Essential Math for Data Science?

Question: How much math do you need to study Data Science?

Answer: A lot!
To even study Data Science, you need start off being a mathematician/statistician, which means you need a very solid foundation in university mathematics, starting with the following undergraduate, lower-division courses:

You may have searched around the internet looking for math/calculus-level courses to build up your math skills in preparation for Data Science. There certainly are excellent (free!) courses online via MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). However, you will want to have all of the above courses on real, transferable Academic transcripts to prove you have completed these courses, with letter grades, not just say "I took these courses from a MOOC". You need real credentials as a mathematician for data science.

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are awesome, but they do not provide real academic course credit for their courses. If you plan to go for a B.A. or M.A. with a Data Science concentration, you will not be able to say "Oh, I took all my calculus courses from a MOOC" - you need these courses in your academic portfolio.

We invite you to explore our Distance Calculus courses in more detail via the links above, or perhaps the movies below.

Data Science & Distance Calculus

Academic Credits from Distance Calculus

Data Science can best be described as a "a cross between a programmer and a mathematician/statistician".

This topic has many names, all being equivalent:

Data Science
Applied Statistics
Programmer+Mathematician
Big Data

If you wish to become a Data Scientist, you will need to develop both strong programming skills, and have a very strong mathematics background.

Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University can help prepare you for a study of Data Science - either for a degree in Data Science or perhaps a certificate - by helping you complete the core mathematics courses necessary for starting a Data Science degree or certificate.

There are no short-cuts you can do with going into Data Science. You just can't learn Python and then pretend you are a Data Scientist because you watch a few videos on running data sets through Python! You NEED a very strong mathematics background that includes ALL of the following courses:

Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

Henry R.★★★★★

Posted: Jul 12, 2021

Courses Completed: Multivariable Calculus

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

Dan P.★★★★★

Posted: Jan 19, 2020

Courses Completed: Calculus I, Calculus II

I found the courses to be informative, enjoyable, and most importantly, effective in helping me learn the concepts of calculus. My math skills were always very weak, and I had a great deal of difficulty passing my undergrad math courses.
The pace of a traditional classroom setting was just too quick for the concepts to really sink in. With Distance Calculus, I had courses that were taught with the full rigor of an on-campus class, but where I could take my time and really learn the material...all while having access to top-tier instructional help for real math professors and assistants.

DC gave me the tools and the confidence I needed, so after successfully passing my DC courses, I moved on and completed a master's degree in CS.

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

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