Course Description

For a more detailed course description, go to http://www2.sfasu.edu/math/courses/syllabi/MTH312Syllabus.pdf

Course Time and Meeting Place

• MTH 412 meets in Math 357 at 9-9:50 MWF.

Instructor

• Thomas W. Judson, Associate Professor
  Department of Mathematics and Statistics
• Office: Math 316
• TEL: (936) 468-1704
• Email: judsontw @ sfasu.edu
• Office Hours:
  • Monday: 8-9 AM (Math 316), 10-11:15 AM (Math 316), 5:30-7 PM (AARC)
  • Tuesday: By appointment
  • Wednesday: 8-9 AM (Math 316), 10-11:15 AM (Math 316), 5:30-7 PM (AARC)
  • Thursday: By appointment
  • Friday: 8-9 AM (Math 316), 10-11:15 AM (Math 316)

Course Goals

• To be able to demonstrate comprehension of core mathematical concepts such as axiomatic systems, mathematical proof, and logical argument.
• To be able to execute mathematical procedures accurately, appropriately, and efficiently.
• To be able to apply the principles of logic to develop and analyze conjectures and proofs.
• To be able to demonstrate competence in using various mathematical tools, including technology, to formulate, represent, and solve problems.

Learning Objectives

• Sets & binary operations
• Introductory Group Theory
• Permutations, Cosets and Direct Products
• Homomorphisms
• Rings and Fields

Textbook

• Thomas Judson. Abstract Algebra: Theory and Applications. 1997 (revised 2011).
• The textbook is available free online at http://abstract.ups.edu/index.html, or you may order a hardbound copy from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Abstract-Algebra-Applications-Thomas-Judson/dp/0982406258/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325170537&sr=8-1 Make sure that you have the latest copy of the textbook as errors have been corrected and chapters, theorems, and exercises may be numbered differently.

Sage

Sage is a computer algebra system like Mathematica or Maple. Unlike Mathematica or Maple, Sage is free open-source software. You can access Sage online or download it to your computer. You can even run Sage on your iPad or iPhone. We will be using Sage in MTH 412 to learn more about algebraic structures. You can find out more about Sage at http://www.sagemath.org/.

Grading and Exams

Semester numerical scores will be converted into letter grades according to the following method.

Range of numerical values	Corresponding Letter
90-100	A
80-89	B
70-79	C
60-69	D
0-59	F

When we calculate your final grade at the end of the course, we will calculate a score on a 0-100 point scale using the scores that you have obtained during the course, and using the grade breakdown given above. Your course grade will then be obtained using this table. In the event of a fractional score, we will always round up to the nearest integer.

Resurrection Policy. If you score better on the final exam than your in class midterm exam, we will replace your midterm grade with your final exam grade. The resurrection policy does not apply to your homework grade.

Exam Policy

1. A medical excuse. Please provide proper documentation according to university rules.
2. A University sponsored event such as an athletic tournament, a play, or a musical performance. Your coach or director must contact us in advance. Athletic practices and rehearsals do not fall into this category.
3. A religious holiday. Please send a short email explaining the situation.
4. Extreme hardship such as a family emergency. Please have the proper university notify office us.

Homework and Classroom Presentations

You are encouraged to form study groups with other students in the class so that you can discuss your work with each other; however, all work submitted must be written up individually. Make sure that even if you do work in groups, that you come away with the ability to explain everything you end up writing up in your homework.

During the course of the semester, you will often be asked to present your solutions to assigned homework problems to the rest of the class, so it is very important that you come to class prepared.

You will be asked to write up all of your assignments in a homework notebook. Generally, your homework notebook will be due on Friday and will be returned to you by next Tuesday's class. Since getting behind in a math class is one of the most uncomfortable things you can do to yourself, homework must be turned in on time. Since we will drop your lowest homework grade, we will not accept late homework notebooks. For the complete homework grading policy, go to the assignments page of the Math 412 website.

The Classroom

Getting Help with Math 412

Remember to take advantage of office hours. You can also try just dropping by my office. If I am not preoccupied, I will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Add/Drop Policy

Attendance Policy

Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54)

Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average.

The circumstances precipitating the request must have occurred after the last day in which a student could withdraw from a course. Students requesting a WH must be passing the course with a minimum projected grade of C.

Students with Disabilities

Acceptable Student Behavior

Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor's ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial, academic or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed.

Please be respectful of your fellow students and your instructor. Cell phone use and texting are not allowed in class. Remember to turn your cell phone off or place it in quiet mode before entering the classroom.

Academic Integrity (A-9.1)

Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism.

Definition of Academic Dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit.

Any acts of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to University policy. Penalties for academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade for the assignment, failing the course, or even dismissal from the university.