University of Wisconsin Online Calculus versus Distance Calculus

Another Calculus online program available on the internet is from the University of Wisconsin Independent Learning (UW).

UW's Calculus online program is quite different than Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University.

As reported by former UW Calculus course students, the UW Calculus course is centered on using a traditional paper textbook, having the student work through the textbook problems, and utilize the Calculus videos from Khan Academy to supplement the textbook.

In contrast, Distance Calculus is quite a different course in so many ways! Our video library of instructions is tied DIRECTLY to our own curriculum (Calculus&LiveMath), and using a computer algebra graphing software (LiveMath) as the cornerstone of the coursework platform, quite unlike a regular paper Calculus textbook. We use our own course management system (CMS), which is not Moodle nor Blackboard nor any of the other CMS's you may have had contact with previously.

For many students, a paper-textbook-centered course structure may work for them. If you are good at reading a paper textbook, working through the textbook problems, and watching Khan Academy videos to help out, then UW's course may be a very good choice for you.

UW's Calculus I (U3600-114) course is less expensive (tuition: $1383) than Distance Calculus Calculus I (tuition: $1782 + e-text/software $115). So if you are looking for the lowest price course, UW is a less expensive option.

Distance Calculus is designed to facilitate tremendous interaction between student and instructor via the exchange of these LiveMath (and Mathematica for the higher courses) notebooks, back and forth, back and forth, until the student work is 100% correct and complete. Explore below in more detail (in video format) the Distance Calculus courses, and write us if you have any questions!

Student interaction with the instructor(s) is via this computer algebra notebook exchange, but also on sharing screen-cast recorded movies back and forth, which solves many "I'm stuck and writing out my question is not working out!", and then also real-time chat back and forth with the instructor(s) on Skype chat.

Is Distance Calculus For You?

Distance Calculus Success Indicators

Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

Date Posted: Jan 12, 2020
Review by: Anonymous
Courses Completed: Calculus I, Calculus II
Review: I needed to brush up on my high school calculus and finally take Calc II before starting a graduate program that needed them as prereqs. This was perfect choice to fit in that summer. Got done at fast pace that I wanted and needed. Also had added bonus of one on one feedback and help when needed. Video lessons were better than many on campus instructors in large lecture settings. Recommend for anyone needing to satisfy prereqs at home institution.
Transferred Credits to: University of Michigan

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

Date Posted: Jan 12, 2020
Review by: Brian Finley
Courses Completed: Calculus II
Review: I took Calculus II through Distance Calculus and can't recommend it enough. Being able to take the course at my own pace while I was working full time was tremendously helpful, especially since I hadn't taken a math course for 5 years prior. The instruction was excellent and the software they used to teach the course was intuitive and facilitated the learning process very well. This calc II class enabled me to take multivariable calc, linear algebra, and real analysis at Harvard University's extension school, which ultimately qualified me for the economics PhD program that I will graduate from next year. 8 years on, I'm still grateful to Professor Curtis and Distance Calculus.

Distance Calculus - Curriculum Exploration

Analytic Geometry

P13: Analytic Geometry:

P13.1: Slice The Cone

P13.2: Ellipsi

P13.3: Hyperbolae

P13.4: Parabolae

P13.5: Polar Equations of Conics

P13.6: Parametric Equations

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John ★★★★★

Posted: Nov 20, 2025

Courses Completed: Precalculus, Applied Calculus

Great course. Professor Curtis and the TAs graded quickly and gave really helpful feedback that made the class feel smooth and manageable. Definitely recommend it.

Transferred Credits To: Binghamton University (School of Managment)

Anonymous☆☆☆☆☆

Posted: Dec 31, 1969

Emmy★★★★★

Posted: May 26, 2025

Courses Completed: Applied Calculus

Distance Calculus was the perfect answer to getting ahead in math over the summer of my junior year in HS. I was able to complete the entire course over the summer. The teacher was responsive and the course was understandable. Highly recommend.

Transferred Credits To: Syracuse University

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

Lucas L.★★★★★

Posted: Jun 25, 2026

Courses Completed: Multivariable Calculus

The professor as well as the TAs give great feedback when you need help with problems and the videos are great at explaining concepts. Return time on work is good and the work is not too much to handle.

Transferred Credits To: University of Wisconsin

Hari K.★★★★☆

Posted: Jun 24, 2026

Courses Completed: Linear Algebra

This course gives a perspective on Linear algebra that no traditional course does. I’d say i gained much more intuition for this subject from the DC course than my friends who took traditional courses elsewhere. As a cs major, this version of learning with visualization has helped me a lot in understand ML models. However the course doesn’t have videos for the last 2 chapers so i had to self learn with the mathematica notebooks. Response times are a little slow but since it’s a remote class, i guess it’s justified. Overall amazing course and definitely take this over traditional lin alg classes.

Julia★★★★★

Courses Completed: Calculus I

As a full-time business owner completing an Executive MBA, I needed to satisfy a calculus prerequisite without putting my work on hold. Distance Calculus made that possible. The fully self-paced structure let me work early mornings and weekends around an unpredictable schedule, which a fixed-semester classroom course never would have allowed.
The course covered the core business calculus material thoroughly — derivatives, optimization, integration techniques including u-substitution, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, improper integrals, and numerical methods. The LiveMath computer algebra environment was central to the experience: it forced me to build each step explicitly rather than just arriving at an answer, which actually deepened my understanding of the mechanics.
Communication through the student portal was responsive when I had questions. For working professionals who need a rigorous, accredited calculus course on a flexible timeline, I'd recommend it.

Transferred Credits To: MIT Ebma