Frequently Asked Questions

• Do distance courses earn regular university credit?

  Yes. Credit is earned through Shorter University, a fully-accredited institution of higher learning located in Rome, Georgia, USA.

  Distance Calculus courses are just regular sections of Calculus, but taught in the "distance format".

  You may see the Shorter University Accreditation statement.

• Are the classes graded?

  Students earn a letter grade (A,B,C,D,F) based upon their academic performance in the courses.

  Distance Calculus courses may not be taken on "pass/fail".

• Must I take all of the Distance Calculus courses?

  No. You can pick which Distance Calculus course you wish to take, and just take that one.

  For example, you may have completed Calculus I and Calculus II at your home college/university/school, and you wish to take Calculus III via Distance Calculus. This is definitely OK. We need only to verify you have completed these prerequisite courses to enroll you in Multivariable Calculus via Distance Calculus.

• Is credit earned in these distance courses transferrable?

  Each educational institution makes up their own requirements for accepting transfer credit.

  Please see our Transferring Credits page for more information on this question.

• How do I get an Official Transcript with my completed Distance Calculus courses on them?

  After you have completed your Distance Calculus course, your grade will be submitted to Shorter University, and in about 1-2 weeks your official transcript will be available for you to have sent to your home institution or other destination.

• When does the course begin?

  Distance Calculus courses begin immediately after registration. You can begin a course whenever you wish.

  [Note: Regular Shorter University students must follow the academic calendar established by their major/college, and must start a Distance Calculus course on the semester begin dates as established by the College. ]

• When will the course end?

  A Distance Calculus course ends when you have finished all of the work for the course, and the instructor is satisfied with your work, and you have successfully completed the final examination(s). This time of completion is really up to you, and does not have to follow the regular academic calendar.

• What do I need?

  You need a computer and an Internet connection. The computer should be "newish", and be one of the following:
  • Windows 7, XP, Vista; or Macintosh OSX 10.3-10.6, or Linux
  • 500 Mhz or faster
  • 256MB RAM or higher
  • 20GB Harddrive or larger
  • Reliable high-speed internet connection

• What is the Maximum Time allowed to complete a single course?

  Shorter University affords 8 months from the Date of Enrollment to complete any of the Distance Calculus courses.
  
   

  How do I register?

  Fill out the on-line version of the Distance Calculus Application. The entire process is handled electronically (securely), and we get you started in the course while the administrative tasks at Shorter University grind their way through.

• Is There Financial Aid Available?

  Short Answer: No.

  Distance Calculus does not offer any scholarships or financial aid packages directly.

  Shorter University does not offer any financial aid services to Distance Calculus @ Shorter Universitystudents, as being enrolled in Distance Calculus means you are a part-time, non-degree-seeking student at Shorter University, thus not eligable for financial aid services nor consideration.

  If you are taking a single Distance Calculus course, and enrolled at your home institution full-time, then you probably will not be able to use any of that financial aid package to cover the cost of your Distance Calculus course at Shorter University. Most financial aid awards cannot be "shared" between institutions like that.

  Many students who are currently or formerly in the military may be eligible for help through various G.I. Bills, and other military-based tuition assistance programs. We can assist these students with the process and necessary paperwork, as we have many current and former military students on such programs. Shorter University allows for these types of military-based tuition assistance for Distance Calculus @ Shorter University students.

  Many students also receive tuition assistance from their employers. These types of programs usually are on a reimbursement plan, where your employer will pay you back for the course costs after you complete the course. In these cases, you must pay the tuition to Shorter University yourself, and obtain reimbursement from your employer on your own. Some larger employers have "tuition vouchers" where they will work directly with Shorter University to pay a student's tuition. Check with your Human Resources department at your employer for information on what they offer.

• Courses Start At Any Time

  Distance Calculus does not follow the traditional academic calendar, so you may enroll today - or next week, or next month - and start your course.

• Finish the Course Quickly, If Needed

  You may accelerate your pace and completion of the course - provided your skills warrant such progress. Your instructor will set your pace for you, and if you need to complete your course by a certain deadline, we will work with you to establish a pace that should be sufficient to meet your deadline. We cannot, of course, guarantee that you will finish your Distance Calculus bt a certain date, as the ability to complete the course is dependent upon your academic skills.

  Each 4 credit-hour course is designed for a standard 14-week semester, with an expected student workload of 10-15 hourse per week. Some students have been able to finish such courses in 4-6 weeks (and not doing much other than Calculus during this period!)

• Take 1 Course, Or Take Many - As You Prefer

  You may take only 1 course from Distance Calculus - or you may take many, or even take the entire Calculus sequence. It is up to you. Many students will take, for example, Calculus II from Distance Calculus, where they took Calculus I at their primary college/university, and then take Calculus III at their primary college/university.

  You do not need to take all of your Calculus courses through Distance Calculus. But, of course, you may if you wish.

• Is There a Non-Credit Option?

  Yes. You may take these courses non-credit. See our Non-Credit Course Offerings page for more information on taking one of these courses without academic credit. This is a very popular (and less expensive) alternative for those students who do not need academic credit, but rather just the knowledge of the content of the course.