Syllabus for Math 551 (Graduate Abstract Algebra I)

Topics (mostly from Dummit and Foote)

• Overview of algebraic structures, including categories and universal algebra (Various sources, including Appendix II)
• (Mostly Finite) Groups (Chapters 1-6, with emphasis on 4.3, 4.5, Chapter 5 and 6.1)
• Rings (Chapters 7-9, with emphasis on 7.5, 7.6, 8.2, Chapter 9)
• Modules and Vector Spaces (Chapters 10-12, with emphasis on, 10.4, 10.5, 11.5, Chapter 12)
• Field Theory and Galois Theory (Chapters 13-14)
• Representations of Finite Groups (Chapters 18, and some of 19 as time permits)
• Additional topics as time permits

Administrative Details

Grading:

• Homework 30% (lowest 2 scores dropped)
• Midterm 30%
• Final 40%

Any issues with grading needs to be submitted in writing, on a separate sheet of paper attached to your exam/quiz/homework, stating which problem was graded incorrectly, and what the issue was

Class policies

• No cell-phones, no laptops, no calculators, no electronic devices