Math 331:  ALGEBRAIC SYSTEMS

Texts .  Contemporary Abstract Algebra by Joseph Gallian. We will study groups and rings, with an emphasis on polynomial rings.

Prerequisites .  Math 310 (or permission of the instructor).

Instructor .  Professor Rachel Roberts

                         Send email to Prof. Roberts at roberts@math.wustl.edu.

Office .   Cupples I  106, 935-8527

Office Hours.   TBA

Meeting Time and Place.   MWF 12-1pm,   Earth and Planetary Sciences   102

Homework.   There will be weekly homework sets, due Mondays 12:07pm. Homework due dates will be strict; however, I will drop the two lowest homework scores.

You may work with classmates on the homework. However, you must write up your answers individually, and credit your collaborators.

Although I encourage you not to refer to other texts in the solving of homework problems, you may do so as long as you list all references used.

The more problems you work through the better!!! I encourage you to do more than just the problems assigned as homework.                         

Exams .   There will be two exams: an in-class midterm exam on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, and a final exam 10:30am-12:30pm on December 17, 2009.

Grading System .   Your grade will be based on the following.

Homework	40%
In-class Work	10%
Midterm Exam	25%
Final Exam	25%

            Students taking the course with the "Credit/No Credit" ("Pass/Fail") grading option must earn a grade of "D" or better to receive a "pass".

            Any students taking the course on an "audit" basis should talk with the instructor to determine what criteria will be used to award a grade of "successful audit."