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Online Calculus Course for Credit

Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University offers calculus-level courses for real academic credits - not 'certificate' or other types of course achievement measurements that are commonly found today with MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) like Coursera, Udemy, edX, and others.

When you complete a calculus-level course, it is important that you are able to provide to other schools, universities, colleges, employers, and graduate programs, that you actually completed a university-level calculus course - not just engaged a MOOC course.

Whatever your academic goal, likely you are looking to earn real academic college credits that you can show on an Official Academic Transcript from a regionally accredited university, the highest level of accreditation in the U.S.

MOOC courses are great. Khan Academy, Udemy, edX, Coursera - all of these are excellent resources, but they do not offer real academic credits nor real academic transcripts for course completion. You may learn a lot in these courses, but the end result is not an official academic transcript.

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

Academic Credit for Courses in the U.S. is the distinction between an accredited college or university, and something less that accredited. If you are investigating academic Calculus programs online to complete your Calculus course work, you will likely be told by your college or university that any incoming transfer credits must come from an accredited college or university program.

The Distance Calculus program is part of Roger Williams University - University College - a fully regionally-accredited university in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Credit for Courses completed through Distance Calculus are real college credits from Roger Williams University.

The online classes offered from Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University are asynchronous - self-paced - there are no fixed meeting times, no zoom meeting to attend, and you have 1 year to complete your course from the date of your enrollment. You may want to complete one of these online classes quickly - in a matter of weeks if you have a challenging deadline to meet - or take your time as your work/life schedule allows, and complete one of these online courses at a more relaxed pace, stopping and starting as you need to. This type of self-paced program is excellent for working adults.

Academic credit for courses from Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University may be transferred to both undergraduate and graduate programs - see our Transfering Credits page for more information on transferring these online classes to other institutions - either part of a university degree program for a bachelor's degree you may be enrolled in now, or planning to be enrolled in; also many students enrolled in Distance Calculus are earning academic credit for courses to be part of their graduate school applications to a graduate school university degree program. When you are applying to a graduate program, you are not doing a credit transfer per se, but rather including proof of completion of these Calculus courses to be part of your graduate school application. For baccalaureate students already enrolled in a a college or university, you will be doing an academic credit transfer - it is best to follow the advice on the Transfering Credits page. If you are high school or otherwise not yet enrolled in an undergraduate program, but planning to start in such a program, the academic credit transfer is easier to accomplish, with presentation of official official academic transcripts when you start your new undergraduate program. Many advanced high school students complete upper Distance Calculus courses with this credit transfer plan in mind.

The exam schedule for these online classes from Distance Calculus are scheduled with the instructor at your convenience, once you have completed all of the course work. Many students in Distance Calculus will have their final exam sheduled on a Saturday, or Sunday, or in the evening. During COVID-19, all proctored final exams are completed over Skype video with the instructor.

Below are the list of course topics for the core Calculus courses for Distance Calculus that outline the principles of calculus that are explored in the Calculus I and Calculus II courses. Please see the links above for the other courses offered by Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University.

Course Description for Calculus I (Calculus 1)

