Physical Education

Introduction

The Physical Education program plays an integral part in the total education of the students at Dickinson. The program contributes to students' physical, social and psychological development in addition to helping them become physically educated. The primary emphasis of the physical education program includes learning and developing skills and understanding the benefits of physical activity. In addition, the department is committed to providing a quality of instruction that promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages participation in lifetime activities.

The Program for Incoming Students

The Physical Education requirement for graduation is as follows: Satisfactory completion of four (4) half-semester blocks of physical education. Four fitness activity courses OR three fitness activity courses and a cognitive physical education course.


Participants in Intercollegiate Sports may receive a maximum of two blocks (one per year). A participant in ROTC may receive a maximum of two blocks (one block after two years participation and a second prior to graduation).

Sports Club participants may receive a maximum of two blocks, subject to club approval by the Department of Physical Education.

Additional Information

Students may repeat a course only with the permission of the Chair of the Department. Students are expected to complete the physical education requirement by the end of their sophomore year.

 

If there is a medical reason why a student cannot participate in the Physical Education activity program, the student must submit to the Chair of the Department a medical statement detailing the extent of the medical problem. Dialogue between the student and the Chair of the Department will determine the extent and type of involvement he/she will have in the Physical Education activities.

It is normally difficult for a student participating on an intercollegiate team to participate simultaneously in a physical education class. It is recommended that student athletes enroll in classes during their off-season.

Most classes are half-semester (1 block) in length but some meet once per week for the whole semester. Students are encouraged to check the Registrar’s Web page at: www.dickinson.edu/departments/reg/05FAcoursesindex.htm to be sure they know which schedule the class will use, prior to enrolling in a class.

Students receiving intercollegiate athletic credit must enroll in physical education activities that are different from his/her intercollegiate sport.

Courses

Fitness Courses


 

Active Games 

Aerobic Activities 

Aerobic Exercise 

Step Aerobics 

Appalachian Trail Hiking 

Cross Country Skiing 

Hydroaerobics 

Jogging 

Biathlon 

Triathlon 

Strength Training 

Road Racing 

Rope Skipping 

In-line Skating 

Fitness Swimming 

Alpine Skiing

Tennis

Squash 

Badminton 

Golf 

Racquetball 

Rock Climbing 

Scuba Diving 

Beg./Int. Swimming 

Mountain Biking 

Ballroom Dancing 

International Dance 

Dance Repertory 

Modern Dance 

Jazz Dance 

Beg./Int. Yoga 

Fitness Spinning

Self-Defense/Karate

Snorkel Diving 

Tai Ji Quan 

Basketball 

Flay Football 

Floor Hockey 

Soccer 

Volleyball 

Team Handball 

Folk Dance 

Power Lifting 

Water Polo 

Beg./Adv. Fencing 

Ballet 

Fitness Walking

Cognitive Courses
 

Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries 

Nutrition 

Learning Through Adventure Experiences

First Aid/CPR

Lifeguard Training

Course Descriptions

Prevention and Care. This course's content will include prevention, emergency care, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Laboratory experience in taping, wrapping and treatment is required. Scientific bases of conditioning training as well as the psychogenic factors involved in athletics and sports medicine will be studied.

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation/Standard First Aid. Students will be taught based upon the guidelines established by the American National Red Cross in their Modular CPR Course and Multimedia Standard First Aid Course. Class activities include films, assigned readings, demonstration, and skill practice sessions coordinated with the workbook lessons.

Basketball. A review of the fundamentals of shooting, ball handling, team offenses and defenses as well as game strategy are included in the course. Emphasis is placed on the playing of the game.

Squash. An introduction to the fundamentals of squash, including basic strokes, stance, grip, rules, and strategy.

Racquetball. An introduction to the fundamentals of racquetball emphasizing strokes, stance, grip, rules, and strategy. An advanced course offering in racquetball includes emphasis on strategy and play.

Tennis. An introduction to the fundamentals of tennis encompasses strokes, stance, grip, rules, and strategy. An advanced course offering in tennis includes a review of the fundamentals with an emphasis placed on the strategy of singles and doubles play.

Volleyball. Learning experiences in volleyball include individual skills and techniques, interpretation and application of playing rules, and an introduction to offensive and defensive strategies.

