The study of mathematics offers a practical and working knowledge of numbers useful in a variety of jobs. It is also an essential aspect of other areas of study like the sciences and engineering. A strong understanding and proficiency in mathematics is a must for students interested in any kind of career in science, technology or engineering.
Oakton College's Associate in Science (A.S.) degree with a mathematics pre-major offers you the chance to build your knowledge in this compelling and critical field while also fulfilling a variety of general education requirements that will seamlessly transfer to the four-year institution of your choice. Our Mathematics faculty will motivate and inspire you in an environment that nurtures self-esteem, promotes curiosity and fosters learning.
Offering something for everyone, Oakton's Mathematics program includes:
Your initial placement in mathematics courses is determined by ACT/SAT scores (under 2 years), the Oakton Math Placement Test (ALEKS) or transcripts of successfully completed (C or better) college-level mathematics courses. If you have questions about placement into math courses, please contact the Mathematics Department Placement Coordinator.
If you're a recent graduate (within two years) from Evanston, Glenbrook, Maine, Niles Township High Schools, Northridge Prep or Loyola Academy, you may also have initial placement determined by an articulation agreement that uses your high school transcript and your SAT or ACT score. This information will be reviewed by the Mathematics Department Placement Coordinator.
Our mathematics pre-major is recommended for students who are considering completing a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics after transferring to a four-year institution. It is designed for students who have not decided upon a specific four-year college or university.
Pre-majors are recommended for students planning to complete a Bachelor’s degree after transferring to a four-year institution and are designed for students who have not yet decided on a specific four-year college or university. Career options in this field reflect the salaries and opportunities available to students upon completing their Bachelor’s degree.
To see specific Transfer Path agreements that Oakton has made with partner universities, please see the Transfer Partnerships and Guides.
For additional support with transfer planning, including course selection and educational planning, please contact the office of Advising, Transitions, and Student Success. The Career & Transfer Center (CTC) offers additional resources for students preparing to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
Employment in math occupations is projected to grow 29 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, and will add about 82,000 jobs. Growth is anticipated as businesses and government agencies continue to emphasize the use of big data, which math occupations analyze.
Math occupations had a median annual wage of $98,680 in 2021, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760.
Enrolling at Oakton College can save you thousands of dollars and help you earn more over the course of your career. Our tuition is among the lowest in the region, and we offer many ways to bring your costs down even more.
99 percent of Oakton students graduate without debt.
To help you get there, you can apply for a scholarship, which you don’t have to pay back. We award $12 million in scholarships annually. Financial Aid includes grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance that can reduce your costs of attending college.
We offer payment options that give you control over how you pay. Pay all at once or spread your payments over the course of the semester.
Learn more about your options for paying for your education
Jennifer Reeb, Chair
Professor of Mathematics
B.S. Illinois State University
M.S. University of Tennessee
M.S. Northwestern University
jreeb@oakton.edu
847.635.1974
Office: 2156, Des Plaines
Christopher Saunders, Coordinator of Developmental Mathematics
Professor of Mathematics
B.S. Juniata College
Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University
csaunder@oakton.edu
847.376.7011
Office: 2704, Des Plaines
Maria Antonopoulos
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
M.S. Loyola University of Chicago
Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago
mantonop@oakton.edu
847.376.7283
Office: 2530, Des Plaines
Paul Bialek
Professor of Mathematics
pbialek@oakton.edu
847.635.1721
Office: 2725, Des Plaines
Jayne Blacker
Lecturer
B.S. University of Illinois, Chicago
M.S. DePaul University
jblacker@oakton.edu
847.376.7069
Office: 2530, Des Plaines
Mario Borha
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S. Loyola University of Chicago
M.S. Loyola University of Chicago
M.S. University of St. Francis
mborha@oakton.edu
847.635.1654
Office: 2534, Des Plaines
Olga Cedrina
Professor of Mathematics
B. Ed. Latvijas Universite
M.S. Latvijas Universite
ocedrina@oakton.edu
847.376.7282
Office: B214, Skokie
Michael Farquhar
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S.E.E. Bradley University
M.S. University of Illinois
mfarquha@oakton.edu
847.376.7085
Office: 2116, Des Plalines
Safa Hamed
Professor of Mathematics
B.S. Loyola University of Chicago
M.S. Loyola University of Chicago
shamed@oakton.edu
847.635.1898
Office: 2719, Des Plaines
Anna Hammer
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S. DePaul University
M.S. DePaul University
M.A. DePaul University
ahammer@oakton.edu
847.376.7030
Office: 2807, Des Plaines
Ahyoung Kim
