Math 464/564: Algebra III

MWF 11:00AM, HB 453

This course will introduce advanced but still foundational algebraic techniques. Students registered for Math 564 will be required to do more Homework problems and the prerequisite for Math 564 is Math 444/539 and concurrent enrollment in Math 445/540. The prerequisite for Math 464 is Math 463.
Categories, Module Theory: Tensor products, Hom, exact sequences, free, projective, injective, flat modules; limits, symmetric and exterior algebras, localization of modules, primary decomposition
Basic Commutative algebra and Groebner bases; affine varieties
Homological algebra: higher Ext, Tor, derived functors
If time permits: Group cohomology, or further topics in localization or homological algebra.
We will assume students are familiar with the content of Algebra I and II.

Homework: Assignments will be posted to Owlspace each Wednesday, to be turned in the following Wednesday in class. You may discuss the homework assignments with other students, but you should write up your work independently. Generally late homework will not be corrected and will be assigned a score of approximately 60% of your usual score.

Exams: There will be a closed book 2-hour take-home midterm examination during the weekend Friday-Sunday, February 18--20. There will be a 3-hour closed book take-home final.

Grading: Homework 50%; Midterm 20%; Final 30%

Text: Joseph Rotman, Advanced Modern Algebra (second edition) Amer. Math. Soc.; this book is on reserve at Fondren Library

ADA statement: Any student with a documented disability seeking academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All such discussions will remain as confidential as possible. Students with disabilities will need to also contact Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center.

Contact information:
Professor Tim Cochran
Office: Herman Brown 416
Phone: (713) 348-5265
Email: cochran@rice.edu
My Webpage: http://www.math.rice.edu/~cochran
Office hours: M 1, T 10:30-12, T 3:30-3:45