inconvenient, we can change the date by common agreement.
Attendance Policy: Attendance will not be monitored, but you are strongly encouraged to attend class regularly and to take complete class notes.
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.
Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:
- The first day of classes is Tuesday, January 22.
- The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, February 4.
- Spring recess is the week of Monday, March 10.
- The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 31.
- The last day of classes is Monday, May 5.
During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.
The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.