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The courses listed herein have been approved by the faculty as authorized by the Board of Trustees. Courses are subject to change through normal academic channels, and information about new courses approved after publication of this catalog can be obtained in the Office of the Registrar or from appropriate departments. Typically, 13.5 hours per week of combined class and study time are expected for each three credit hour course.
The frequency of offering each course is determined by the department or division as demand indicates. Course numbering is intended to reflect the level of preparation which a student should have to enroll in a specific course, but courses are not numbered according to difficulty within a hundred series. Courses numbered below 100 affect the cumulative grade point average, but are not applied to the 120 credit hours required for graduation at North Central College.
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites (if any) and the General Education Requirement(s) which each course fulfills (if any) are noted following each course description.
If a course qualifies as an Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education course, then an IAI code appears to the right of the course title. The letter codes are C (Communications), F (Fine Arts), H (Humanities), L (Life Sciences), M (Mathematics), P (Physical Sciences) and S (Social Behavioral Sciences). Note that some courses meeting NCC general education requirements are not approved by the IAI. Students intending to transfer to another school participating in the IAI are strongly encouraged to take only courses approved by the IAI for general education core requirements.
Mathematics
MTH 153 - Calculus III
3.00 credit hours Continuation of Calculus II with an emphasis on infinite series.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: CSC 230.) Fundamental topics in mathematics and computer science including formal logic, proof techniques, sets, relations and functions, combinatorics, graphs, logic circuits and finite state machines.
Prerequisite(s): CSC 160; MTH 121 or higher or appropriate placement. Core: Mathematics. IAI: M1 905
3.00 credit hours (Same as: CSC 231.) A second course in discrete mathematics that introduces more advanced topics as well as covering some of the material introduced in CSC 230/MTH 230 in more depth. Topics include growth of functions and complexity of algorithms; number theory; recursive definition and algorithms; proof techniques; program verification; discrete probability; finite state automata; and formal grammars and language recognizers. Hands-on labs allow students to apply one or more course topics to build practical working systems.
3.00 credit hours Functions of two or more variables, partial derivatives, multiple integrals and line integrals. Vector analysis, divergence and Stokes’s theorems.
MTH 256 - Introduction to Differential Equations and Linear Algebra
3.00 credit hours First and second order differential equations, complex numbers, matrix and vector algebra, systems of linear equations, vectors, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Students may not receive credit for both MTH 256 and MTH 315.
3.00 credit hours The study of the nature of proof in mathematics. Students learn to find examples and counterexamples of abstractly defined objects and to generalize from those examples to conjecture theorems of their own. Specific proof techniques are taught within the context of subject matter chosen by the instructor.
3.00 credit hours Vector spaces, linear transformations, inner products, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, Gram-Schmidt process and orthogonal transformations.
3.00 credit hours Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry in two and three dimensions. Axiomatics and the nature of proof. Required for supplemental secondary education majors in mathematics.
3.00 credit hours An examination of the historical origins and genesis of important mathematical concepts from the ancient Greeks to modern times. Emphasis on the methodologies and philosophies of those involved in the creative process. Required for supplemental secondary education majors in mathematics.
MTH 315 - Ordinary Differential Equations with Applications
3.00 credit hours First and second order differential equations; algebraic, numerical and graphical solutions; series solutions; applications. Students may not receive credit for both MTH 315 and MTH 256.
3.00 credit hours Algebra, geometry, and calculus with complex numbers. Transformations of the complex plane, analytic functions, Cauchy theory of integration, power series and residue theory.
3.00 credit hours A continuation of MTH 341 to include continuous distributions, central limit theorem, estimations, hypothesis testing and applications.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: PHY 355.) Topics in applied mathematics, including series solutions, systems of linear and nonlinear differential equations, integral transforms (Fourier or Laplace transforms), Fourier series, partial differential equations and a survey of applications from the physical sciences, life sciences and economics.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: FIN 365.) The study of compound interest and annuities; applications to problems in finance and actuarial science. Required for the major in actuarial science.
1.00 credit hours An intensive seminar in problem solving. Intended to provide participants with the ability to solve non-routine problems. Useful preparation for mathematics competitions.
Prerequisite(s): MTH 153 and MTH 280; or instructor consent.
3.00 credit hours Elementary theory of rings, fields and groups, including modular arithmetic, polynomial rings, factorization, ideals and quotient rings, homomorphisms and subgroups.
Prerequisite(s): MTH 280 and at least one 300-level mathematics course.
3.00 credit hours Advanced theory of rings, fields and groups, including symmetric and alternating groups, structure theorems for finite abelian groups, principal ideal domains, unique factorization domains, the field of quotients of an integral domain, vector spaces, extension fields, finite fields and the Galois Theory.
3.00 credit hours Sets, functions, properties and elementary topology of the real number system. Rigorous analysis of limits, sequences, series, continuity, differentiation and integration theory.
Prerequisite(s): MTH 280 and at least one 300-level mathematics course.
