Undergraduate Algebra

Focusing on abstract algebra, this book serves as a comprehensive resource for undergraduates, emphasizing the importance of field theory and Galois theory over extensive group theory. It is designed to be self-contained, logically structured, and ideally taken after a linear algebra course. Key topics include vector spaces, matrices, linear maps, and finite fields, which are significant in coding theory. The material is suitable for both one-term and year-long courses, allowing for flexibility in curriculum design.