2023 Spring Course Syllabus - Mathematics 3101.001

Course: Mathematics 3101.001.

Course Title: Topics in Modern Algebra.

Credits: 3.

How this course will be taught: in person.

Time: Lectures TR 2:00 - 3:20pm; Recitations M 8:00-8:50am (Aniruddha Sudarshan).

Place: Wachman 408.

Instructor: Martin Lorenz.

Instructor Office: Wachman 528.

Instructor Email: martin.lorenz@temple.edu

Instructor Phone: 215-204-5013 (e-mail is preferred).

Office Hours: MTR 11-12 and by appointment.

Prerequisites: Math 3098 or permission of instructor.

Course Materials: Algebra: Abstract and Concrete, Frederick M. Goodman, Edition 2.6, available online: http://homepage.math.uiowa.edu/~goodman/algebrabook.dir/algebrabook.html.

Course Goals: Gain further experience with the concepts and methods of abstract algebra, at the advanced undergraduate level.

Topics Covered: This course is the second part of a two-semester advanced undergraduate sequence (Math 3098/Math 3101) in modern abstract algebra. The ultimate goal of Math 3101 is to provide an introduction to Galois Theory, the study of algebraic properties of roots of polynomials. Requisite topics from ring theory and group theory will also be covered along the way.

Course Grading: Homeworks: 40%, midterm exams: each 15%, final exam: 30%.

Exam Dates: Midterm #1 is on Thursday 3/2 and Midterm #2 on Thursday 4/20, both 2-3:20pm; the Final is on Thursday 5/4, 1-3pm. All exams will be given in Wachman 408.

Attendance Policy: Attendance in lectures and recitations will be recorded and may be taken into account in borderline grade cases. Office hours may not be used to cover material missed due to unjustified absences.

Attendance and Your Health: To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to your instructors' requirements. However, if you feel unwell or if you are under quarantine or in isolation because you have been exposed to the virus or tested positive for it, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. Students have the responsibility to contact their instructors to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as they are able to do so and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion when illness delays their completion.

Homework: Homework (HW) assignments will be posted on the Canvas page of this course. Only legible and timely HW will be accepted. Obvious copies of solutions from the internet or from the work of other students will earn 0 points. The lowest two HW scores will be dropped from the grade calculation.

Exam Policy: All exams are open book/notes.

Disability Statement: Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

Academic Freedom: 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 (opens in new tab/window).

Add/Drop Policy: Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) 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).

Incomplete Policy: 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).

Student Support Services: The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
    The Math Consulting Center
    Student Success Center
    University Libraries
    Undergraduate Research Support
    Career Center
    Tuttleman Counseling Services
    Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.