Mathematics

  • STEM

Whether you want to become a math teacher, engineer, or you need to meet math general education requirements for your program, JJC's Mathematics Department will cater to your needs on an individual level.

View Math Courses (Online Catalog)

Departmental Syllabi

Learn what you can expect by reviewing the syllabi below. Please note that individual instructors will have more detailed and personalized syllabi for the sections which they are instructing.

New in the Math Department

  • Data Science Classes

    MATH 299-310: Advanced Stats

    Did you enjoy your statistics class (MATH 128)? In Advanced Statistics, you can expect to expand on these concepts! This class will be a deep dive into ANOVA, multiple regression and non-parametric statistics.

    See the Syllabus (Advanced Stats)

    MATH 299-W01: Intro to Data Science

    This course will introduce you to the field of data science and data scientist tasks. Consider this elective if you are curious about this new field or need a math elective.

    See the Syllabus (Intro to Data Science)

    Questions? Email DataScience@jjc.edu.

Transition Math for High School Students

High school students who take transition math courses can immediately place into entry-level math classes at JJC, all Illinois community colleges and accepting Illinois universities - without taking placement exams.

Learn More

Math Tutoring

The Tutoring and Learning Center offers free math tutoring and is located on JJC Main Campus, in Room C-2010. Degreed, professional tutors, along with upper-level math peer tutors, are available for assistance with all math coursework. Mathematics software, including MyMathLab and The Geometer's Sketchpad, is available for homework and drill/practice. Tutoring is free. No appointment necessary. No limit on hours. Highly recommended.

More Information  

Smarthinking Assistance

Smarthinking delivers online tutoring up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week via iCampus. It offers:

  • One-on-one help when students need it (as they complete homework or study for tests)
  • Drop-in live sessions 
  • Students can ask questions or submit writing assignments for feedback

See the Smarthinking Assistance Document

Meet JJC Math Faculty

  • Linda Blanco, Professor and Department Chair

    Linda Blanco, Professor and Department Chair

    Linda Blanco, Professor and Department Chair

    Phone: (815) 280-2364
    Office: J-1051
    Email: lblanco@jjc.edu 

    About Linda Blanco

    Linda Blanco is a full-time professor in the Mathematics Department at JJC and serves as the Department Chair. 

    Blanco has been teaching mathematics since 1974, first at the high school level, and then at the community college level. Part of her desire is to better bridge the gap between high school teaching and learning and a student's college learning experience.

    Blanco has been engaged in professional mathematics organizations like IMACC and ICTM, where she served on the Board of Directors and assisted in committee work. As a community college professor, she is dedicated to service to our JJC community, whether a student attends JJC or not.

    When not doing professional work, Blanco is active in World Vision efforts to find sponsors for children in under-resourced areas of the world. So far, she has been able to see first-hand the work done in communities in Kenya and Uganda. Since much of Team World Vision fundraising involves endurance activities, she has learned the joy of running (eight Chicago Marathons to date since 2009) and hiking (Grand Canyon 17.5-mile day hike South Rim to South Rim in October 2020). 

    Blanco also has two adult children who live in great states to visit!

    Teaching Style

    "My favorite part of my job is working with students! Although I have gained skill in remote teaching, my preference as both instructor and student remains face-to-face discussion and interaction. Even in the remote environment, I prefer to include virtual learning through media like Microsoft Teams which is available here at JJC." 

    Education

    • MST, University of Illinois, Chicago, 1979
    • BS, University of Illinois, Urbana, 1974


    Other Education

    Blanco has taken various other courses to remain current in the field. She attends many conferences as well. A few years ago, she took PHIL 104 and MATH 128 at JJC. She enjoys putting herself in uncomfortable positions by taking on challenges. 

    Clubs

    Blanco has served as a faculty advisor for the Intervarsity Club. She still regards herself as a member.

  • Joanne Brunner, Professor

    Joanne Brunner, Professor

    Phone: (815) 280-2368
    Office: J-1005B
    Email: 

    About Joanne Brunner

    Joanne Brunner is a full-time professor in the Mathematics Department at JJC. She has been teaching a wide variety of courses at JJC since 1998.

    When she is not teaching, Brunner volunteers and leads international trips with Habitat for Humanity and their Global Village program to help well-deserving families secure safe housing. She also helps golden retrievers and volunteers with the dog rescue, As Good as Gold.

    Teaching Style

    "JJC is a great place to work and earn a degree. I enjoy working with a wide variety of students with diverse backgrounds."

