Texas College

Course Number	MATH 33754
Course Description	Study of the number system, rings, groups, fields, matrix and linear transformations, systems of equations, and other algebraic systems; reducible polynomials.
Textbook	Johnston, Bernard L. and Richman, Fred, Numbers and Symmetry, CRC Press, 1997.
Semester	Spring
Semester Hours	3
Prerequisites	MATH 23750 Discrete & Combinatorial Mathematics and 33752 Basic Mathematical Logic
Instructor	Dr. William Stenger
Office Hours	9–10:Monday,Wednesday, and Friday 8:30–9:30: Tuesday and Thursday 11–noon: Monday and Friday 3–4: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Other times by appointment
Office	113 MSBC
Phone	903-593-8311, ext. 2283

Course Goals	1. To provide an understanding of the essential concepts of modern abstract algebra. 2. To furnish the tools necessary to apply powerful algebraic methods in a variety of contexts. 3. To appreciate the beauty of the fundamental structures of algebra.
Methods of Instruction	Learning higher mathematics requires effort by the learner working on practice problems and homework problems. The faculty member will support this effort with motivation, examples and discussion.
Methods of Evaluation	We will use practice problems in class, homework assignments, tests, and a final examination to evaluate student performance.
Attendance Policy	The full attendance policy, stated in the Texas College Catalog, applies to this course. Specifically, more than four unexcused absences may result in a grade penalty.
Cell Phones	Turn off all cell phones before class begins. If your cell phone goes off during class, I will dismiss you from class and will give you a zero for that day's assignment.
Practice Problems	Students should come to class prepared to work practice problems. Students do not have to turn in practice problems done in class.
Notes	Since taking extensive notes provides dubious benefit, we do not encourage this practice. Instead we recommend that students concentrate on understanding the explanations given, doing the practice problems and homework problems, and asking lots of questions.
Homework Problems	At the end of each lesson students should do the assigned exercises. Write your name at the upper right corner of each page and write the chapter number and lesson number at the upper left corner of each page. For instance, you would write 3.2 to identify Chapter 3, Lesson 2. Turn in homework two class periods after the completion of a lesson. After you complete a set of exercises check your work against the answers in the back of the book.
Tentative Test Plan	Chapter 1: Test Chapter 2: Test Chapter 3: Test
Final Examination	The comprehensive final examination will count as two regular examinations.
Grade Determination	Let X represent the sum of the test scores. Let Y represent twice the score on the final. Then the semester grade G = (X + Y)/5. A grade G ³ 90 will yield an A, G ³ 80, will yield at least a B, G ³ 70, at least a C, and G ³ 60, at least a D. Homework and practice problems will serve as "tie-breakers" for borderline grades and for purposes of mercy.
Important Dates	Mid-term examination: Wednesday, March 5. Last day to drop with a W: Friday, April 11.
Texas College Online Databases	http://drglass.texascollege.edu/opac/index.htm http://www.jstor.org/search http://www.libraryoftexas.org http://www.texshare.edu/drglasslibrary/index.php3
Web Resources	http://forum.swarthmore.edu/library/topics/modern_algebra http://www.ams.org/ http://www.maa.org/ http://www.nasa.gov/ http://www.nctm.org/ http://www.siam.org

Prepared by:	William Stenger
	Instructor	Date
Approved by:	M.S.T. Namboodiri
	Division Chair	Date