General Information

Instructor: Tom Sharland
email: tsharland "at" uri "dot" edu
Lectures: TTH 9.30-10.45, Tyler 109
Office: Lippitt Hall 200A
Office hours: Monday 2-3, Wednesday 2-3, Thursday 3-4

Course description: This is an introductory course in abstract algebra, focusing mainly on group theory and ring theory. Starting from the definitions, we will prove a number of fundamental results about these algebraic structures. There will be an emphasis on proofs in this course, so some mathematical maturity will be expected.

This course will be relatively fast-paced, so in order to keep up with the material, you should be prepared to spend sufficient time outside of class attempting practice problems and reading and understanding your notes.

Textbook: Contemporary Abstract Algebra (8th ed.) by Joseph A. Gallian.

Prerequisites: MTH 215 and MTH 307.

Homework and Quizzes: Homework will be assigned weekly but will not be collected or graded. However, there will be weekly quizzes which may have problems related to the homework, so you are encouraged to attempt the assigned problems (and more!) - there will be no make-up quizzes without documented evidence as to why the quiz was missed.

Accommodations: Any student with a documented disability is welcome to contact me as early in the semester as possible so that we may arrange reasonable accommodations. As part of this process, please be in touch with Disability Services for Students Office at 330 Memorial Union, 401-874-2098 (http://www.uri.edu/disability/dss/).

Religious holidays: It is the policy of the University of Rhode Island to accord students, on an individual basis, the opportunity to observe their traditional religious holidays. Students desiring to observe a holiday of special importance must provide written notification to each instructor according to the procedure set forth in Sections 8.51.11 & 8.51.12 of the University Manual ( http://www.uri.edu/facsen/8.50-8.57.html )

Standards of behaviour: Students are responsible for being familiar with and adhering to the published "Community Standards of Behavior: University Policies and Regulations" which can be accessed in the University Student Handbook. If you must come in late, please do not disrupt the class. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, or any electronic devices.