Professor
R. Goldin
Sci Tech I, Room 222B
rgoldin (at) gmu (dot) edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:20, Thursday 3:30-4:20
Course
Description. This is a graduate level introductory course to
group theory. Students who are not familiar with basic group theory
will be expected to do additional work in the first few weeks to catch
up to those who are. The prerequisite for this course is MATH 315 or
equivalent and MATH 322 or equivalent. This is a proof-based course, so
students should be comfortable with writing extensive proofs. The text
for the course is Abstract Algebra (Third Edition), by Dummit and
Foote. We will cover roughly Chapters 1-5, 7-11, 13, though we may add
additional sections or omit some sections from these chapters. After
finishing this course, you should be prepared to (study for and) take
the Ph.D. preliminary algebra exam.
Problem Sets. There will be approximately ten
problem sets throughout the semester (though there may be as few as
eight or as many as 12). You may work with other classmates on problem
sets, but you are not allowed to collaborate with anyone not enrolled
in the course who has advanced knowledge of the material. Please
indicate clearly with whom you worked on your problem set. Problem sets
may be turned in up to two days late without a penalty, though new
assignments will be handed out. Problem sets later than that will be
considered if permission is asked, and there is an appropriate reason.
NO PROBLEM SETS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED OR
POSTED.
Midterm
Exam. There is one
midterm exam, currently scheduled for Tuesday March 20. There is no
makeup for this exam except for extreme circumstances. If those
circumstances warrant a makeup, you must let me know beforehand, unless
the circumstances prohibit that. A makeup exam may be oral instead of
written, or it may consist of an extra problem set, at my discretion.
Solutions
are now posted! Click on the link.
Final Exam. The
final exam is a take home exam. It will be posted on April 26, and it
is due
Friday, May 4, at 4:30pm.
Please have it time-stamped and turn into the main math office (room
203, Science and Tech I) unless you hand it to me directly.
Grading: The grade in this
course will be based on problem sets and exams. Class attendence is not
required, though if you skip class you will experience less leniency
regarding late assignments or borderline grades. There will be one
midterm exam, one final exam, and approximately ten problem sets over
the semester. The grade will be determined by:
20%
Midterm exam
20% First n/2 problem sets
30% Last n/2 problem sets
30% Final exam OR as part of the
problem sets, decided to your advantage.
If the final counts as a problem set, then the total weight for problem
sets is 80%:
35% First n/2 problem sets
45% Last n/2 problem sets (including the final)