Professor:
Rebecca Goldin
Contact:
rgoldin@math.gmu.edu or 703-993-1480
Office Hrs:
Tuesday/Thurs
10:15-11:30, and by appointment, in Science and Tech I, Room 222B.
Problem Sets: There will be, more or less, about 8-10 weekly problem sets. I will post solutions as much as that's feasible, and I will try to wait a couple days to post so that late problem sets can get in. Please ask if you need an extension, but the material moves forward so don't get too far behind! After the solutions are posted, late problem sets are only accepted under unusual circumstances or my permission.
Book: We will primarily be using Commutative Algebra with a View Toward Algebraic Geometry by Eisenbud (Springer). However, you should also have handy a basic graduate-level text such as Hungerford’s Algebra, or Dummit and Foote’s Abstract Algebra, for reference.
Material we cover: We will cover the first 11 chapters of Eisenbud’s book, though we will sometimes veer from the book a bit. We will also discuss some basic principles of algebraic geometry. Over the semester, I will bring your attention to texts that elaborate on the algebraic geometry content.
Grading: You will be graded based on problem sets, and a final exam. The final exam will count for 20% or 50% of your course grade, whichever is advantageous to you. The rest of the grade is problem sets. You are encouraged to work together on problem sets, though you must write up your own version independent of others. Problems sets will be handed out every week, and due a week later. The final exam is currently schedule for Tuesday, 12/12 7:30-10:15 a.m.
Attendance, participation, and other issues: It is assumed that you are responsible graduate students. You will be penalized if you generally stop attending class, but not if you occasionally have somewhere else to be.