Fall 2013 Course Syllabus - Mathematics 8011.001

Course: Mathematics 8011.001.
Course Title: Abstract Algebra.
Time: MW, 10:30 -- 11:50.
Place: 617 Wachman Hall.
Instructor: Letzter, Edward S.
Instructor Office: 640 Wachman Hall.
Instructor Email: edward.letzter@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: (215)204-4650.
Course Web Page: http://math.temple.edu/~letzter
Office Hours: by appointment.
Prerequisites: Advanced undergraduate abstract and linear algebra, or permission of instructor.
Textbook: Abstract Algebra, Third Edition, D. S. Dummit and R. M. Foote (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2004).
Course Goals: To provide an introduction to the methods and concepts of abstract algebra, at the beginning graduate level.
Topics Covered: (As time permits.) Basic structure of groups, including Sylow theorems and isomorphism theorems; basic structure of rings, including polynomial rings, principal ideal domains, and unique factorization domains.
Course Grading: Homework will count toward 40% of your total course grade, the midterm will count toward 30% of your course grade, and the final will count toward 30% of your total course grade.
Exam Dates: There will be one in-class midterm, Wednesday October 16. There will also be a final examination, date and time to be announced.
Attendance Policy: Attendance will not be formally recorded, but students are responsible for all information presented in class. Office hours may not be used to cover material missed due to unjustified absences.
Assigned written work: Homework will be regularly assigned, collected, and graded. Your homework grade will be determined, in part, by the quality of your exposition.

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 Monday, August 26.
• Labor Day is Monday, September 2.
• The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, September 9.
• Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 28.
• The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Tuesday, October 22.
• The last day of classes is Wednesday, December 4.

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.