Humanities and Philosophy

Our department offers courses in three broad areas, with corresponding pre-majors: Exploring Humanities, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. Whether learning about arts and culture, asking philosophical and ethical questions, or learning about the world’s religious traditions and texts, our courses will offer you an inclusive and global approach to these areas.

We strive to highlight and center the perspectives of cultural and intellectual traditions that have often been underrepresented. We also strive to foster a sense of social justice and global citizenship.

The Philosophy Pre-major draws on the world’s intellectual traditions to ask the larger questions about life and meaning and the pressing ethical and social questions of our time. This is also a great starting point for transfer to any Liberal Arts area and students interested in Law or Business. Philosophy offers students skills in critical and creative thinking that will be valuable to all students.

The study of philosophy emphasizes the development of skills in analytical thinking, problem-solving, ethical and political deliberation and advanced reading and writing. It offers excellent preparation for a range of career options.

The Exploring Humanities Pre-major is based on a range of offerings from the Humanities and Philosophy Department. It is perfect for students interested in the liberal arts. This interdisciplinary pre-major combines materials and approaches from several different areas and will give you a solid foundation for your education with an associate of arts in humanities.

With this program, you can prepare for various advanced learning opportunities at four-year institutions. The courses in this curriculum cover topics in the liberal arts that will give you a broad background in the subject so that you can be ready for your next steps, regardless of which path you take.

The Religious Studies Pre-major highlights the ethical and narrative traditions of the world's religious traditions and their importance to global and U.S. politics and culture. Students will be introduced to the diversity of religious beliefs and practices around the world and in the U.S. This pre-major is suitable preparation for students interested in continuing in the Liberal Arts as well as Social Sciences.

Students in the Humanities and Philosophy Pre-majors are encouraged to combine the program with an academic concentration, such as Peace and Social Justice Studies, Global Studies, Great Books, Women’s and Gender Studies or Environmental Studies.

Our courses rely on discussion and seminar-based learning formats, where students’ ideas and voices are central. We also involve students in events outside the classroom, including our social justice and arts symposium, Creating Justice, other conferences and talks at Oakton, as well as site visits and cultural experiences. We offer students exciting and unique opportunities such as the annual honors student-faculty philosophy seminar where students and faculty learn side by side, and our interdisciplinary learning communities.

Courses in these major areas can fulfill various graduation requirements, including Humanities, Fine Arts, Global Studies and U.S. Diversity. To see the many options, check out descriptions for all Humanities and Philosophy courses. 

Pre-Majors

This pre-major is suitable for students who are interested in liberal arts but are not yet decided on a particular discipline. This pre-major offers a broad introduction to many disciplines, and provides a good background for transferring into many liberal arts programs. Students who are interested in a particular discipline within the arts should consult the programs offered by the Art, English, and Music or Theater departments. The Exploring Humanities pre-major can be easily combined with one or more concentrations, including Women’s and Gender Studies, Global Studies, Peace and Social Justice Studies, Great Books and Environmental Studies.

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The Philosophy Pre-major offers a suitable pathway to four-year programs in Philosophy as well as a range of other humanities and social science programs. An undergraduate degree in philosophy is a good basis for many future graduate programs, as well as programs in law.

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The Religious Studies pre-major offers a suitable pathway to four-year programs in Religious Studies as well as other humanities and social science programs. 

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What's Next?

We are glad you are considering attending Oakton College. No matter where you are in your decision-making process, we are here to help you with your next steps. Whether you're ready to apply now, need information on paying for college or have questions and want to contact someone, we're here to help.

A degree in the humanities opens doors across the world. The study of human behavior and how languages are used to communicate are universal concepts in most societies. After completing a Humanities and Language program at Oakton, your new communication skills and abilities to connect with people can be applied to numerous jobs.

Oakton features many specific programs in the humanities and liberal arts. Are you interested in learning a particular foreign language? Or would you like to focus on English literature and language studies? Explore all of the humanities disciplines at Oakton to find your niche.

See All Humanities Programs

Potential Careers

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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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

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As your community college, we serve students from various backgrounds. We aim to make the application process as easy and as clear as possible for everyone.

We can help you get started on a degree or certificate. Applying to Oakton is fast and easy.

Your first step before you begin your studies is filling out an admission application and completing your enrollment process.

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Meet Your Faculty

Oakton's humanities faculty is composed of distinguished professors and lecturers. As part of the Division of Liberal Arts, our faculty is here for you to help you succeed during your studies and beyond.

Meet our full-time faculty:

Thomas Bowen
Co-chair, Humanities and Philosophy
Professor, Philosophy
B.A. University of Dayton
M.A. Loyola University of Chicago
tbowen@oakton.edu
847.376.7084
Office: 3614, Des Plaines

Mohamed Mehdi
Co-chair, Humanities and Philosophy
Distinguished Professor, Humanities and Philosophy
B.A. University of Toronto
Ph.D. McGill University in Montreal
mmehdi@oakton.edu
847.376.7287
Office: 2616, Des Plaines

Carlos Briones
Distinuished Professor, Humanities and Philosophy
B.S. Insituto Tecnologico de Monterrey
M.S. University of Connecticut
M.A. University of Houston
Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago
cbriones@oakton.edu
847.376.7163
Office: 2514, Des Plaines

Will Crawford
Professor, English
B.A. Jackson State University
M.A. University of Illinois, Urbana
crawford@oakton.edu
847.376.7137
Office: 3618, Des Plaines

Madhuri Deshmukh
Coordinator, Literature
Coordinator, Peace and Social Justice Studies
Professor, English
B.A. Loyola University of Chicago
M.A. Loyola University of Chicago
Ph.D. Loyola University of Chicago
mdeshmuk@oakton.edu
847.376.7032
Office: 2731, Des Plaines

