2018 Spring Course Syllabus - Mathematics 3101.002
Course: Mathematics 3101.002.
Course Title: Topics in Modern Algebra.
Time: M 8:00-8:50, TR 2:00 -- 3:20.
Place: WCHMAN 0015.
Instructor: Boris A. Datskovsky.
Instructor Office: WCHMAN 632.
Instructor Email: boris.datskovsky@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-7847.
Office Hours: TR 10:00-11:30.
Prerequisites: Math 3098 with a grade of C- or higher or transfer credit for Math 3098.
Textbook: 1. N. Jacobson, Basic Algebra I, 2nd edition, Dover Publications Inc., 2009. 2. D.S. Malik, J. M. Mordeson and M. K. Sen, Fundamentals of Abstract Algebra, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1997. The text is available on line at https://people.creighton.edu/~dsm33733/MTH481.
Course Goals: This course will deal with theory of rings, modules, and fields. Its primary objectives are to lay the foundations of modern algebra and to develop abstract reasoning and clear communication skills in the context of ring and field theory.
Topics Covered: Rings, subrings, ideals and homomorphisms, polynomial rings, Euclidean rings, principal ideal domains, unique factorization domains, vector spaces and modules over principal ideal domains, fields and field extensions, finite Galois theory, solvability of equations by radicals.
Course Grading: Your grade will be based on a midterm, a final, and homework assignments. The midterm and the final will each count for 30% of your grade. The homework will count for the remaining 40% of your grade.
Exam Dates: Midterm -- Thursday, March 15, Final -- Thursday, May 3, 1:00-3:00.
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is expected. If you miss a class, please contact me by e-mail in order to find out what material you have missed and what homework problems have been assigned.
Homework: Homework will be assigned at the end of every class but will not be collected. Instead, I will begin each class by answering homework questions. In addition, at the end of every two weeks of classes, excluding the week of the midterm, I will give you a written homework assignment consisting of selected homework problems to be submitted the following week. The assignments will be graded and returned to you for revisions. Your homework score will be based on the written homework assignments. Please note that it is very important to do all your homework, the problems that I collect in writing as well as those that I do not, as the exams will be based on homework.
Num.-to-Letter-Grade Scale: 93-100 A, 90-92 A-, 87-89 B+, 83-86 B, 80-82 B-, 77-79 C+, 73-76 C, 70-72 C-, 65-69 D+, 55-64 D, 50-54 D-, 0-49 F.
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 dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar for exact dates.
During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (Opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here. (Opens in new tab/window)
The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here. (Opens in new tab/window)