3.00 credit hours Exploration of topics not included in other mathematics courses. Specific topics are determined by the interest of the students and faculty. Repeatable with different topic.
Prerequisite(s): MTH 421 or MTH 461 or consent of instructor.
MCL 380 - Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL/Bilingual Students
3.00 credit hours This course provides students with an overview of the theoretical foundations of ESL and bilingual education. Students are introduced to the historical, philosophical, political, social and educational issues that have contributed to models serving language minority students. A focus on second language acquisition and its impact on learning is provided. Historical trends and legal issues related to second language learning and bilingual education in the United States are discussed.
MCL 382 - Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching English Language Learners
3.00 credit hours This course focuses on students’ development of an awareness and understanding of various cultural and linguistic factors that are important in addressing the needs of English language learners. Based on theories of cultural studies and intercultural communication, students examine and analyze behavioral expectations and learning styles of learners from different cultural backgrounds and their impact on cross-cultural teaching and learning. Includes 10 hours of clinical experience.
3.00 credit hours Intensive study of an interdisciplinary topic with special focus on culture and the role of linguistic and/or lexical diversity. Content varies from course to course.
Prerequisite(s): Transfer student with a minimum of 48 transferred credit hours. ACR: Intercultural.
1.00 credit hours Creation, revision, and compilation of language teaching artifacts reflective of state course content requirements for secondary language certification. This course is required of all language majors minoring in secondary education or certification-only students completing requirements for secondary language teaching. Students must register for and complete this credit before graduation, preferably during the term before student teaching.
Prerequisite(s): A minimum of 15 credit hours in Spanish , French or German above SPN 310, FRN 310 or GER 203.
3.00 credit hours This course provides an opportunity to explore a specific topic in ancient Greek and/or Roman culture. Topics may include daily life, cities, gender, athletics, education, art, archaeology or religion. Specific attention is paid to questions arising from the interpretation of sources, both literary and archaeological, through which ancient culture is preserved. The course is repeatable when different topics are covered.
Prerequisite(s): One 200-level course in Humanities or Social Science.
3.00 credit hours An introduction to basic elements of Latin grammar and syntax, etymology and basic translation into idiomatic English; includes a review of the principles of English grammar.
3.00 credit hours An introduction to advanced elements of Latin grammar and syntax including the subjunctive and complex sentences; attention paid to increased reading comprehension.
3.00 credit hours Introduction to the basic structure of Chinese language. Pronunciation and tonal accuracy are strongly stressed, with gradual development of speaking and listening skills.
3.00 credit hours A study of the cultural and social structures that have historically defined Chinese civilization and continue to shape the contemporary Chinese experience with regard to areas such as family, education, ritual, art, politics and economics. Course taught in English.
3.00 credit hours Continued development of verbal communication skills, with introduction of proverbs and idioms. Writing skills are emphasized, and students are exposed to important cultural aspects of the Chinese language.
3.00 credit hours This course draws upon the rich tradition of Chinese cinematography to explore major cultural themes, such as the family structure, parent-child relationships, the evolving role of women, gender issues and other profound developments taking place in contemporary Chinese cultures. Repeatable with different topics.
CHI 311 - Exploring Chinese Through Popular Culture
3.00 credit hours A cultural study to the survey of significant production in recent Chinese film, music, popular literature and other forms of mass media. Repeatable with different topics.
Prerequisite(s): CHI 310 or equivalent or instructor consent.
3.00 credit hours Focuses on the continued development and expansion of vocabulary, oral proficiency and writing skills. Students read, discuss and summarize texts.
Prerequisite(s): Two 300-level courses in Chinese or instructor consent.
3.00 credit hours Development of linguistic and cultural skills related to the professional use of Chinese, focusing on the special forms of interaction required for success in business communication.
Prerequisite(s): Two 300-level courses in Chinese or instructor consent.
FRN 310 - Style and Structure in French Composition
3.00 credit hours Emphasis on improving oral and written proficiency through the study and discussion of core texts. Students develop a sense of the various techniques that contribute to style and use these techniques in their own writing.
2.00 credit hours An introduction to French company organization and related activities (employment, correspondence, simulated transactions), with emphasis on the language skills needed to function effectively in a French business setting.
3.00 credit hours A study of France under the Nazi occupation in World War II, including a focus on collaboration, rescue and resistance, survival and memory.
Prerequisite(s): FRN 310. ACR: Leadership, Ethics and Values.
3.00 credit hours An exploration of the socio-cultural changes in Francophone Africa resulting from colonization and independence, as reflected in contemporary and traditional literature.
3.00 credit hours A study of comic modes throughout French literary history, with an emphasis on theoretical approaches to the questions that literary humor raises.
Prerequisite(s): FRN 310 and one other 300-level French course; or instructor consent.
3.00 credit hours Advanced study focusing on a specific literary or cultural topic, with emphasis on student-directed inquiry and the development of individual projects and presentations. Repeatable with different topic.
Prerequisite(s): FRN 310 and one other 300-level French course.
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