Mathematics 621

Topology

3 credits
Fall 2008

Instructor:

Professor Stephen J. Willson
office: Carver 411
telephone: 294-7671
email: swillson@iastate.edu
FAX: (515)-294-5454

Office hours:

MWF 2:10 - 3:00, and TTh 3:10 - 4:00 in 411 Carver.
Please also feel free to make an appointment if the office hours are inconvenient for you, or just chance dropping in at my office.

Grading:

The course grade may include a plus or a minus. Your grade will be determined by the number of points you accumulate in the course. There will be regular graded homework, a midterm exam, and a final exam. The current course grades are available by clicking grades. Scores are listed by the last 6 digits of student social security numbers. If a score has been incorrectly recorded, you should contact the instructor.

Homework:

Homework assignments are available by clicking homework.

Prerequisites:

Permission of instructor. A prior course in undergraduate topology or a course in real analysis should suffice.

Catalog description:

Introduction to general topology. Topological spaces, continuous functions, connectedness, compactness. Topics selected from countability and separation axioms, metrization, and complete metric spaces.

Textbook:

Topology, second edition, by James R. Munkres, published by Prentice-Hall.

Class meetings:

The class is scheduled to meet TR 11:00-12:15 in 128 Carver. The first class is Tuesday, August 26, 2008, and the last class is Thursday, December 11, 2008. There are no classes on Thanksgiving Break (the week of November 24 - 28). The last day to drop the course is Friday, October 31.

Tentative syllabus (subject to change):

Set theory and logic (selected topics as needed)
Topological spaces and continuous functions
Connectedness and compactness
Countability and separation axioms
The Tychonoff theorem

The emphasis in the course will be on doing proofs and constructing examples. Topics from Chapter 1 (Set theory and logic) will be covered as needed.

Disabilities:

Please address any special needs or special accommodations with me at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you become aware of your needs. Those seeking accommodations based on disabilities should obtain a Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form from the Disability Resources (DR) office (515-294-6624). DR is located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Room 1076.

Information about the instructor:

To learn more about the instructor, click information.

To contact the instructor by email, use : swillson@iastate.edu