Math 671 Course Info

  • Course Meets: MWF 10:10-11:00 in LGRT 1234

  • Instructor
    Michael Sullivan, LGRT 1544, 545-1909
    Office Hours: M 12:10-1:00 W 1:15-2:30 and by appointment at other times M and \ F. (On Monday and Friday I teach 10:10-12:05. I also have a seminar Monday 2:30\ -3:30. I usually leave by 4 or 4:30pm. I meet with my two PhD students as well but their meeting times are adjustable. You need to email me to make sure I will be in.)

  • Prerequisites: Advanced calculus

  • Credit: 3 credit hours

  • Required Material:
    Topology by James R. Munkres, 2nd edition, Prentice-Hall 2000.
    Below are some links for buying the text at reduced price:
    bookzilla.com , half.com , amazon.com , Barnes and Nobles.
    Algebraic Topology by Allen Hatcher.
    This text can be legally downloaded for free at Hatcher's website. We will only use Chapter 1 on the Fundamental Group.

  • Goals: The goal of this course is to cover point-set topology and begin algebraic topology (fundamental group). This course is the basis of the Topology Basic Exam for PhD students in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

  • Syllabus (tentative, may need to be adjusted):
    (1) Topologies and continuity: Sections 12-22 of Munkres.
    (2) Connectedness and compactness: Sections 23-29 of Munkres.
    (3) Completeness: Sections 43, 45, 46 of Munkres.
    (4) Fundamental Group: Sections 1.1, 1.2 of Hatcher.
    (5) Covering spaces: Section 1.3 of Hatcher (hopefully).
    (6) Countability and Separation axioms: Sections 30-33 of Munkres (hopefully, but not likely).

  • Exams: There will be a midterm and final exam, both of which will be modeled on the Topology Basic Exam.
    Midterm: Monday October 18 7-9pm, LGRT 101. Closed book.
    Last Exam: Wedsnesday December 8 7-9pm, LGRT 1234. Cumulative. Closed book.

  • Grading: The grade for the course will be determined by timely-completion of about TBA homeworks, as well as the two exams. But there will be NO excuses for late or missed homeworks. The Homework will determine 35% of your grade. The midterm will be worth 25-30%, and the final exam will be worth 35-40%.