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.
Our Philosophy courses draw 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.
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.
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.
We work closely with concentration programs at Oakton, including Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Peace and Social Justice Studies, Global Studies, Great Books and 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.
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.
This area includes topics like film, music, visual art, theater and literature. Interdisciplinary courses use several of these areas to study culture. Offerings are focused on the U.S. and transnational contexts and can help students meet U.S. Diversity and Global Studies graduation requirements. This is a very suitable starting point for students interested in pursuing undergraduate degrees in any liberal arts area and students interested in arts and culture.
Learn about the world’s religious and faith traditions and how they have helped shape our societies both in the U.S. and globally. Read and engage with important scriptures and studies of religious beliefs and practices from around the world. Explore some of the backgrounds of controversies and questions surrounding religion in the U.S. and globally, and understand the diversity of religious belief and practice in our society.
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.
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
Oakton's professors and lecturers are experts in their fields with advanced degrees and years of real-world experience.
In addition to classroom learning, students receive support from our panel of expert advisors.
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
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
Coordinator, Honors Program
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