    Education

    • Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, University of Central Florida, 1996
    • Master of Education in Curriculum Studies, DePaul University, 2004
    • Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Loyola, 1993

  • Jason Eltrevoog, Professor

    Jason Eltrevoog, Professor

    Phone: (815) 280-2472
    Office: J-1052
    Email: 

    About Jason Eltrevoog

    Jason Eltrevoog is a full-time professor in the Mathematics Department at JJC. 

    In addition to teaching, Eltrevoog is the ICTM Math Contest Coordinator, JJC Invitational Contest Coordinator and a school board member for Seneca Township High School.

    Teaching Style

    "My teaching style is very 'conversational' ... I'd rather not be the only one talking. I like to illustrate everything with a lot of examples, and answer as many questions along the way as possible."

    Education

    • Master of Arts in Mathematics, University of Louisville, 1997
    • Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics, University of Louisville, 1997
    • Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, North Central College, 1994

  • Patrick Stevens, Professor

    Patrick Stevens, Professor

    Phone: (815) 280-2368
    Office: J-1005B
    Email:

    About Patrick Stevens

    Patrick Stevens is a full-time professor in the Mathematics Department at JJC. He teaches Statistics, Discrete Math, Beginning Algebra and Intermediate Algebra.

    In addition to teaching, Stevens is also the Curriculum Committee Chair.

    Education

    • Master of Mathematical Sciences, University of Illinois Springfield, 1998

  • Full faculty listing

     

    John Bialas Professor
    Office: J-1043 Phone: (815) 280-2867
    Email: jbialas@jjc.edu
    B.S. Illinois State University
    M.S. Chicago State University

    Linda Blanco Department Chair and Professor
    Office: J-1051 Phone: (815) 280-2364
    Email: lblanco@jjc.edu
    B.S. University of Illinois
    M.S. University of Illinois Chicago

    Nicholas Blatti Assistant Professor
    Office: J1052 Phone: (815) 280-2815
    Email: nblatti@jjc.edu
    B.S. University of St. Francis
    M.S. University of Illinois Chicago

    Joanne M. Brunner Professor
    Office: J-1005B Phone: (815) 280-2368
    Email: jbrunner@jjc.edu
    B.S. Loyola University
    M.S. University of Central Florida
    M.Ed. DePaul University

    Elena Catoiu Professor
    Office: J-1039 Phone: (815) 280-2372
    Email: ecatoiu@jjc.edu
    M.S. University of Bucharest-Romania
    M.S. University of Wisconsin at Madison

    Yen-Phi Dang
    Professor
    B.S., B.A., M.S. University of Minnesota

    Laura Egner
    Professor
    B.S. Loyola University
    M.A. DePaul University

    Jason A. Eltrevoog
    Professor
    B.S. North Central College
    M.A., M.A.T. University of Louisville

    Rebecca Goad
    Assistant Professor
    A.A. College of DuPage
    B.S., M.S. Northern Illinois University

    Donna M. Katula
    Professor
    B.S. University of Illinois
    M.A. Governors State University
    M.A. DePaul University

    Kyriakos Kypriotakis
    Professor
    B.S. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
    M.S. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
    Ph.D. University of California Irvine

    Heidi Lyne
    Associate Professor
    B.S. St. Xavier University
    M.S. DePaul University
    Ph.D. Argosy University

    David McGuire
    Professor
    B.S. Illinois Institute of Technology
    M.B.A. University of Chicago
    M.A. DePaul University

    Angela M. McNulty
    Professor
    B.S. University of Illinois
    M.A. DePaul University

    James Morgan
    Assistant Professor
    A.A. Joliet Junior College
    B.A., M.S. Governors State University

    David P. Ruffatto
    Professor
    A.A. Joliet Junior College
    B.A. Eastern Illinois University
    M.S. Southern Illinois University

    Daniel Sourile
    Assistant Professor
    B.S. Elmhurst College
    M.S. Kansas State University

    Patrick H. Stevens
    Professor
    A.A.S. Morrison Institute of Technology
    A.S. Kishwaukee College
    B.A., M.A. University of Illinois

    Stephen G. Zuro
    Professor
    B.A., M.A. DePaul University

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)

This pathway focuses on science, technology, engineering and math and is perfect for those who are analytical and mathematically-minded.

Explore This Pathway

  • Credit by Performance

    Math Credit Authorization Form (PDF)

    Math courses at Joliet Junior College such as Math 131 (College Algebra), Math 138 (Pre-Calculus I, Algebra), Math 139 (Pre-Calculus II, Trigonometry), Math 142 (Accelerated Pre-Calculus) and Math 170/171/172 (Calculus with Analytic Geometry series) are considered college level mathematics courses. Many of these courses are taught in the high schools of Illinois Junior College District 525.

