The Main Calculus sequence is sometimes referred to as the "Engineering Calculus" sequence.
The majors that usually take the courses in this Main Calculus sequence include:
- Mathematics
- All Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Pre-Med)
- Computer Science
- Engineering and Related Majors
- Economics (not Business Majors)
We describe the courses offered via Distance Calculus via the sequence of courses they live in. You may take any one Distance Calculus course you wish - you do not have to take all of the courses in a sequence from Distance Calculus. Quite often, students will take one course from the sequence from Distance Calculus, and then take the other courses in the sequence from their home institution.
Distance Calculus offers the Main Calculus sequence in either a 3 credit course sequence, or a 4 credit course sequence.
Some institutions have 3 credit courses, while other institutions have 4 credit courses; (some other instiutions offer their courses with 5 credits!)
Distance Calculus offers these two different course sequences so that students may articulate these Distance Calculus courses with the equivalent courses at their home institutions.
3-Credit Course Sequence
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4-Credit Course Sequence
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Preparation for Math & Science Majors
The Main Sequence courses for Distance Calculus will adequately prepare you for your degree requirements for a major in Mathematics, the Physical Sciences, Economics, or any other major requiring Calculus from the Main Sequence. The curriculum for Distance Calculus is the award-winning Calculus&Mathematica (and its sibling project, Calculus&LiveMath), by Davis/Porta/Uhl. This curriculum is a very challenging curriculum, requiring the student to study and engage and learn calculus at probably a higher level than the student has faced before. Many problems and topics are "non-traditional", and push the limits of both the use of technology in learning the topics of engineering calculus, as well as pushing the development of problem-solving skills by working on problems that do not simply result in a numerical answer. Students are required to write - often multiple paragraphs - supplying graphs, tables, numerical values, algebraic expressions - all to "make their case" for the solution of a problem. The correct answer is only of secondary importance in this curriculum - the primary goal is for the student to learn to thoroughly experiment, engage, investigate, and then explain the solution to a problem. For preparation in a math or physical sciences major, these basic skills will provide the student with a toolbox to go on to upper-division courses. The use of technology in application to learning Calculus is also key. Upon graduation from university and entering a career where the understanding and application of calculus is required, the ability to use powerful computational software programs such as LiveMath™ Maker and Mathematica are essential skills in the workplace. |