Math 8012 Section 001
Spring 2008

Course Title: Abstract Algebra

Instructor: Dr. E. S. Letzter
Office: 526 Wachman Hall
Phone: (215)204-8438
E-mail: letzter at math dot temple dot edu
Web Page: http://www.math.temple.edu/~letzter

Office Hours: Mondays 12:00 -- 1:00, Tuesdays 10:30 -- 11:30, Thursdays 10:30 -- 11:30

Blackboard: This is a Blackboard registered course, and Blackboard will be used for announcements and discussions; see: https://blackboard.temple.edu

Class Times and Locations: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:40 -- 1:00, 617 Wachman Hall.

Text: Abstract Algebra, Third Edition, D. S. Dummit and R. M. Foote (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2004).

Prerequisites: Math 8011, or permission of instructor.

Course Goals: To continue to provide an introduction to the methods and concepts of abstract algebra, at the beginning graduate level.

Course Topics: (As time permits.) Basic structures of ommutative rings (including unique factorization), fields (including Galois Theory), and modules.

Assigned Work: Homework will be regularly assigned, collected, and graded. Your homework grade will be determined, in part, by the quality of your exposition.

Attendance Policies: 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.

Midterm Schedule: There will be one in-class midterm, on Thursday, March 6.

Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam will be given Thursday, May 13, 11:30 -- 1:30

Grading Scheme: Homework will count toward 40% of your total course grade, the midterm will count toward 30% of your total course grade, and the final will count toward 30% of your total course grade.

Note: 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. Students with documented disabilities should contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations.

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General Information:

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. The Drop/Add deadline date is published in the Class Schedule each semester and is at the end of the second week of the semester or the third day of each summer session. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:

The last day to drop (tuition refund available) is Monday, February 4.

Spring recess is the week of March 9.

The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 31.

The last day of classes is Monday, May 5.

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.

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 through the following link: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02