Course objectives: This is a graduate course in Topology. The primary objective of the course is to introduce students to the core ideas of general topology. These include topological spaces, metric spaces, subspaces, product and quotient spaces, continuity, compactness, connectedness, etc. Chapters two through four form the core of the fall semester, with topics from chapters five and six as time permits.

Grading policies: Your grade will be based on homework, two "midterm" examinations and a final examination. The midterms will be worth 100 points, each, the final will be worth 150 points, and the homework total will be normalized to 250 points. The eventual A/B and B/C lines will be at or slightly below 85% and 70%, respectively. Pluses and minuses will also be given, as appropriate. Any exam absences must be confirmed by a physician's note (sickness) or by a letter from your advisor or the dean of your college (personal reasons) before a make-up exam can be given.

Disability policy: Our program is committed to all students achieving their potential. If you have a disability or think you have a disability (physical, learning disability, hearing, vision, psychiatric) which may need a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADA Disabilities & Resource Center located in Graveley Hall, Room 123, 282-3599 as early as possible. Web page

Homework: The ongoing day-by-day syllabus shows when the different chapters will be covered and it lists assigned homework and due dates. The homework problems are (for the most part) from the problems at the ends of the chapters. Each chapter is also filled with exercises. The exercises are something the author views as essential for understanding the surrounding material. Formal solutions to the exercises are not necessary, but they will be an important part of in-class activities and they are perhaps more representative of the types of problems on exams. Students are also responsible for any supplementary material from class. Homework is an essential part of an advanced course like this. Discussions between students about homework are inevitable and in many ways desirable. My only stipulation is that everyone needs to write up their own solutions. Mindless copying is both apparent and unacceptable. (See ISU plagiarism policy.) You will know that you really understand something once you can express it in clear English.