  • Precalculus Review
    • Solving Simple Equations
      • Solving (easy) equations in 1 variable
      • What if you can't solve for x?
      • Finding solutions numerically
      • Finding solutions graphically
      • Solving equations of more than 1 variable
    • Functions
      • Functional notation
      • Data sets
      • Graphing functions
      • Data sets and smooth curves
      • Domain and Range
      • Algebraic combinations of functions
    • Linear Functions
      • Algebraic definition
      • Slope
      • Graphing linear functions by hand
      • Properties of linear functions
      • Linear data sets
    • Quadratic Functions
      • Algebraic definition
      • Graphing and Properties of Quadratic Functions
      • Solving quadratic equations algebraically:Factoring
      • Solving quadratic equations algebraically:Quadratic formula
      • Solving quadratic equations numerically and graphically
    • Power and Polynomial Functions
      • Algebraic definition
      • Graphing and Properties of Polynomial Functions
      • Solving polynomial equations algebraically: factoring
      • Solving polynomial equations numerically and graphically
      • Radicals and fractional exponents
    • Rational Polynomial Functions
      • Rational Polynomial Functions
      • Algebraic definition
      • Graphing and Properties of Rational Polynomial Functions
      • Solving rational polynomial equations algebraically: factoring
    • Exponential Functions
      • Algebraic definition
      • Graphing and Properties of Exponential Functions
      • Solving exponential equations numerically and graphically
      • Exponential Growth and Applications
      • Data sets and exponential functions
    • Logarithmic Functions
      • Inverse Functions
      • Algebraic Definition
      • Graphing and Properties of Logarithmic Functions
      • Solving exponential and logarithmic equations algebraically
      • Solving logarithmic equations numerically and graphically
      • Logarithmic Growth and Applications
      • Data sets and logarithmic functions
    • Trigonometric Functions
      • Trigonometric Data
      • Periodicity
      • Amplitude, Phase Shift, Graphing Trigonometric Functions
      • Trigonometric Functions
      • Trigonometric Identities
  • Growth: Preparing for the Derivative
    • Growth of Linear Functions: Rate of Change
    • Growth of Power Functions: Rate of Change
    • Growth of Exponential Functions: Rate of Change
    • Dominance of Growth of Functions
    • Percentage Growth of Functions: Percentage Rate of Change
    • Global Scale: Infinite Limits
    • Data Functions and Interpolation
    • Approximation of Functions by Linear Functions
  • Continuity
    • Limits
    • Continuous Functions
    • Jump Discontinuities
    • Piecewise Functions and Continuity
    • Limit Rules
  • Exponential Functions and Natural Logarithms
    • e = Euler's Number
    • Natural Logarithm
    • Growth Analysis
    • Applications: Carbon Dating
    • Percentage Growth and Steady Growth of Exponential Functions
    • Data Functions and Logarithmic Analysis
    • Inverse Functions
    • Applications: Compound Interest and Finance
    • Applications: World Population
  • The Derivative of Polynomial, Exponential, Logarithmic, and Fractional Powers
    • Instantaneous Growth Rates
    • Definition of the Derivative
    • Computing the Derivative Graphically
    • Computing the Derivative Algebraically
    • Computing the Derivative Numerically
    • Average Growth Rate vs. Instantaneous Growth Rate
    • Applications of the Derivative: Spread of Disease
    • Finding Maxima and Minima of Functions
    • Relating a Function and Its Derivative
  • The Derivative of Polynomial, Exponential, Logarithmic, and Fractional Powers
    • Computing Derivatives
    • Sum, Difference, Product, Quotient Rule
    • Chain Rule
    • Logarithmic Differentiation
    • Instantaneous Percentage Growth
    • Growth Dominance
    • Applications: Linear Dimensions
    • Implicit Differentiation
  • Using Derivatives
    • Finding Maxima and Minima
    • Finding Good Representative Plots
    • Applications: Maximizing Volume
    • The Second Derivative
    • Applications: The Space Shuttle Challenger
    • Mean Value Theorem
  • Integration
    • Measuring Area Under a Curve
    • Definition of the Integral
    • Properties of Integrals, Symmetry
    • Integrals of Data Functions
    • Numerical Methods: Rectangles, Trapezoids
    • Undefined Integrals
    • Numerical Calculation of Integrals
  • Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
    • Derivative of an Integral
    • Integral of a Derivative
    • Fundamental Theorem of Calculus Formula
    • Distance, Velocity, and Acceleration
    • Improper Integrals
    • More Properties of Integrals
    • Applications: Measure Accumulation Totals
    • Indefinite Integrals and Antiderivatives
    • u-Substitution

Calculus II (Calculus 2) Course Description

  1. Integration
    1. Measuring Area Under a Curve
    2. Definition of the Integral
    3. Properties of Integrals, Symmetry
    4. Integrals of Data Functions
    5. Numerical Methods: Rectangles, Trapezoids
    6. Undefined Integrals
    7. Numerical Methods: Rectangles, Trapezoids
    8. Numerical Calculation of Integrals
  2. Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
    1. Derivative of an Integral
    2. Integral of a Derivative
    3. Fundamental Formula
    4. Distance, Velocity, and Acceleration
    5. Improper Integrals
    6. More Properties of Integrals
    7. Applications: Measure Accumulation Totals
    8. Indefinite Integrals and Antiderivatives
  3. Measurements via Slicing
    1. Measuring Area via Slicing
    2. Measuring Volume via Slicing
    3. Density and Mass
    4. Accumulation of Rates
    5. Arc Length
  4. Computing Integrals
    1. Algebraic Antiderivatives
    2. Integrals of Standard Functions: Polynomial, Exponential, Trigonometric, Logarithmic
    3. Transforming Integrals: u-substitution
    4. Measuring Area under Parametric Curves
    5. Integrals of Polar Functions
  5. Measurements via Slicing
    1. Measuring Area via Slicing
    2. Measuring Volume via Slicing
    3. Density and Mass
    4. Accumulation and Rates
    5. Arc Length
  6. Double Integrals
    1. Measuring Area and Volume
    2. Gauss-Green Formula
    3. Changing Order of Iterated Integrals
  7. Integration Techniques
    1. Separable Differential Equations
    2. Integration By Parts
    3. DeMoivre's Theorem
    4. Integration Patterns and Reduction Formulas
    5. Partial Fractions Technique
    6. Trigonometric Integrals
    7. Trigonometric Substitution
    8. Integration via Differentiation Technique
  8. Taylor's Expansion of a Function
    1. Splines and Smooth Splines
    2. Points of Contact
    3. Application: Landing an Airplane
    4. Taylor Expansion
    5. Recognizing Familiar Expansions
    6. Using Expansions for Approximations
    7. Derivatives and Integrals of Expansions
    8. Expansions At Other Points
    9. Newton's Method
    10. Calculating Limits: L'Hopital's Rule
    11. Expansions and Solving Differential Equations
    12. Complex Exponentials
    13. Euler, Midpoint, Runge-Kutta Integral Estimates
  9. Sequences and Series
    1. Sequences of Numbers
    2. Series of Numbers
    3. Convergence
    4. Convergence of Taylor Expansions
    5. Barriers: Radius of Convergence
    6. Shared Convergence Intervals for Derivatives and Integrals of Functions
    7. Applications: Drug Dosing
  10. Power Series
    1. Basic Definition
    2. Solutions of Differential Equations
    3. Convergence Intervals of Power Series
    4. Ratio Test
    5. Finding Series Convergence Values via Power and Taylor Series
  11. Polar Coordinates
    1. Basic Graphing
    2. Recognizable Curves
    3. Differentiation and Integration in Polar Coordinates
  12. Vector Analysis
    1. Vector Arithmetic
    2. Dot Product, Cross Product
    3. Planes



