Degrees
Offered
Oakton
is a fully accredited community college offering associate degrees
and certificate programs. The College offers two-year associate’s
degrees in liberal arts, business, education, fine arts, science,
and pre-engineering for students who intend to transfer to a baccalaureate
institution. In most cases, students can complete two years at
Oakton, and transfer to a college or university to complete a
bachelor’s degree in two more years. For students seeking
career education, the College has 29 associate in applied science
degree programs and more than 100 certificate programs. Many senior
institutions will accept and grant credit to students completing
an Oakton career program.
Credit
Hours System
Credits toward a degree are expressed as “credit hours.”
One credit hour usually means one 50-minute period in a lecture class
for each week of a 16-week term. Most classes are three credit hours
each. A minimum of 60 credit hours is required for associate’s
degrees. To maintain F-1 status, students must register for a minimum
of 12 hours each term.
Services
for Students
Professional, academic, career, and personal counseling services
are available at both Oakton campuses. The
Academic and Counseling Center provides educational and career
planning, group and individual counseling, and college orientation
workshops. The Learning
Center provides academic help through tutoring, supplementary
reading materials, testing, individualized courses, and computer-assisted
instruction. Georgia Kariotis, coordinator for non-native students,
is available for special advising and English language assistance
at 847-635-1943. In the Language
Labs, students may study modern languages, use support materials
for English language improvement, or participate in conversations
groups.
Academic
Calendar
The College operates on an academic calendar of two 16-week semesters
and a seven- or eight-week summer session. The fall semester begins
in late August, the spring semester begins in mid-January, and the
summer session begins in early June. Students are not required to
register for the summer session unless it is their first term at Oakton.
Student
Employment
“Employment” is defined as the rendering of services on
either a part-time or a full-time basis for compensation, financial
or otherwise, including self-employment. Employment is not allowed
off campus; those with F-1 status may work only as a student employee
at Oakton Community College. Once the United
States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved the F-1
status, students may apply with Oakton’s Career
Services to work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week.
Oakton does not guarantee employment for international students. It
is the responsibility of the student to apply, interview, and secure
employment. International students must maintain full-time enrollment
during the spring and fall terms to continue working on campus.
Housing
Because Oakton is a community college, no dormitories or college housing
is available. International students must arrange for their own housing.
Most students choose to live with relatives or close friends.
