MATH 310 — Section 003, Spring, 2025
Lecture: MWF 12:40 PM - 1:30 PM, A104 Wells Hall
Instructor: Bochao Kong, C-318 Wells Hall
Email: kongboc1@you_know_where.edu
Website: https://math-310-bk.pages.dev/
Announcements: Class announcements will be posted only on D2L. Please check it regularly. Important reminders will be sent to your MSU email address directly.
Office Hours: MF 3:00–4:00 pm at C-329 Wells Hall, or by appointment.
Text: Abstract Algebra: An Introduction, second edition, Thomas Hungerford, Using the 2nd edition is important for getting the correct homework assignments.
Tentative Course Outline
- Chapter 1: 1.1–1.3
- Chapter 2: 2.1–2.3
- Chapter 3: 3.1–3.3
- Chapter 4: 4.1–4.5
- Chapter 5: 5.1–5.3
- Chapter 6: 6.1, 6.2
- Chapter 7: 7.1–7.3
Attendance
It is important that you attend all meetings of the classes. Although attendance will be recorded, it will not be graded. Attendance records will be used only for valid reasons requested by the registrar’s office.
Homework
Homework will be assigned for each section of the textbook, almost weekly. It is essential for your understanding to work on it. Some problems in the homework will be graded for correctness, while others will be graded for completeness and neatness. The due date will be specified each time.
You may collaborate with others on any of the homework problems; however, you should write up the solutions on your own. Be sure to indicate the names of the people you received help from.
When writing up the solutions, you are not permitted to use any LLM-based tools. If you choose to type your homework solutions, LLM-based code completion tools are also not allowed. Currently, all language model-based AI tools lack the ability to perform rigorous reasoning without hallucinating. Failure to comply with this rule will be considered academic dishonesty.
Submission of Homework
Homework submissions will be handled through Gradescope. You will receive an email with the course link/code to sign up for Gradescope. Please sign up using your MSU email address.
Please ensure that your homework is submitted before the deadline, as late homework will not be accepted.
Submission Guidelines:
-
Handwritten Solutions:
- It is recommended to use the Gradescope App to take clear and legible pictures of your handwritten solutions.
- Your Responsibility: Ensure that all solutions are legible.
- Page and Question Matching: During submission, you must correctly match each solution to the corresponding question and page.
- Failure to do so will result in zero credit for unmatched questions.
-
Typed Solutions:
- If you choose to type your answers, you may submit them as a PDF file (e.g., created using LaTeX or Markdown).
- Note: We reserve the right to request the source file if there is suspicion of academic dishonesty.
- Page and Question Matching: During submission, you must correctly match each solution to the corresponding question and page.
- Failure to do so will result in zero credit for unmatched questions.
Exams
There are three in-class exams, and one 2-hour final exam. Exams are closed book and closed notes. No electronic devices are allowed in the exam. No calculator is allowed in the exam.
Missed Exam or Homework
A missed exam will be regarded as an exam with a zero score, and a missed homework will be regarded as a homework with a zero score. Normally, no make-up exams will be given, and late homework is not accepted.
The following excuses are accepted:
- A university-excused absence: This includes religious holidays, military obligations, participation in MSU faculty-sponsored field trips, rehearsals, performances, or athletic competitions, as described on the ombudsperson’s website.
- A documented medical excuse: This must include a note from a physician explicitly stating that you were unable to attend class on the specified date. Your instructor must be notified prior to the exam or, in the case of extreme emergencies, immediately after the exam.
Students are expected to review this syllabus carefully and plan well in advance. Advance travel schedules (business or personal) are NOT valid excuses.
Grades
- The homework will be worth 100 points, equally distributed among the assignments.
- Each in-class exam will be worth 100 points.
- Among these grades, we drop one in-class exam grade or the homework grade, whichever is the lowest.
- The final exam will be worth 200 points.
The grade for the course is based on a total of 500 points distributed as follows:
| Total Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 450–500 | 4.0 |
| 425–449 | 3.5 |
| 400–424 | 3.0 |
| 375–399 | 2.5 |
| 350–374 | 2.0 |
| 325–349 | 1.5 |
| 300–324 | 1.0 |
| 0-299 | 0.0 |
I reserve the right to adjust the grading scale if necessary, but only to be more generous.
Important Dates:
- January 13 (Monday): First day of classes
- January 17 (Friday): Online open-add period ends at 8pm
- January 20 (Monday): Martin Luther King Day (no classes)
- February 6 (Thursday): End of tuition refund
- March 2–9: Spring break
- March 10 (Monday): Last day to change to or from CR/NC
- March 10 (Monday): Middle of semester; last day to drop a course with no grade reported
- April 27 (Sunday): Classes end
Exam Dates:
- First In-class Exam: February 10 (Monday)
- Second In-class Exam: March 10 (Monday)
- Third In-class Exam: March 31 (Monday)
- Final Exam: April 28 (Monday), 12:45 PM - 2:45 PM, Wells Hall A104
Academic Honesty
Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states:
“The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards.”
In addition, the Mathematics Department adheres to the following policies on academic honesty:
- General Student Regulations 1.0: Protection of Scholarship and Grades.
- All-University Policy: Integrity of Scholarship and Grades.
- Ordinance 17.00: Examinations.
(See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide and/or the MSU website: www.msu.edu.)
Unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments—homework, quizzes, projects, and exams—without assistance from any source.
- You are expected to develop original work for this course and may not submit coursework completed for another course.
- You are not authorized to use websites such as www.allmsu.com to complete any coursework.
Students who violate MSU academic integrity rules may:
- Receive a penalty grade (e.g., a failing grade on the assignment or in the course).
- Have an Academic Dishonesty Report filed with the University.
If you are unsure about the appropriateness of your coursework, contact your instructor.
(See also the Academic Integrity webpage)
Proctored Assignment Policy
To ensure fairness and academic honesty during proctored assessments:
- No communication is allowed between students or with third persons. Direct all questions to the instructor.
- Students are not permitted to use additional devices, websites, or browser tabs unless explicitly allowed in the assignment instructions.
- Students must have their MSU ID (or another photo ID) to take a proctored assignment.
- Students must comply with all reasonable requests made by proctors.
Violations of these policies may result in a penalty grade, determined by the instructor based on the severity of the action. This list is not exhaustive.
Technology Issues
Unverified technology or internet issues are the student’s responsibility.
- Complete assignments before the deadline to avoid potential technical issues.
- In case of extreme technical difficulties, record evidence (e.g., on your phone) of the issue and your attempts to resolve it.
- Extensions are typically not granted but may be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Support Resources:
- MSU Support (a good starting point).
- D2L Support.
- Zoom Support.
For software issues, a Google search often provides solutions. If not, reach out to the support services mentioned above.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
MSU is committed to providing equal opportunities for participation in all programs, services, and activities.
Steps to Request Accommodations:
-
Contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD):
- Phone: 517-884-RCPD
- Website: rcpd.msu.edu.
-
Obtain a Verified Individual Services Accommodation (VISA) form after your eligibility has been determined.
-
Present the VISA form to your instructor:
- At the start of the term and/or
- At least two weeks prior to the accommodation date (quiz, exam, etc.).
Note:
- Requests with less than two weeks’ notice may not be granted.
- Requests with less than two days’ notice typically cannot be granted.