Autumn 2026
Math 415H: Honors Algebra I     Section 200

Sign up for Piazza. (The access code is the first perfect number of digits of π, Archimedes's constant for all things round)     Piazza Class page.
Homework can be found here.
Instructor: Frank Sottile       Weekly schedule
email: sottile@tamu.edu
      Please have 415H in the subject line, and no UIN.
      Most questions about the class should use Piazza (see below)
WWW: https://franksottile.github.io/
Office: Blocker 601k (in Geometry Centre)
 Office Hours: Mondays 14:00--14:50
Tuesdays 11:00--11:50
By appointment
Grader: Yunpeng Meng.
Sources: A first course in Abstract Algebra by Fraleigh & Brand.
Lectures: TΘ 9:35–10:50     Blocker 121
Syllabus: current version
Canvas: I will not be using Canvas for this course. Content, including printed homework assignments, is delivered in class, and plain ASCII .tex versions of the homework from the homework page. We will also be using the course forum Piazza (note that posts on piazza may be written using markdown and simplified LaTeX.)
Course Forum: This term we will be using Piazza for class discussion. The is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, the grader, and me. Rather than emailing questions, please post your questions on Piazza. If you have any problems or feedback for the developers, email team@piazza.com
Find our class page at: https://piazza.com/tamu/fall2026/math415h/home.
Course Content: From the catalog: A study of groups, rings, fields with emphasis on the theoretical aspects and proofs.
Prerequisites. Math 300; Math 304, 309, 311, or 323; or consent of instructor.
Honors: This is the honors version of a standard introductory course in abstract algebra. This course will meet the enhanced learning objectives of an honors course by the use of richer homework assignments and higher–level lectures, as well as a few special lectures of mathematical enrichment.
Special Note: Your goal in this course, as in every course that you ever take, should be a complete mastery of the material. Anything less is aspiring to mediocrity and doing yourself a disservice. I expect you to read the section in the text that we will be covering before we meet. Come to class ready to ask questions about what you do not yet know. After class, re-read the text and your notes, and do some exercises to complete your mastery of the material. Finally, ask questions in class, lots of them.
Calculator: There will be no use of calculators on exams.
Course webpage: https://franksottile.github.io/teaching/26.2/415H.html
Grading
You will be expected to attend all class meetings; I do keep track of such matters, but allow a few absences before penalties begin. There will be two in-term exams, each worth 20% toward your final grade, and one final exam, worth 40%. The remaining 20% will be homework, Piazza participation, class participation, and attendance.
The grading scheme is simple: A (> 85%), B (76–85%), C (66-74%), D (56-65%), F (≤ 55%). Depending upon how the class progresses, these may be adjusted lower.
Exam Schedule
First exam:   Tuesday 29 September.
Second exam:   Thursday 5 November.
Final Exam: 12:30–14:30, Monday 7 December.
Emergencies: If you have a valid reason (medical or family emergency) for missing an exam, then I will give you an alternative exam, preferably before the scheduled exam. Missing an exam without a valid reason will result in a score of zero for that exam.
Homework: Homework is assigned most classes, and will be due on Thursdays. Please submit physical copies of your work; if handwritten, do so neatly and on only one side of the paper with ample margins. More details are on the homework page.

    Late homework are not accepted. The two lowest homework scores will be dropped before computing your grade.
Zeroth Assignment : Read this web page, the course syllabus, sign up on Piazza, and send Frank Sottile a private post on Piazza that you have read and understood the course descriptions and policies. Please also answer the following questions:
    (1) What is your favourite bit of mathematics?
    (2) What previous advanced math classes have you had?
    (3) What do you hope to get out of this course?
    (4) What is your T-shirt size?
    (5) Is there anything else that you want to tell me (that is relevant to the course)?
Due 25 August before class.

Last modified: Thu Aug 20 17:01:38 CDT 2026 by sottile