MATH 685 Abstract Algebra II
Spring 2016
This course is a second course at the Masters level in Abstract Algebra with a prerequisite of Math 662 Abstract Algebra. As a master's level course, it will go quickly, with 2-4 sections a week and substantial homework. However, the difficulty of the homework will not be at the Ph.D. level for which the book could be used.
Professor: Dr. Sue Geller
Office: 219 B Blocker
Office Hours: by appointment made at /undergraduate/advising/ and click on me.
Email: geller@math.tamu.edu
Phone: 979-845-7531
Fax: 979-862-4190 and be sure to put my name on it.
Welcome to the home page for Math 685 Abstract Algebra II for the Spring of 2016. These pages will continue to be
under construction, so please check them regularly for any changes,
especially in due dates and assignments.
This course will consist of reading assignments and problem assignments.
You may find yourself challenged in
new ways by the assignments because some of the problems are difficult.
If using other sources, please give references. Note: The answers to all the homework can be found on the web. You may not look them up, paraphrase them, and give reference. That is cheating and plagiarism.
Textbook
Dummit and Foote, Abstract Algebra, third edition, Wiley and Sons, 2003.
Please note that I will be traveling on 28-31 January when I will be taking students to a conference in Nebraska, so will have less email access than usual.
Homework
- The assignments will be posted on
Homework . Notice that the list of
readings are for a given week (week of x where x is a Monday) with the
homework on those sections due the Tuesday of the following week (x+8).
- Homework is due by noon CT on the listed due date.
- You may send your homework to me via email or fax (979-862-4190).
If you send by email, please make the subject line Math 685 homework i,
where i is the number of the homework set (1-13), and send the answers in the
body or as a .pdf file which came from a word processed document or handwritten. Word documents will not be accepted as they cannot be accurately read on our local Unix machines. Emailed .pdf files are preferred since faxes are often hard to read.
If you fax it to me, be
sure to mark clearly on the first page that the fax is for Dr. Sue Geller
so that it gets to me and be sure to use very black ink (and clear handwriting)
as fax transmission is rarely of high quality and tends to blur what is sent.
- When working on the homework, you may email me with questions,
or look things up on the web or in a book, but you may not copy
answers - that is plagiarism.
Grades
Your final grade will be determined by your performance on the homework calculated as 100x(the sum of your homework grades)/(the sum of the possible number of points).
The grading
scheme is:
90 to 100 is an A.
80 to 89.5 is a B.
70 to 79.5 is a C.
60 to 69.5 is a D.
0 to 59.5 is an F.
Late Work
I realize that you are working and have a family, so you
have different constraints than students on campus. It is very helpful to me
as well as useful for you to do each assignment on time. Therefore,
late work will not be accepted without prior arrangements, but
reasonable excuses will be accepted as long as the privilege is not abused.
When arranging
for late work, be prepared to tell me when you will get the work to me.
Notes:
If you want to discuss a problem by voice (i.e. phone), please give me
some times when you will be available, and I'll try to call you then.
Otherwise you may call me at work but I have a lot of meetings so am not always in my office. Thursdays are particularly bad for my being in.
All email correspondence must contain the course number in the subject
heading so that I can easily distinguish it from my other class, spam, and other types of
correspondence.
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Simply changing some words from a passage is still plagiarism unless you
reference the source. There is an old quip "Stealing from one source is
plagiarism, from many research." As with most quips, it is both true and
false. To be true research there needs to be something from yourself in
the essay/answer. The truth in the quip is that research is built
on the results of many before us, but they need to be given the credit for
their work for it to be morally, ethically, and legally correct.
Also, simply copying an answer from someone is both cheating
and plagiarism. I repeat from above that you may not use the solutions to the problems in the book that are out on the web. Don't cheat nor plagiarize.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination
statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with
disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students
with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a
disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services,
currently located in the Disability Services building at the Student Services
at White Creek complex on west campus or call 979-845-1637. For additional
information, visit http://disability.tamu.edu.
Academic Integrity Statement
"An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do."
See the
Honor Council Rules and Procedures for more information.