| Classes meet | Mon, Wed 5:30 -- 6:45 pm at 413 Clark Hall. | |
| Office Hrs | 348 CCB: Tues 3:30--5:00 p.m, Wed 4:00--5:30, or by appointment | |
| Prerequisites | Math/CS 3000 with a grade of C- or better. Transfer students who have not taken the prerequisite need the consent of instructor. | |
| Textbook | Serge Lang, Undergraduate Algebra . Springer, third edition. |
The official description of this course can be found at this place. The course will discuss the theory of groups, rings and fields. These are three different abstract structures defined in algebra, and are introduced in Chapters II and III of the textbook. The first chapter of the textbook should be familiar to you from your prerequisite course Math/CS 3000, and we will pass over it quickly. We will start with group theory in Chapter II and work our way through at least chapters II and III. Material from the rest of the book will be chosen as interest dictates.
This course will be primarily conducted as a problem solving and writing course. You will be responsible for solving problems from the book and from supplementary sets that I may give you. I may return homework for rewriting until you master the grammar of correct mathematics. To make my task easier, I may ask you to work in groups of two or three. Your problem and quiz scores as well as class work will constitute 40% of the grade. The classroom will be used for clarifying issues that are needed to solve the problems. This also means that you must be able to read the book on your own, and will have to stay current to be able to participate in class discussions. There will be two class exams and a final exam, where your understanding of proofs of theorems will be tested.
I will reiterate instructions similar to those I give to students in Math/CS 3000. This course will be challenging. You are expected to spend at least 2 - 3 hours outside a class for every hour spent in the class. Please, evaluate your academic workload now. The class discussion only provides some guidelines to your work and the textbook. The textbook will require close reading and your understanding of it must be deep. Pay attention to each phrase of the material you are reading and keep paper and pencil at hand when you do so.
You will have to develop a good writing style. Please write clearly and use complete sentences. Use good English and good mathematical notation. Leave space between lines and problems. Do not submit first drafts or rough work for homework. You will need to rewrite the solution of each problem at least once, to perfect your presentation. So begin work on each homework assignment well before its due date. In group submissions, you are morally obliged to make sure that each person in the group agrees with the write-up. Bring all these notions to bear when you take exams as well.
I strongly encourage discussions among yourselves and consultations with me. Only extremely good students can get by on their own and most of you will need each other's help. While I encourage you to consult with each other, at the time of writing up solutions, each student or each group is on its own. You must write up work yourselves and not copy from other solutions.
In cases of academic dishonesty, I will issue a grade of zero for the entire assignment, quiz, exam, paper, etc. If necessary, I will also forward the case to the Dean of Students. The complete campus policy on academic dishonesty may be found at http://www/umsl.edu/studentlife/dsa/student_planner/policies/conductcode.htm
Plus and minus (+/-) grades will be given.The distribution of grades will be as follows:
| Homework, quizzes, reports, classwork | 40% | |
| Two tests | 15% each | |
| Final exam | 30% | Monday, May 5, 5:30 - 7:30 PM |
Some useful dates:
Monday, Jan 21: No class
Mar 24 - 30: No class: Spring break
Monday, Feb 11 : Last date for dropping the course without a grade.
Saturday, April 5: Last day for dropping the course with an Excused grade. (You must have a passing grade at the time)
Wednesday, April 30 : Last class for this course.
LINKS
Short bio of instructor.