Has anyone taken Abstract Algebra in college

I am taking Abstract this upcoming Spring and just wanted to know if anyone has taken the class before, if it was difficult, what are some of the things taught in the class? What were the easier topics to grasp? the more difficult ones? etc...

Thanks and 10pts for the most details!

You will first encounter what is called Group Theory. You will learn what a group is. Basically a group is a set associated with a binary operation (which for a generic binary operation your book may use the following symbol ' * '). A group has three properties.

Properties of a Group

1.) Group contains a unique identity element

2.) Each element in the group has an inverse that is also in the group

3.) Every group is closed [closure property]

The closure property basically says that if you perform the binary operation on any two elements in the group, the result of the operation is also in the group.

You will be doing a lot with groups for most of the semester. Then the tables turn and you will work with rings towards the end of the course.

- Some familiar rules from algebra using integers and real numbers will not work and this may cause difficulty at times.

[Probably the most notable property that you will want to use but will not work in the situations you are considering is the commutative property of a binary operation (whichever binary operation you are using +, * , some other unknown binary operation]

Hell of a class!!! Interesting... but a hell of a class nonetheless!!!
Just be prepared for a lot of work!