Math 30710: Algebra
Fall 2011

Instructor: Juan Migliore
Office: HAYE 236.
Phone: 631-7345

Office Hours:
Monday, 1:00-2:00
Tuesday, 1:00-2:00
Or by appointment.

Time and place of class: MWF 10:40-11:30 pm, DeBartolo 119

Textbook: A first course in abstract algebra (7th edn) by John B. Fraleigh, available in bookstore.

Course content: We plan to cover most of the following material, with possible minor variations and/or additional topics as time permits.

Here is a detailed list of topics and homework assignments for Math 30710. It will be updated, with precise dates added, over the course of the semester. It is there in its entirety (minus due dates) to give you a detailed idea of what we plan to cover, but minor changes may be made as we get to that material.

How you will be evaluated: Your course grade will be based on your total score out of 450, with points allocated as follows:

Homework and Reading: The homework problems will be assigned on a lecture-to-lecture basis, and will be collected weekly on Wednesdays. You should attempt the problems the day that they are assigned, so as to be able to ask me in class about any difficulties you encounter. (I generally won't do a homework problem for you in class, but may discuss a similar problem.) Similarly, there will be regularly assigned reading for most class periods, and you should come to class prepared to ask questions about any of it you did not understand.

I encourage you to collaborate with each other on homework problems and in understanding the required reading. In fact, for each assignment, you may join forces with one or two other students to turn in a single, jointly written set of solutions, provided all group members have made a significant effort to contribute to the homework solutions. See below about copying homework, though.

Honor Code The course will be conducted under the Notre Dame Honor code. Examinations are closed book and are to be done completely by yourself with no assistance from others. Although collaboration on homework is permitted, directly copying the work of other students, or simply adding your name to work done by another student or group and claiming it is jointly done homework, would constitute an infringement of the honor code.

Math for Everyone Series You are strongly encouraged to attend the talks in the Math For Everyone Series. If you attend one of these talks and give me a description of a paragraph or two about what it was about and any reaction you have, you will get five bonus points, up to a total of 15 points.