Math 350: Groups, Rings, and Fields (Fall 2026)

Abstract algebra, a central pillar of modern mathematics, studies generalizations of the familiar operations of addition and multiplication from ordinary arithmetic. The course focuses on three types of algebraic structures: groups, rings, and fields. For each type, we study structure-preserving transformations, a collection of important examples, and ways to construct one object from another. Time permitting, we will discuss several applications of abstract algebra, including a preview of public-key cryptography.

Help hours

• My tentative office hours in SMUD 401:
  • Tuesday 2:30-4:00
  • Wednesday 9:30-11:00
  • Friday 1:00-2:00
  • Please notify me if these don’t work well for you. I may revise them.
• Allison Tanguay, the Math Specialist and Associate Director of the Q Center, is available to support you in several ways.
  • Drop-in help hours: MWF 9am-noon, and TTh 12:30-2:30, in SMUD 208.
  • You can schedule individual meetings.
• Our Math Fellows (TAs) are Sam Johar and Erika Salvador. Their help hours are
  • Monday 6-7:30pm in SMUD 208a (Sam)
  • Tuesday 9-10:30pm in SMUD 208 (Sam)
  • Wednesday 6-7:30pm in SMUD 208a (Erika)
  • Thursday 7:30-9pm in SMUD 208a (Erika)

Handouts

• Syllabus

Links

• Boardwork from my tablet.
• Zoom link for online office hours, classes, etc.

Homework

• Gradescope instruction. Our Gradescope course code is JN3RGY.
• Problem Set 1 — due Wednesday 9/9 at 10pm. Solutions
  • Symmetric group drill on two-line and cycle notation.
• Problem Set 2 - due Wednesday 9/16 at 10pm.
• Problem Set 3 - due Wednesday 9/23 at 10pm.

Exams

Information about exams will be posted here soon.