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S. Yonsei University
Ph.D. University of Wisconsin Madison
akim@oakton.edu
847.376.7062
Office: 2719, Des Plaines
Joseph J. Kotowski
Professor of Mechanical Design and Mathematics
B.S. University of Illinois
M.A. DePaul University
M.S. Northwestern University
koto@oakton.edu
847.635.1268
Office: B231, Skokie
Matthew Lee
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.S. University of California, Davis
M.S. University of California, Riverside
Ph.D. University of California, Riverside
mlee@oakton.edu
847.635.1949
Office: 2733, Des Plaines
Naga Potluri
Professor of Mathematics
B.S. Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam
B.S. Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam
M.S. Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam
npotluri@oakton.edu
847.376.7071
Office: 2706 Des Plaines
Ivan Temesvari
Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science
A.A. Oakton College
B.S. Eastern Illinois University
M.A. Eastern Illinois University
itemesva@oakton.edu
847.376.7065
Office: 2134, Des Plaines
Dorota Zak
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
dzak@oakton.edu
847.635.1961
Office: 2712, Des Plaines
Kawkab Alhejoj
Lecturer
BS University of Jordan
MS Northeastern Illinois University
PhD Illinois Institute of Technology
kalhejoj@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Shashank Atre
Lecturer
BS Devi Ahilya University
MSc Tech Indian School of Mines
MS University of Wisconsin
PhD Northern Illinois University
satre@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Jadwiga Cyparska
Lecturer
B.A. Technical University of Szczecin
M.A. Technical University of Szczecin
Ph.D. Technical University of Wroclaw
cyparska@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Christian Han
Lecturer
B.A. Northeastern Illinois University
M.S. Northeastern Illinois University
chan@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Randall Farmer
Lecturer
B.S. University of Illinois
rfarmer@oakton.edu
847.376.7245
Office: 100 Lee Center, Des Plaines
Simon Kakumanu
Lecturer
B.S. C.S.R.C. College
B.Ed. Nagarjuma University
M.S. Vikram University
M.Ed. Nagarjuma University
C.A.S. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
kspeter@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Nouel Kamber
Lecturer
B.S. Al-Mustansiriyah University, Iraq
M.S.C. Al-Mustansiriyah University, Iraq
Ph.D. Nankai University, China
nkamber@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Mahmoud Khalili
Lecturer
B.S. Tehran University
M.S. Northeastern University
Ph.D. Illinois Institute of Technology
mkhalili@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Esther Kim
Lecturer
M.D. Korea University
M.S. Chicago State University
ekim@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Andrei Kolas
Lecturer
B.S. Belarussian M.Tank State Pedagogical University
M.S. Belarussian M.Tank State Pedagogical University
akolas@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Douglas Lewit
Lecturer
B.A. Northeastern University
M.S. Northeastern University
dlewit@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Mikhail Manilov
Lecturer
B.S. Kyiv State University, Ukraine
M.S. Kyiv State University, Ukraine
M.S. DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
Ph. D., Hydraulic Engineering and Amelioration Scientific and Research Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine
mmanilov@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Narcis-Ion Motorga
Lecturer
M.S. Northeastern Illinois University
B.A. West University of Timisoara, Romania
nmotorga@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Kamilla Murashkina
Lecturer
B.S. Moscow State University
M.S. Moscow State University
M.S. Northeastern Illinois University
kmurashk@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
James Papademas
Lecturer
B.A. Roosevelt University
B.S. Roosevelt University
M.B.A. Roosevelt University
M.S. Roosevelt University
jpapadem@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Katherine Papademas
Lecturer
B.S. University of Illinois, Chicago
M.S. University of Illinois, Chicago
M.S. Roosevelt University
J.D. John Marshall Law School
kpapadem@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Luke Papademas
Lecturer
B.S. Roosevelt University
B.S. Roosevelt University
M.S. Roosevelt University
M.S. Roosevelt University
M.S. Illinois Institute of Technology
lpapadem@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Harminder Rustagi
Lecturer
B.S. University of Delhi
M.S. University of Delhi
hrustagi@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Michael Sawyer
Lecturer
M.S. University of Houston
B.a. Indiana University
msawyer@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Lisa Whitlock
Lecturer
B.A. Northeastern University
M.S. Northeastern University
lwhitloc@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Theresa Wong
Lecturer
B.A. Spalding University
M.A. Northeastern University
twong@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Lynda Zenati
Lecturer
BS Illinois Institute of Technology
MS Northeastern Illinois University
PhD Illinois Institute of Technology
lzenati@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
To successfully complete your registration requiring placement by the mathematics assessment coordinator, perform the following steps.
Please note that your prerequisite clearance for a given Oakton math course does not mean that you are registered for that course. You may need to complete other steps for registration.
Mathematics Assessment Coordinator
mathplace@oakton.edu
Division of STEM, 100 Lee Center
847.376.7110
Fax: 847.376.7076