edX Calculus versus Distance Calculus
edX is a consortium of various universities (Harvard University, MIT, Boston University, University of Texas, University of California, Berkeley, et al) where their various online course offerings are presented together in one central location for students to find courses to take online.The Calculus I course from edX is actually the MITx Calculus I course, from MIT's very impressive OpenCourseWare project.
Can you get academic credits for this edX Calculus I (MITx in disguise) course? It costs $225.
This question is very very murky. There are various pages on edX site that suggests credit is available, and that you can "purchase academic credits" but it is not clear if you do this after you finish your course, or before, or .... To our knowledge, none of the courses in MIT's OpenCourseware project offer real academic credits.
Other pages on edX.org suggest the "certificate" awarding for $100 for completion of these courses.
As far as we can tell, you cannot earn real, transferable academic credits by taking an edX/MITx Calculus course.
Earning Real Academic Credits for Calculus
Applied Calculus vs Calculus I
Distance Calculus - Student Reviews
Date Posted: Jul 25, 2020
Review by: Michael Linton
Student Email: mdl264@cornell.edu
Courses Completed: Calculus I
Review: Amazing professor, extremely helpful and graded assignments quickly. To any Cornellians out there, this is the Calculus Course to take in Summer to fulfill your reqs! I would definitely take more Calculus Classes this way in the future!
Transferred Credits to: Cornell University
Date Posted: May 17, 2025
Review by: Howard B.
Courses Completed: Applied Calculus
Review: I truly loved this class—it's one of the most enjoyable math courses I’ve ever taken. Pros: -- Exceptional Instruction and Support: Dr. Curtis was incredibly responsive and helpful whenever I had questions. The TA was also very supportive, and thanks to their guidance, I was proud to earn a 100% in the course—even without having taken pre-calculus beforehand. -- Innovative Software Platform: The custom software used in the course made a huge difference for me. I found it intuitive and engaging, and it helped reinforce the concepts in a way traditional textbooks never did. -- Thorough, Rigorous Curriculum: The structure of the course really pushed me to stay organized and plan ahead. I felt like I was being challenged in all the right ways. Potential Considerations for Others: -- Requires Strong Time Management: If you haven’t taken pre-calc, like me, you’ll need to be extra proactive. The course can move quickly if you need, and pacing yourself is essential. -- Software Learning Curve: While I personally loved the software, students who aren’t comfortable adapting to new digital tools might need a bit of extra time upfront to get used to it. -- Helpful to Have Supplementary Resources: One improvement might be to offer a short list of "starter resources" (videos, concept overviews, etc.) for students who need a broader intro to calculus before diving in. Overall, I highly recommend this course to motivated students, especially those comfortable with self-paced learning and open to using new tools. Dr. Curtis is a fantastic instructor, and the course setup really works.
Transferred Credits to: MIT
Date Posted: Jan 13, 2020
Review by: Daniel Marasco
Courses Completed: Multivariable Calculus
Review: This course was more affordable than many, and the flexible format was terrific for me, as I am inclined to work very diligently on tasks on my own. It could be dangerous for a person who requires external discipline more, but it works well for self-starters, allowing you to prioritize when you have other pressing work. I was a full time teacher adding a math certification, and this course allowed me to master the math while working around my teaching schedule and fitting work into moments here and there when I had time. I was able to transfer the credits to Montana State University, Bozeman for my teaching internship program without a hitch. The instructors were all very helpful and patient, even when I failed to see a ridiculously simple solution on one problem after 20 emails back and forth. Overall, I was more pleased with my experience in this class than I was with any of my other 9 courses.
Transferred Credits to: Montana State University, Bozeman
Distance Calculus - Curriculum Exploration
Rational Polynomial Functions
- P6: Rational Polynomial Functions:
- P6.1: Reciprocating
- P6.1.a: Reciprocals of Linear Functions
- P6.1.b: Reciprocals of Power Functions
- P6.1.c: Reciprocals of Quadratic Functions
- P6.1.d: Reciprocals of Polynomial Functions
- P6.1.e: Roots and Asymptotes
- P6.1.f: Homework Problems
- P6.2: Polynomial Over Polynomial
- P6.2.a: Initial Graphs
- P6.2.b: Roots on Top, Roots on Bottom
- P6.2.c: Common Roots
- P6.2.d: Degree Top Heavy
- P6.2.e: Degree Bottom Heavy
- P6.2.f: Degree Balanced
- P6.2.g: Homework Problems
- P6.3: Rational Polynomial Equations
- P6.3.a: Solve Graphically
- P6.3.b: Solve By Cross Multiplication
- P6.3.c: Solving Via Factoring
- P6.3.d: Land Mines To Watch Out For
- P6.3.e: Homework Problems
- P6.4: Rational Polynomials Revisited
Course Information
Frequent Questions
