Instructor: Janet Beery

Office: Hentschke 203D

Phone: x3118

Meeting Times and Place: Tuesday, Thursday, 2:30-4 p.m., Hk. 201

Office Hours: Mon., Wed., 1:30-3 p.m.; Tues., Thurs., 11 a.m.-noon; and by appointment

Text: There is no new text to buy, unless, of course, you elect to buy texts and/or other materials related to your research project. You should be prepared to pay nominal fees for library services
and for copying.

Course objectives:

€ To improve your proficiency in communicating mathematics, both orally and in writing

€ To engage in increasingly independent study and exploration of mathematical ideas and applications

€ To improve your mathematical research skills

€ To become better acquainted with the methods of mathematics, as they actually are practiced by mathematicians

€ To meet the departmental requirements of (1) passing a comprehensive examination of your knowledge of undergraduate mathematics, and (2) writing a research paper and presenting it to fellow seminarians and to mathematics faculty

€ To investigate career opportunities in mathematics and mathematics- related fields

€ To investigate the nature and philosophy of mathematics

Examination: The comprehensive examination will be given in February (date and time to be agreed upon by you), and will be administered by me and/or another member of the department. It is a three-hour, written examination which, this year, will be designed to assess your mastery of the concepts and skills usually introduced in courses in calculus (first three semesters), fundamental concepts or the problem-solving seminar, linear algebra, abstract algebra, elementary probability theory (as covered in Mathematics 85 or during the first few weeks of Mathematics 136), and real analysis. As you know, in order to pass Mathematics 170, you must pass (earn at least 60% of the points possible on) the comprehensive examination. In order to help ensure that you not only pass the exam, but do well on it, your exam score counts for part of your Mathematics 170 course grade (see details below). There will be no other examinations.

Research project: The major assignment for the course is a research project on a mathematical topic to be selected by you in consultation with me and other mathematics faculty members. This project will culminate in a research paper and an oral presentation. It also will include a research proposal, weekly reports to your fellow seminarians and to me and/or another faculty member, and a rehearsal of your talk. (See Research Project handout for more detailed instructions.) Oral presentations probably will occur between April 17 and May 19 weekday afternoons at 4 p.m. You are required to attend all presentations.

Other coursework: Additional assignments will include:

€ A mini-research project to give you practice in research and in writing up and presenting your results (70 points);

€ At most 3 assignments on careers in mathematics and mathematics-related fields (15 points); and

€ At most 3 reaction papers to readings on the nature and philosophy of mathematics (15 points).

Attendance and participation: Most class sessions will feature presentations by you and your fellow seminarians. Part of your grade for each assignment will depend on whether or not you attend, pay attention to, and ask questions about the presentations of your colleagues.

Grading:
Research Project: 400 points
Other Coursework: 100 points
Comprehensive Exam: 100 points
Total: 600 points

Final %	Grade	Final %	Grade	Final %	Grade
94-100	4.0/A	79-81	2.7/B-	63-66	1.3/D+
90-93	3.7/A-	75-78	2.3/C+	60-62	1.0/D 
86-89	3.3/B+	70-74	2.0/C	55-59	0.7/D-
82-85	3.0/B	67-69	1.7/C-	0-54	0.0/F 

Final draft of research paper due