Math & Physical Sciences

Title Image
Teacher or student writing on blackboard during math lesson in s
Department Chair
Jon Truax
Department Support
Tamera Owens
Contact Information

Office Phone

Main: (231) 777-0289

Office Location:

1076B

Office Hours

Mon - Thurs: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Overview of Math & Physical Sciences

The Math & Physical Science Department at Muskegon Community College offers a diverse range of courses designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the natural world and quantitative reasoning.

From exploring the universe in astronomy to understanding chemical interactions in chemistry, studying geological hazards, and delving into the principles of physics, our programs are supported by updated labs and expert faculty. Courses in engineering and mathematics further enhance problem-solving skills and prepare students for various career paths. Our department emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring students are well-prepared for their future endeavors.

Calculator Help

Choosing a Calculator and Getting Calculator Help

There are three levels of calculators that you might need for your math class.

Level 1: Scientific Calculator (cost $10-$30)

This type of calculator is appropriate for Math 40, 41, 100A, and 107A. In many of these courses, you may not be allowed to use a graphing calculator, so plan appropriately. How do you know if you have a scientific calculator? Look for the buttons: LN, LOG, and a square root function. If your calculator has these, and does not graph, then it is likely a scientific calculator.

The math department recommends purchasing the TI-30X IIS because the operations on this calculator are very similar to the operations on a graphing calculator. So if you have experience on a graphing calculator, this calculator will be easy to use. Likewise, if you will eventually upgrade to a graphing calculator, you will find the transition much easier coming from this calculator.

You can find the 2-page Quick Reference Guide for using the TI-30XIIS by following this link.

Level 2: Graphing Calculator (cost $90-$120)

A graphing calculator is required for Math 109, 111, 112, 115, 161, 162, 215, and 274, and BUS 105. In these courses you will be required to have a graphing calculator. We will teach you how to use the graphing calculator in Math 109, 111, 112, and 115. By the time you take Math 161 or higher, we will expect you to be good at navigating the menus on your calculator, graphing, and performing calculations.

The math department recommends purchasing the TI-84 Plus for your Level 2 math courses. This calculator is essentially the same as the TI-83 (which has been discontinued), so if you have a TI-83, or a TI-84 (without the plus), those will be fine too.

Warning! Some instructors may not allow TI-89’s or TI-nSpire’s to be used in Level II classes, so don’t just buy the most expensive calculator because then you may have a calculator that you are not allowed to use on tests.

Resources available here

Level 3: Advanced Graphing Calculator / Math Software (cost will vary)
image of a TI-89 Calculator

In Math 283 and Math 295, you may use a TI-89 calculator. However, you do not have to upgrade your calculator. When there are operations that are not available on a TI-83/84, the instructor will make other options available for you to use. The TI-89 calculator does allow you to graph in 3-D, and do double and triple integrals, so that is desirable for multivariable calculus. However, there are many online graphers available, and you can likely make these courses work with a combination of your TI-83/84 and the online graphers. If you are planning to take these courses, it would be a good idea to contact the instructor who is teaching the course, or visit their webpage, to find out what software/hardware will be required for the course.

Web Resources to help you learn how to use the TI-89 Calculator:

TI’s Resource page

Areas of Study

Related Degrees

Faculty & Staff

Jon Truax
Faculty - Department Chair

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: Rockford, Michigan
  • Professional Experience: 4 years Chaffee Planetarium, Grand Rapids Public Museum 3 years T.A. and Abrams planetarium intern 1 year lab technician 25 years MCC Astronomer
  • Academic Degrees: B.S. Physics, Grand Valley State College, M.S. Astrophysics, Michigan State University,
  • Classes Taught: General Astronomy Cosmology Beginning and Intermediate Algebra

MORE ABOUT ME

  • Father of 4 children
  • Grandfather of 2 children
  • Licensed Amateur Radio Operator
Arun K. Datta
Faculty

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: Muskegon, MI
  • High School: Abdullapur High School, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Professional Experience: Research and teaching experiences in various schools and Government labs in the US.
  • Academic Degrees: BS (Honors), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, MS, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, PhD, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Classes Taught: Organic Chemistry, Nursing Chemistry, General Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry classes. Occasionally some elementary and intermediate algebra courses.

MORE ABOUT ME

Travelling with MCC international students to various cities in the USA

  • Was a researcher at National Institutes of Health
  • Some faculty members inspired me to learn chemistry during my undergraduate study
Elizabeth Bolen
Adjunct Faculty

Michael Kilburn
Faculty

OFFICE HOURS:

Schedule a time using THIS LINK 

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: Multiple Midwest towns
  • High School: IMSA in Aurora, IL
  • Professional Experience: Trained as a nuclear physicist, I spent a decade teaching physics and science literacy to people of all ages before coming to MCC in 2020. In addition to teaching a variety of courses, I am the Director of the Engineering Program here and advise the STEM Club.
  • Academic Degrees: Ph.D. Michigan State University, B.S. Northern Michigan University, A.S. Moberly Area Community College
  • Classes Taught:PHYS 201 L&L, PHYS 203L&L, PHYS 204L&L, MATH 115A, MATH 215A, ENGR 202, ENGR 204

