Program Requirements

The Physical Education Graduation Requirement

All students shall earn one unit of physical education (PE) activity, which may be met by electing and satisfactorily completing five activities, each equal to 0.2 units, selected from physical education activity classes, intercollegiate athletics, study abroad, and LandSea, subject to the following conditions:

  1. A modified or otherwise specifically planned program will be developed by an advisor in the department for any student having a complete or partial restriction as indicated on that individual's health record.
  2. Students are urged to complete the requirement over the period of five quarters.
  3. Students may take as many PE activity classes as they desire, but only one unit, or five 0.2-unit activities, will be counted toward the graduation requirement.
  4. All activity courses may be repeated as often as desired, with the exception of Outdoor Leadership.
  5. Varsity athletes earn .25 units per sport per academic year, and split seasons such as golf will award one activity credit for the academic year, whether the athlete participates in fall or spring or both. Therefore, should a student play 4 seasons of a varsity sport, they will earn the full PE unit. (Effective academic year 2016-2017)
  6. One activity credit for physical education may be granted for each six months of military service or each quarter of ROTC training.
  7. In some instances students may receive PE activity credit for activity classes on study abroad, especially those indigenous to a particular culture. These credits must be certified through the Center for International Programs.

Activity courses include various opportunities. Some courses require that students furnish their own equipment or transportation; some require a modest fee; but one can achieve the full unit with on-campus, non-fee courses. For on-campus fee courses, the fee is charged directly to the student account; for off-campus fee courses, the student pays the instructor as indicated on the course schedule.

Course categories include Fitness, Dance, Sport Skill, Life Skill/Health, Outdoor, Independent Study, Varsity Sports, and Full Unit.

Fitness: Barre, Developmental Swimming, Individual Fitness,  K-Cycle, Weight Training, Interval Training, Yoga, and AM Power Workout

Dance: Wellspring Dance Classes

Sport Skill: Badminton, Basketball, Equestrian, Learn to Swim, Pickleball, Racquetball, Scuba, Soccer, Tae Kwon Do (Hapkido), Tai Chi, Tennis (Beginning and Advanced), Ultimate Frisbee Club, and Volleyball

Life Skill/Health: CPR and First Aid, Gardening, Step Up, Tower Bell Ringing, Composting, Holistic Nutrition, and Cooking Basics

Outdoor: Arboretum Stewardship, Backpacking, Land/Sea and Land/Sea Leadership, Outdoor Leadership (.4 units), River Canoeing, Rock Climbing, Wilderness First Aid and CPR, Snowshoeing, and Mountain Biking

Varsity Sports: Athletes who complete 4 varsity seasons will earn the full PE unit. (.25 units per season)

Full Unit: Athletic Training Practicum and Independent Study

Independent study activity credit is possible for any activity that is not offered on the course schedule, and for which the student has a certified instructor. All independent studies will need a faculty supervisor and approval by the Chair.

Academic Physical Education classes

Academic, full-unit classes are offered through the PE department, although there is no major possibility. The Athletic Training Practicum serves students interested in athletic training, physical therapy, or orthopedic medicine. Independent study full- unit courses are approved by, and done under the supervision of a department faculty member. A syllabus is required, and must be approved by the department chair. These classes are recommended for students interested in coaching, athletics, fitness, or leadership.