    Students who satisfactorily complete any math course numbered 137 or higher (excluding Math 138 and Math 142) as their first math course after their high school math courses, at JJC with a “C” or better, and have earned 15 semester hours of college credit at JJC may petition to receive JJC credit for college level mathematics courses taken in high school. The course(s) will be listed on the transcript. However, the transcript will not include a letter grade for the course(s) for which credit is granted. Enrollment in the JJC math course must have been within two years of completion of high school.

    1. If a student completes Math 137 (Discrete Mathematics), the student may apply to the Mathematics Chairperson to receive four hours of credit for mathematics courses taken in high school. This will be listed on the transcript as Math 131 (College Algebra — 4 semester hours).

    2. If a student completes Math 150 (Mathematical Analysis for Business), the student may apply to the Mathematics Chairperson to receive four hours of credit for mathematics courses taken in high school. This will be listed on the transcript as Math 131 (College Algebra — 4 semester hours).

    3. If a student completes Math 153 (Finite Mathematics), the student may apply to the Mathematics Chairperson to receive four hours of credit for mathematics courses taken in high school. This will be listed on the transcript as Math 131 (College Algebra — 4 semester hours).

    4. If a student completes Math 139 (Pre-Calculus II, Trigonometry), the student may apply to the Mathematics Chairperson to receive four hours of credit for mathematics courses taken in high school. This will be listed on the transcript as Math 138 (Pre-Calculus I, Algebra — 4 semester hours).

    5. If a student completes Math 170 (Calculus I), the student may apply to the Mathematics Chairperson to receive eight hours of credit for mathematics courses taken in high school. These will be listed on the transcript as Math 138 (Pre-Calculus I, Algebra — 4 semester hours), Math 139 (Pre-Calculus II, Trigonometry — 4 semester hours).

    6. If a student completes Math 171 (Calculus II), the student may apply to the Mathematics Chairperson to receive thirteen hours of credit for mathematics courses taken in high school. These will be listed on the transcript as Math 170 (Calculus I — 5 semester hours), Math 138 (Pre-Calculus I, Algebra — 4 semester hours) and Math 139 (Pre-Calculus II, Trigonometry — 4 semester hours).

    7. If a student completes Math 172 (Calculus III), the student may apply to the Mathematics Chairperson to receive seventeen hours of credit for mathematics courses taken in high school. These would be the thirteen hours listed in Item 6 above plus Math 171 (Calculus II — 4 semester hours).

  • Credit by Testing

    If a JJC student does not enroll in one of the mathematics courses mentioned above, the student can still receive credit for Math 131 (College Algebra — 4 semester hours); Math 137 (Discrete Mathematics – 3 semester hours); Math 138 (Pre-Calculus I, Algebra — 4 semester hours); Math 139 (Pre-Calculus II, Trigonometry — 4 semester hours); Math 150 (Mathematical Analysis for Business — 4 semester hours); Math 153 (Finite Mathematics — 4 semester hours); Math 170 (Calculus I — 5 semester hours); Math 171 (Calculus II — 4 semester hours); Math 172 (Calculus III— 4 semester hours) by satisfactorily completing one or more of the following:

    a) The appropriate score on a CLEP subject matter exam or College Board AP exam as determined by the Vice President of Academic Affairs

    b) A JJC mathematics proficiency examination with an appropriate score for qualifying students

  • Credit by Proficiency

    Policy Governing Proficiency Exams

    • Proficiency examinations may be offered in all mathematics courses numbered 100 and above.
    • A proficiency examination may be taken only by students currently enrolled at JJC.
    • The examinee must show that he/she has the background to successfully complete the examination.
    • Passing the proficiency examination, with a grade of 70% or higher, will entitle the student to the credit hours in the amount regularly allowed for the course.
    • The cost for a proficiency examination will be twelve dollars per semester credit hour. The fee shall be paid in advance. A test will be prepared, proctored and graded.

     

    Procedure for the Student

    1. Secure an application for Proficiency Exam from the Department Chair.
    2. Supply the information requested on the application and submit to the Department Chair for approval.
    3. After securing the Department Chair's approval, obtain approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
    4. Take completed application to Student Accounts and Payments and pay $12.00 per semester hour of the course.
    5. Present the paid receipted application to the Department Chair who will arrange for the examination.
    6. The Department Chair will authorize credit if the examination has been successfully completed with a grade of 70% or better.

     

    Restrictions

    Proficiency examinations may not be used for:

    • A course in which a student has previously been enrolled and dropped or failed.
    • A course in which a student is currently enrolled except by recommendation of the instructor during the first two (2) weeks of class.
    • A course that is a prerequisite to a course which a student has successfully completed or for which a student has received credit.