Math 547: Algebraic Topology I

David Dumas

University of Illinois at Chicago
Fall 2023

Course managed on Blackboard

Before and during the course, the main source of course information is the site on UIC's Blackboard LMS.

→ Math 547 blackboard site ←

After the course ends, most materials will be archived on this public site.

Advance info

This basic information about the course was made available here before the main site opened:

• Main text: You can use the free online version. If you want a print copy, they are relatively inexpensive.
• Algebraic Topology by Allen Hatcher (Cambridge University Press, 2002)
• Secondary texts: No need to buy any of these. It can be helpful to see a second exposition of some course material, and if you want that, these are some suggestions. The lectures will use material from Fulton for a very brief period (van Kampen's theorem).
• Algebraic Topology, A First Course by William Fulton (Springer GTM, 1995)
• A lot of the course material is also covered here.
• Topology by Klaus Jänich (Springer UTM, 1984)
• Mostly point set topology that isn't relevant here, but the discussion of the fundamental group overlaps with this course and is very readable.
• Topology and Geometry by Glen Bredon (Springer GTM, 1993)
• Combines algebraic topology and smooth manifolds into a single presentation. Quite readable.
• Algebraic Topology by Edwin Spanier (Springer, 1966)
• A classic text that starts with the basics but also covers a lot of material more advanced than the content of Math 547. Use of some older terminology might make it difficult to read concurrently with more newer books.
• Lectures: MWF at 2pm in 107 Lincoln Hall

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