Lindsey Hewitt
Coordinator, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Professor, Anthropology and Humanities
B.A. Truman State University
M.S. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
lhewitt@oakton.edu
847.376.7044
Office: 2526, Des Plaines

Peter Hudis
Professor, Humanities and Philosophy
B.A. Queens College
M.A. California State University, Los Angeles
M.A. Loyola University Chicago
Ph.D. Loyola University Chicago
phudis@oakton.edu
847.376.7178
Office: 2702, Des Plaines

Kristin McCartney
Co-coordinator, Honors Program
Professor, Philosophy and Humanities
B.A. Miami University of Ohio
M.A. DePaul University
Ph.D. DePaul University
kmccartn@oakton.edu
847.376.7164
Office: 2146, Des Plaines

Patrick O'Donnell
Assistant Professor, Philosophy
B.A. Columbia University
M.A. Johns Hopkins University
M.A. Catholic University of Leuven
Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University
podonnell@oakton.edu 
847.376.7039
Office: 3616, Des Plaines

Ahalya Satkunaratnam
Associate Professor of Humanities
B.A. Loyola University, Chicago
Ph.D. University of California, Riverside
asatkunaratnam@oakton.edu 
847.635.1950
Office: 3616, Des Plaines

Glenna Sprague
Coordinator, Music
Professor, Music
B.M. Capital University Conservatory of Music
M.M. Ohio University
gsprague@oakton.edu
847.635.1905
Office: 1360, Des Plaines

Marian Staats
Co-coordinator, Environmental Studies
Professor, English
B.A. Swarthmore College
Ph.D. Loyola University of Chicago
mstaats@oakton.edu
847.376.7103
Office: 2514, Des Plaines

Charles M. Townsend
Professor, Humanities and Philosophy
B.A. Whittier College
M.A. University of California, Riverside
Ph.D. University of California, Riverside
847.635.1936
Office: 3618, Des Plaines

Amy Zumfelde
Professor, Modern Languages and Humanities
B.A. Bradley University
Ph.D. Northwestern University
azumfeld@oakton.edu
847.376.7081
Office: 2604, Des Plaines 

Meet our part-time faculty:

Kioto Aoki 
Lecturer
B.F.A. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
M.F.A. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
kaoki@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2757/2742, Des Plaines

Jennifer Ash 
Lecturer
B.A. University of Sydney
M.A. Northwestern University
Ph.D. Northwestern University
jash@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Jon Benson
Lecturer
B.A. Westmont College
M.A. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
M.A. Loyola University, Chicago
jbenson@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Eric Bottorff
Lecturer
B.A. Indiana University
M.A. University of Illinois, Urbana
ejbottorff@gmail.com
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Kelly Cherwin
Lecturer
A.A. Harper College
B.A. Barat College
M.A. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
kkcherwin@aol.com
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Adam Darlage
Lecturer
B.A. Xavier College
M.A. University of Chicago
Ph.D. University of Chicago
adarlage@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Toufic El Rassi
Lecturer
B.A. DePaul University
M.A. DePaul University
telrassi@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Jason Fliess
Lecturer
B.A. Point Park University
M.F.A DePaul University
jfliess@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Eduardo Frajman
Lecturer
B.A. Hebrew University
M.A. University of Maryland
Ph.D. University of Maryland
efrajman@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Mary Hope Griffin
Lecturer
B.A. New York University
M.A. New York University
M.Div. Yale University
Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles
mgriffin@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Therese Grisham
Lecturer
B.A. University of Washington
M.A. University of Washington
Ph.D. University of Washington
therese.grisham@gmail.com
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

David Hunter
Lecturer
A.A. Harper College
B.M. Northern Illinois University
Ph.D. University of Chicago
dhunter@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Matt Klinsky
Lecturer
B.S. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
B.A. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
mklinsky@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Laurence Knapp
Lecturer
B.A. University of Virginia
M.S. Boston University
Ph.D. Northwestern University
l-knapp@sbcglobal.net
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Anil Lal
Lecturer
B.A. Hindu College
M.A. Virginia Polytechnic Institute
alal@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Scott McLellan
Lecturer
B.A. College of Wooster, Wooster OH
M.A. Loyola University, Chicago
smclellan@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: Room: B206, Skokie

Eugene Muhammad
Lecturer
B.A. Morehouse College
M.Div. Chicago Theological Seminary
M.S. Ed. Chicago State University
Ph.D. Chicago Theological Seminary
emuhammad119@yahoo.com
847.635.1950
Office: Rom 2430, Des Plaines

Clare Pearson
Lecturer
B.A. University of Chicago
M.A. University of Chicago
cpearson@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Dennis Polkow
Lecturer
B.A. DePaul University
M.A. DePaul University
dpolkow@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines 

Faruk Rahmanovic
Lecturer
B.A. Benedictine University
M.A. University of Hawaii
Ph.D. University of South Florida
frahmanovic@oakton.edu 
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Judd Renken
Lecturer
B.A. University of Texas, Austin
M.A. Wake Forrest University
M.A. DePaul University
Certificate: Women's Studies
j.renken@lycos.com
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Mark Samberg
Lecturer
B.A. Concordia University, Quebec
M.A. University of Chicago
msamberg@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Micah Shaw-Rutschman
Lecturer
B. M. Northern Illinois University
M. M. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
D.M. A. (ABD) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
mshawrutschman@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Shannon Sloan-Spice
Lecturer
B.A. Mount Mary University
M.A Pacifica Graduate Institute
Ph.D. Pacifica Graduate Institute
dr.shannon.sloa.spice@gmail.com
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Michael Smith
Lecturer
B.A. Columbia College, Chicago
M.A. Humboldt State University
msmith@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

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