2024 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: M 8:00-8:50, TR 2:00 -- 3:20.

Place: M: WACHMAN 015; TR: WACHMAN 408.

Instructor: Boris A. Datskovsky.

Instructor Office: WACHMAN 632.

Instructor Email: boris.datskovsky@temple.edu

Instructor Phone: 215-204-7847.

Office Hours: TR 12:30-1:30 pm, 4:00-4:30 pm, or by appointment.

Prerequisites: Math 3098 with a grade of C- or higher or transfer credit for Math 3098.

Course Materials: D.S. Malik, J. M. Mordeson, and M. K. Sen, Fundamentals of Abstract Algebra, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1997. The text is posted on Canvas.

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, quizzes, and homework assignments. The midterm, the final and quizzes will count for 20% of your grade each, and the homework for the remaining 40% of your grade.

Exam Dates: Midterm -- Thursday, March 14, Final -- Thursday, May 2, 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.

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 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.

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).

AI Policy: The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class unless specifically announced for a particular assignment; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University's Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in a grade of zero on the assignment; a second offense will be reported to the Student Conduct Board.

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.