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Grades
Updated May 2025

With the Distance Calculus course pedagogy (teaching strategy) based upon Mastery Learning, the concept of grades calculated with point accumulation is not applicable: all of the student's homework is expected to be completed at 100% correct, so getting anything less than an "A" on your homework is not really possible.

Accordingly, we have devised the following combination of different evaluations to fairly and accurately determine an earned letter grade in a Distance Calculus course.

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Mastery Learning: Point Accumulation Does Not Apply

This is a tough concept for many students, especially those who are in high school currently, where the accumulation of points synonymous with academic achievement.

In Mastery Learning, there are only 2 grades for each assignment:
 

  • Complete: "C" = 100% completed
  • In-Progress: "IP" = There is more work for the student to do, and resubmit the assignment for recursive re-grading
The student requirement is to achieve a "Complete" = "C" grade for all assignments.

Unlike traditional courses where you submit an assignment once and get a score of "85", in Distance Calculus you will be returning to any assignment that is not marked "Complete" = "C" and engage the assignment to master it.

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Finish: Finish All Course Assignments → Final Exams

Before a student may begin the final exam sequence, all assignments must be marked "Completed" = "C".

In some sense, this is akin to earning the right to take the final exam

Distance Calculus does not offer "credit by examination". The only path to the final exam sequence is through the course assignments.

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Proctored Final Exam: The Last Task in the Course

All students must PASS at 70% or higher a proctored final exam, given by the Course Professor or Teaching Assistant, over Video/Zoom call, under exam conditions.

Even if you complete all 70-140+ Assignments for the course, you must PASS the proctored final exam to earn a passing letter grade in the course.

The proctored final exam is not overtly difficult, and is the easier of all of the exams in the course.

Oddly, this is the last task in the course.

Proctored Final Exam may include an Oral Exam of 1-3 Problems, to ensure Academic Honesty throughout the course engagement.

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C Grade: Minimum Passing Grade

Usually because letter grades do not always transfer as letter grades to some colleges/universities, some students decide to stop with a C grade.

Completing all 70-140+ Assignments at "C" = Complete status, and then PASSING the proctored final exam, will result in an earned C Grade.

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B Grade: Solid Middle of the Road

The requirements for a B grade are a bit higher than a C grade, as one might expect.


  • Complete All Assignments
  • PASS B-Level Take-Home Final Exam: Engage and PASS at 70% or higher the B-level Take-Home Final Exam under exam conditions as instructed (which may include screen-recording your exam engagement for instructor review).
  • Proctored Final Exam: Engage and PASS at 70% or higher the Proctored Final Exam under exam conditions over video with the Course Professor or Teaching Assistant
    Proctored Final Exam may include an Oral Exam of 1-3 Problems, to ensure Academic Honesty throughout the course engagement.

If you do not PASS the B-level Take-Home Exam, then the maximum grade you may earn is a C grade - achieved by then PASSING the Proctored Final Exam.

Take-Home Exams are afforded 48-hours to complete, and may be scheduled at your convenience so you have time in your home/work schedule to dedicate. Take-home exams usually require 4-8 hours of student engagement time to complete.

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A Grade: Goal For Most Students

To earn the right to engage for an A grade, you must PASS the B-level Take-Home Final Exam at 85% or higher.

To achieve an earned A grade, the student must:
 

  • Complete All Assignments
  • PASS B-Level Take-Home Final Exam: Engage and PASS at 85% or higher the B-level Take-Home Final Exam under exam conditions as instructed (which may include screen-recording your exam engagement for instructor review).
  • PASS A-Level Take-Home Final Exam: Engage and PASS at 85% or higher the A-level Take-Home Final Exam under exam conditions as instructed (which may include screen-recording your exam engagement for instructor review).
  • Complete Video Portfolio: Video screen record a video portfolio the solutions of 2-5 assigned problems, which will demonstrate your mastery of the course content.
  • Proctored Final Exam: Engage and PASS at 70% or higher the Proctored Final Exam under exam conditions over video with the Course Professor or Teaching Assistant.
    Proctored Final Exam may include an Oral Exam of 1-3 Problems, to ensure Academic Honesty throughout the course engagement.

If you do not PASS the A-level Take-Home Exam, then the maximum grade you may earn is a B grade - achieved by then PASSING the Proctored Final Exam.

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Chatbot Usage: Fast Way to an F Grade

Chatbot usage is not allowed in any Distance Calculus course.

One fast way to earn an F grade in the course: use a chatbot.

Chatbots are everywhere now. Using a chatbot is like watching someone lift weights at the gym: your muscles will not gain any strength from watching.

Analogously, using a chatbot is these courses will not allow your brain to gain any strength or knowledge.

Chatbots include ChatGPT, Google, Bing, Gemini, Whatever. You know when you are getting chatbot-type data from search engines or Alexa/Siri or whatever.

If we detect you using a chatbot, then expect an earned F grade to be issued.



Distance Calculus - Freshman Courses
Freshman Mathematics Courses
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Distance Calculus - Soph Courses
Sophomore Mathematics Courses
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Distance Calculus - Lower Courses
General Mathematics Courses
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Distance Calculus - Math Major Courses
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Distance Calculus - Freshman Courses
Freshman Mathematics Courses
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Credit
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Distance Calculus - Soph Courses
Sophomore Mathematics Courses
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Distance Calculus - Lower Courses
General Mathematics Courses
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Distance Calculus - Math Major Courses
Mathematics Major Courses
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Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

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
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.
Karen N.★★★★★
Posted: Feb 28, 2020
Courses Completed: Calculus I, Calculus II
Awesome classes! I was really weak with Calculus, so I retook Calc 1 and kept going into Calc 2. I feel like I finally understood Calculus. The finals were pretty thorough, but not nearly as stressful as the blue book exams. I highly recommend these courses!
Transferred Credits To: Various
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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