Data Science Math Preparation - Distance Calculus Fall 2026 Online Calculus Academic Credits

Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University operates 24/7/365 with open enrollment outside of the traditional academic calendar. We offer all of our courses during the Summer, Fall, Winter, before semesters traditionally start, after semesters start, during vacation weeks ... I think you get the idea :)
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If you wish to complete a Data Science course online, make sure you take this course from a regionally accredited college/university so that the credits you earn from this course will actually transfer to your home college/university.

The free courses available from the MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) like edX, Coursera, Udacity, Khan Academy, MIT Open Courseware, etc. are really excellent courses, but they do NOT result in transferrable academic credits from an accredited university!

There are more than a few actual colleges/universities offering Data Science Math Preparation - Distance Calculus courses online. Be careful as you investigate these courses - they may not fit your needs for actual course instruction and timing. Most require you enroll and engage your course during their standard academic semesters. Most will have you use a publisher's "automated textbook" which is .... um .... well, if you like that kind of thing, then you have a few options over there at those schools.

Distance Calculus is all about real university-level calculus courses - that's all we do! We have been running these courses for 20+ years, so we know how to get students through the these courses fast fast fast!

Here is a video about earning real academic credits in Data Science from Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University:

Earning Real Academic Credits for Calculus






Applied Calculus vs Calculus I



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

Teddy M.★★★★
Posted: Feb 28, 2020
Courses Completed: Precalculus, Calculus I
Pros: once you get going, you can go really fast. The visual textbook is pretty cool. The instructors were very responsive.
Cons: the movies are great, but the software crashes more than it should. Sometimes it is just a hassle doing things in the software instead of on paper, but once I got used to the software, it was ok.
Transferred Credits To: Texas Christian University
Catherine M.★★★★★
Posted: Apr 5, 2020
Courses Completed: Calculus I
Calculus I from Distance Calculus was wonderful! I took AB Calculus in high school, but I didn't take the AP Calc exam. Instead I took Calculus I with Distance Calculus, and it was so much better! It was a little review of topics, but not really. I really understood calculus when I finished!
Transferred Credits To: University of Chicago
Coury Gaffney★★★★★
Posted: Jan 18, 2021
Courses Completed: Linear Algebra
The program used gives an amazing insight into everything that's happening, that you wouldn't get in a traditional course. All of the lessons are clear and clean, and the professor is very helpful along the way. I learned a lot and am happy with taking this course
Email: courygaffney@gmail.com
Transferred Credits To: Virginia Tech
Henry F.★★★★★
Posted: Dec 18, 2025
Courses Completed: Differential Equations
Transferred Credits To: Saint Joseph High School
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)
Trevor★★★★★
Posted: Jun 19, 2025
Courses Completed: Calculus I
POSITIVES:
One of the best math classes I have ever taken. The lessons made the failures of my previous professors very apparent. In a few short minutes, things that I used to struggle with just clicked. This professor is top notch and really wants you to understand how to use the material.
NEGATIVES:
The SOFTWARE is extremely frustrating. Even after taking the time to learn, there are countless glitches. You learn to work around them, and overall, the software makes the math convenient, but its failures are sorely felt throughout the course. Make sure you save often as it crashes regularly, especially with graphs.
The assignments are easy enough but some of them don't line up with the taught material. Be prepared to do some of your own independent research to get a deeper understanding of why things are the way they are.
Transferred Credits To: US Army
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