Coursera Calculus versus Distance Calculus

Coursera is a consortium of various universities (University of Pennsylvania, University of Sydney, et al) where their various online course offerings are presented together in one central location for students to find courses to take online.

One Calculus I course from Coursera is from University of Pennsylvania - it is a set of lectures from one of their professors, which receives great reviews as shown on that page.

Can you get academic credits for this Coursera Calculus I ? It is free - definitely cheaper than Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University $1732 tuition fee.

This question is quite simply: no. But they mention this big "maybe"
compare coursera to distance calculus
A "certificate" of any form like this is not the same as accredited, transferable academic credits!

As far as we can tell, you cannot earn real, transferable academic credits by taking an Coursera Calculus course.

Earning Real Academic Credits for Calculus






Applied Calculus vs Calculus I






Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

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Date Posted: Jun 2, 2021
Review by: Samuel H.
Student Email: samuel.howell@g.fmarion.edu
Courses Completed: Linear Algebra
Review: Nothing but praise for Dr. Curtis. He's an excellent professor who is very responsive and knowledgeable. I did this course at night while working full-time, and I often skyped him late in the evening with questions. He never took long to respond, regardless of when it was. I finished this course in about a month and a half, and I worked for it. For those looking for an easy A, this is not it. You will have to put in serious work, but you will come out of the course with a good understanding of the material, especially if you apply yourself throughout the entirety of the course.
Transferred Credits to: Francis Marion University



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Date Posted: Jul 12, 2021
Review by: Henry R.
Courses Completed: Multivariable Calculus
Review: Fantastic and unique course, particularly good for visual/spatial thinkers. The course forces you to develop a real conceptual understanding of the math concepts, as opposed to just teaching math formulas like other courses tend to do. There is a steep learning curve early on to get used to the software and the kind of course this is. Ultimately, I feel like what I learned will allow me to actually use the math and build upon it in the future. If you care about learning, rather than just passing a requirement, this is a great course for you.
Transferred Credits to: Harvard University



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Date Posted: May 21, 2020
Review by: Chester F.
Courses Completed: Calculus I, Calculus II
Review: I did not enjoy Calculus I at my school. I retook Calculus I, and then Calculus II, over the summer via Distance Calculus and it was awesome. I started my sophomore year back on track and ready for my physics classes. I struggled with the MathLive software but I guess it was alright.
Transferred Credits to: University of North Carolina








Distance Calculus - Curriculum Exploration

Inequalities & Absolute Value









Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

Anonymous
Posted: Dec 31, 1969
Anonymous
Posted: Dec 31, 1969
Anonymous
Posted: Dec 31, 1969
Harlan E.★★★★★
Posted: Apr 29, 2020
Courses Completed: Calculus I, Calculus II
I did not do well in AP Calculus during my senior year in high school. Instead of trying to cram for the AP exam, I decided to jump ship and go to Distance Calculus to complete Calculus I. This was awesome! I finished Calculus I in about 6 weeks, and then I kept going into Calculus II. I started as a freshman at UCLA with both Calculus I and II done!
Transferred Credits To: University of California, Los Angeles
Jorgen M.★★★★★
Posted: Apr 13, 2020
Courses Completed: Calculus I
I really enjoyed this course, much more than I thought I would. I needed to finish this course very fast before starting my graduate degree program @ Kellogg. I was able to finish in 3 weeks. I liked the video lectures and the homework process. I highly recommend this course.
Transferred Credits To: Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern Univ
Cristian Mojica★★★★★
Posted: Jan 8, 2021
Courses Completed: Probability Theory
A fantastic course! I was able to complete it in about half a year (with a few gaps) alongside other coursework I was completing. There are no deadlines except the one-year mark after registering, so you work at your own rate and schedule.

Probability Theory is required for me to apply to Master's programs in Statistics, so I was glad when I found Distance Calculus. While the course was slightly less difficult than I originally expected, there were parts that definitely slowed me down and made me think. (Also, although calculus is not everywhere in the course, it is everywhere in normal and exponential variables and beyond, so make sure to review derivatives and integrals (single and double)!) I used Mathematica for my software, and it helped speed along calculations and proved to be the perfect stage and tool for this material. I think visual learners will absolutely revel in how the material is presented in this course. (I know I did!) As there is plenty of writing and calculation to do, you have many opportunities to develop and strengthen your voice as a mathematician. The modern format of 80% electronic notebook work and 20% handwritten work is an excellent mixture for studying probability theory and grasping its core ideas. Dr. Curtis is clear in his answers to any questions and concerns you may have and is highly responsive to email and chat, and to responses you leave in your notebooks. He truly wants to help you and to see you succeed, and he is always on your side.

I highly recommend Probability Theory with Distance Calculus!
Email: comojica@ucdavis.edu
M M.★★★★★
Posted: Feb 8, 2026
Courses Completed: Precalculus, Calculus I
The courses were excellent. Very flexible and engaging and the platform offers a lot of upper-level courses. Dr. Curtis is an outstanding professor and very responsive. I would take again.
Transferred Credits To: None yet
Tanja B.★★★★★
Posted: Jan 28, 2026
Courses Completed: Calculus I
After two failed attempts at my university, this course helped me understand Calculus. The live maths tool along with Dr. Curtis were especially helpful, allowing me to visualize concepts and expand my understanding. The explanations were clear, the examples practical, and I could learn at my own pace, which built my confidence. Thank you.
Transferred Credits To: University of Namibia
Henry F.★★★★★
Posted: Dec 18, 2025
Courses Completed: Differential Equations
Transferred Credits To: Saint Joseph High School
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