MORE ABOUT ME

  • I enjoy camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities
  • I like to geocache, especially when I’m in new areas
  • My favorite demos usually include fire
  • I once spent the summer herding sheep and goats on the Navajo Reservation
Amber Kumpf
Faculty

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: Burton, MI
  • High School: Bentley High School, Burton, MI
  • Professional Experience: Seagoing research scientist aboard JOIDES Resolution, Expeditions 324 & 305 Visiting scientist, Australian National University, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Lecturer – University of Rhode Island, Salem State College, Norwich University
  • Academic Degrees: BS in Applied Geophysics, Michigan Technological University, MS in Oceanography – Marine Geology & Geophysics, University of Rhode Island,
  • Classes Taught: Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Oceanography

MORE ABOUT ME

  • I have an infant son, retired-army Sgt husband, and Jack Russell-Pug mix dog who are the loves of my life.
  • In one 15-year period of my life, I moved 14 times and had 31 different roommates, from 7 different countries and 7 different states.
  • I have been to scientific meetings, conferences and workshops in California, Hawaii, the Azores, Northern Ireland, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Ukraine.
  • For relaxation, I enjoy spending time with my family and reading books.
  • My favorite authors/series are Patrick O’Brien/Aubrey-Maturin, Bernard Cornwell/Saxon Stories, Dean Koontz/Odd Thomas, Jean M Auel/Earth’s Children, and other various detective and historical fiction novels.
  • My advice to new college students trying to find their path: all careers are hard work, find something you like doing enough that it makes the hard work worth the effort.
Sherry Claflin

Karin Burrell
Faculty

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: Wyoming, MI
  • Professional Experience: I taught mathematics part-time at Grand Rapids Community College for 10 years before coming to Muskegon Community College. I have been teaching here at a full-time faculty member since 2010
  • Academic Degrees: B.S. Mathematics, Western Michigan University, M.A. Mathematics, Western Michigan University,
  • Classes Taught: I teach algebra, statistics, trigonometry, calculus, and linear algebra.

MORE ABOUT ME

  • MCC is a wonderful place to teach. The atmosphere is friendly, the classes are small, and the campus is beautiful.
  • I love math and I love getting to know my students. I have the best job!
  • I have 4 kids and lots of pets.
  • I enjoy riding my Honda Magna motorcycle.
  • I love hiking outdoors with my dogs.
Hieu Do
Faculty

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: An Giang Province, Vietnam
  • Professional Experience: I was a tenured faculty (2016 – 2022) and department chair (2020 – 2022) at Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, NV before coming to MCC (2022). I was awarded ACCCESS fellowship (2017-2018) by AMATYC. I volunteered for the Northern Nevada Math Club as their ARML coach and contest writer (2017 – 2022), board member (2017 – 2022), and board president (2019 – 2022).
  • Academic Degrees: B.S. Mathematics with an Art minor (2009) from Eastern Oregon University, M.S. Mathematics (2012) from Oregon State University, Ph.D. Mathematics (2016) from Oregon State University
  • Classes Taught: Algebra, Math for Liberal Arts, Precalculus and Calculus series, Differential Equations

MORE ABOUT ME

  • My husband and I are avid beekeepers. We keep about 20 hives and have about a metric ton of honey every year. We turn them into delicious meads.
  • I play tennis in USTA leagues and tournaments. I have won a mixed doubles tournament.
  • I enjoy skiing, snowboarding, playing boardgames, and decimating lobsters.
Joanne Koratich
Faculty

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: Saginaw, Michigan
  • Professional Experience: My first career was in Automotive Manufacturing at General Motors Assembly Plants. Since then, I’ve served as an accuracy checker for math textbooks, a high school math interventionist, and a tutor in various levels of math. I began teaching at MCC in 2009.
  • Academic Degrees: BS Electrical Engineering, Kettering University, MS Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, MA Teaching Mathematics, Western Governors University (Secondary Teaching Certificate with Mathematics Endorsement)
  • Classes Taught: MATH 038, MATH 040, MATH 100A, MATH 107A, MATH 109A, MATH 111, MATH 112, MATH 115A

MORE ABOUT ME

  • I am married and the mother of four children.
  • My two older children enrolled in classes at MCC before transferring to four-year schools.
  • I enjoy yoga, reading, learning how to be a better chess player, and spending time with my family.
Gary Nonnemacher
Faculty

Beverly Kludy
Adjunct Faculty

Paul Nong-Laolam
Adjunct Faculty

David Schaefer
Adjunct Faculty

Cathy Strate
Adjunct Faculty

Toby Moleski
Faculty

MY BACKGROUND

  • Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
  • Professional Experience: Community College Instructor since 1999
  • Academic Degrees: B.S. Math and Physics GVSU, M.S. Physics, Oregon State University,
  • Classes Taught: PHYS 201, PHYS 202, PHSC 101A, Math 040, Math 100A, Math 107

MORE ABOUT ME

  • Avid sports fan, especially Red Wings and Tigers
  • Enjoy Craft Beers
  • Interested in Physics Education Research
  • I think that lake effect snow is extremely interesting and fun
Natalie Dunn

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