Instructor: Christopher Sadowski
Email: csadowski at ursinus dot edu
Office: Pfahler Hall 101E
Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:00, TTh 1:00-2:00
Text: Contemporary Abstract Algebra, Ninth Edition, by Joseph A. Gallian.
Course Objectives: Students will learn the basic ideas and techniques of ring theory and field theory. Students will be required to know:
Learning Goals: This course will meet the following departmental learning goals:
Location: Pfahler 007
Meeting times: MWF 11:00-11:50
Grading:
-30% Homework
-15% Midterm 1
-15% Midterm 2
-15% Midterm 3
-25% Final Exam
Exams: Exams will be announced 2 weeks in advance. Make up exams will require documentation as proof of absence, and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The following dates are tentative:
Exam 1: 9/25
Exam 2: 10/27
Exam 3: 11/27
Final Exam: TBA
Homework: Homework will be sent out via email and posted on Canvas. Students will be given a small amount of extra credit on each assignment for homework typed up using LaTeX. Proofs are expected to be fully rigorous, and you should always state your assumptions and which theorems you are using.
Academic Honesty: Students may work together and discuss assignments with one another, but all work handed in must be solely the student's. Any incident of cheating on a quiz or exam will results in a grade of 0 for the assignment, with no make-up allowed. A second incident of cheating will result in a failing grade for the course. All incidents of cheating will be reported to the Dean's Office. Please refer to the Student Handbook on Academic Honesty and the Statement on Plagiarism.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes. If you are unable to attend class for a legitimate reason, please email me before class.
Inclement Weather Policy: Students will be emailed in the event that class is cancelled due to inclement weather.Ac
Accommodations Policy: Students requiring accommodations should provide me with the appropriate paperwork from the Accommodations Office at the beginning of the semester.
SPTQ: Towards the end of the semester, students will be reminded to fill out SPTQ forms. These forms are invaluable to both the instructor and the department, since they provide valuable feedback to the instructor on how to improve the course, and provide evaluation information to the department chair. Honest constructive feedback (both positive and negative!) is appreciated.
Inclusive climate in the classroom: In this class we will work to promote an environment where everyone feels safe and welcome, even during uncomfortable conversations. Every voice in the classroom has something of value to contribute to class discussion. Because the class will represent a diversity of individual beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences, every member of this class must show respect for every other member of this class. You are encouraged to not only take advantage of opportunities to express your own ideas, but also, learn from the information and ideas shared by other students.
Syllabus (subject to change as the course progresses):
We will be covering the following Chapters, at a pace of about 1 Chapter per week:
Chapter 12: Introduction to Rings
Chapter 13: Integral Domains
Chapter 14: Ideals and Factor Rings
Chapter 15: Ring Homomorphisms
Chapter 16: Polynomial Rings
Chapter 17: Factorization of Polynomials
Chapter 18: Divisibility in Integral Domains
Chapter 19: Vector Spaces
Chapter 20: Extension Fields
Chapter 21: Algebraic Extensions
Chapter 22: Finite Fields
Chapter 32: An Introduction to Galois Theory