 





Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

Laura T.★★★★★
Posted: May 18, 2025
Courses Completed: Linear Algebra
I completed the Linear Algebra course as a prerequisite to an M.Ed program in Mathematics. I worked entirely at my own pace, it was cheap, I actually learned the material. This was not a "pay your fee, take your B" type of class. I had to demonstrate true understanding in order to earn credit. Dr. Curtis was responsive and helpful when I had questions. All in all I would recommend this course and any other Distance Calculus course.
Transferred Credits To: James Madison University
Mark L.★★★★★
Posted: Sep 6, 2020
Courses Completed: Applied Calculus
Great course. Because of this class I was able to meet the entry requirements for my EMBA program on a tight time window in addition to sharpening math skills from classes taken over 15 years ago!
Transferred Credits To: MIT
Paul Simmons★★★★★
Posted: Apr 6, 2020
Courses Completed: Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations
I took Multivariable and Diff Eq during the summer. The DiffEq course was awesome - very useful for my physics and engineering course. I was unsure about Mathematica at first, but I got the hang of it quickly. Thank you Distance Calculus!
Transferred Credits To: University of Oregon
Ryan★★★★★
Posted: Aug 28, 2026
Courses Completed: Finite Math
I will preface this review by saying that if you are looking to take the easiest course possible, cheat through it, and learn as little as possible, this is not the course for you. Below, I will provide my uncensored opinions to this course:

First, this course uses software called LiveMath. This software can be a little bit challenging to get the hang of, but once you do get the hang of it, it's super easy. Remember that for all new things, it takes a bit to get used to it. Overall, I was highly satisfied with this course. I thought that the instructions were extremely detailed, including a video and a textbook explaining every different concept. In addition, this course offered exposure to a lot of different aspects of finite math. I think that many would agree with me on the following, that, you know, when a teacher is passionate about what they are teaching, it is so much more enjoyable, and you can definitely see that in this course. This course can be challenging at times. Maybe it'll be easy for you, maybe it'll be hard, but I think it's important to remember that the things that challenge us are, you know, the things that make us learn and the things that make us better. There's also a math chat option for if you need help or if you have any questions. Overall, I would recommend this course. I actually initially went into this course looking for an easy course to just help me get the credit requirements, but it ended up being an amazing learning experience and completely shifted my perspective on math overall. And another thing that I thought was great in this course is throughout so many different lectures, the professor would explain how each different thing can be applicable in life. And I think that, you know, that is a lot of what people think about when they are learning something. They're like, will I ever use this? Do I need to learn this? And a lot of this actually is really applicable. And I think that even if, you know, you may not be doing these math equations in your future, I think that, you know, the psychology behind these and the rules can be applied to so many different fuacets of life.
Transferred Credits To: GWU
Aiden B.★★★★★
Posted: Jul 29, 2026
Courses Completed: Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra
After completing all the math offered by my highschool, I switched over to Roger Williams for Calculus II and onward. Overall, it has been a pretty great way to understand the topics online, with transferrable college credits. The exams are not terrible, and the courses cover the vast majority (if not all) of topics covered by traditional courses, with some unique ones added to. So far, I have taken four courses, with another one or two before I graduate.

The only problem with the course is the lack of pen and paper work. This shouldn't come as a crazy surprise with an online course, but there is not much emphasis on symbolic computation. Mathematica or other software does most of the heavy computation for you. The lectures usually show how to solve the problems through paper, but those skills are rarely put into practice. Literacy Sheets act as a way to do some of that (especially with the Calculus II & III course).

All in all, this isn't a huge issue. I just memorize and practice things like double integration, Laplace, ODE solving, matrix diagonalized form, row operations, etc. With a little outside work, this resolves itself. Without Roger WIlliams, I probably would not have been able to take any of these math courses in highschool.

So overall, a great choice for highschool advanced math, especially with transferrable credits.
Email: abarger@protonmail.com
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
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