Instructor: Darryl McCullough, Professor of Mathematics

The office hours listed above are primarily for the students in my undergraduate class. You should feel free to meet with me at any time if you wish to discuss the course material. Just contact me (email is the best method) or talk with me after class, and we will arrange a time to meet. Or just drop by my office-- if I have time available, I will meet with you without a prior appointment.

There is no text for this course. Material will be drawn from various sources in the mathematical literature.

Your course grade will be A, B, or C, and is based on two factors, your written work and your class particiption. You start the course with a grade of A, which will be reduced by one letter if your written work is insufficent, and will be reduced by one letter if your class participation is insufficient.

The written work involves problem assignments which will be posted on the course website. Many problems will be routine exercises. Some problems may be difficult, and you should not feel that you must do every single problem that is assigned. Just spend a reasonable amount of time on the course, not too much and not too little.

When necessary, you may consult with other students about the homework problems. However, you will need to write up the solutions in your own words. The mathematics that we originate ourselves is the mathematics that stays with us.

Class participation means being at the lectures, well-prepared and in learning mode. If you are asked to lecture to the class, your performance on this task will also be part of your class participation grade.

Mapping class groups are an important topic which can be viewed from many perspectives. A great deal of beautiful mathematics has been developed in order to understand them. I think that you will enjoy learning some of this mathematics.