Badminton. Included in the introduction to badminton is a history of the game, basic strokes, and singles and doubles rules and strategies.

Fitness Swimming. This course introduces swimming as a lifetime fitness area and features brief instructional presentations with maximum student activity each class. Main themes are what to do, how to do it, and how to keep it interesting.

Beginning/Intermediate Swimming.

Beginning Level: This course is strictly reserved for students who cannot swim, who are weak swimmers, and/or who are afraid of the water. Basic instruction starts at this point and leads a student to greater comfort and actual movement in the water.

Intermediate Level: This course is designed to teach various swimming strokes, skills, and procedures. Students also develop cardio-vascular endurance through lap swimming.

 

Scuba Diving. The course provides instruction in the use of Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Participants may fulfill SCUBA certification through completion of this course.
 

Snorkel Diving. An introduction to basic skills and techniques, the use of standard equipment (mask, fins, snorkel), and emergency and safety procedures comprise this course. A very brief introduction to scuba diving is included at the conclusion of the offering.

 

Triathlon. This offering covers the basic techniques and training for multi-sport endurance athletes (swimming, cycling, running), and is completed with an actual short triathlon.

Golf. Included in this offering are the fundamentals of golf: stance, grip, and swing. Emphasis is placed on understanding the rules of the game. Where an advanced offering is available, a review of the fundamentals is undertaken with emphasis being placed on refining the skills and offering opportunities to play on a golf course.

Walking. The course provides information and instruction toward an enhanced understanding and appreciation of walking as a lifetime sport activity. Concerns for proper footwear, walking form/mechanics, nutrition and weight control, exercise injuries, and cardio-vascular fitness principles will be addressed.

Rope Skipping. The course introduces the student to a unique mode of aerobic and muscular strength/endurance conditioning through the use of a "jump rope." Several different program formats are explored with additional attention given to the relationship between rope skipping and weight control, muscular conditioning, and skill-related fitness development.

Jogging. This course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of jogging/running in particular and aerobic conditioning in general. Instruction in the mechanics of running and concerns for equipment, injury prevention and treatment, strength development, environmental factors, nutrition, and weight control as they relate to jogging/running are covered. The course is designed for both the novice and experienced runner with adaptations being made for each.

Aerobic Activities. This course is an introduction to a variety of activities that are aerobic in nature. These activities are jogging, swimming, bicycling, and rope skipping. The basics necessary to participate in each of these activities are explored. This includes skill acquisition as well as an understanding of the tangential elements of participating in the activities.

Cycling. Cycling introduces to the student the basics of bicycle safety, biomechanical principles, and maintenance/repair. Also included are the elements needed to enjoy cycling as a leisure time, aerobic activity.

Aerobics Exercise. This course offers an exercise program designed to develop cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone, and flexibility. The program of exercise is integrated with music.

Modern Dance. The course introduces students to the art and discipline of modern dance. Basic movement experiences promote the understanding and cultivation of the body as an instrument of dance.

Ballet. Ballet offers an introduction to classical ballet. The course is aimed at those who will benefit from the body awareness, disciplined technique, sensitivity to the tradition of current positions and movements, and an appreciation for the constraints of human body movement that training in ballet can engender.

Fencing. The fundamentals of fencing include stance, footwork, attacks, defenses, and counter attacks. The course is designed to provide instruction for beginners as well as experienced fencers.

Self-Defense and Karate. Physical conditioning, balance, focus, breath control, block and counter, coordination and flexibility, avoiding attack, and striking, thrusting, kicking are the fundamentals of this offering. The karate style taught is Isshinryu Karate.

Tai Ji Quan. Basic relaxation exercises are emphasized in this course. The Chen Family style of Tai Ji Quan is taught with the student being exposed to meditation techniques and techniques of self-defense.

Yoga. The course exposes the student to a contemporary form of bodily relaxation and stress management. Attention is given to the role of Yoga in flexibility training and muscular relaxation with focus on the integration of this activity into a daily pattern of living.

Skiing (Downhill). This course involved four afternoon trips to Ski Roundtop. A prepaid program includes lift, lesson, rentals, and instruction. Instruction involves a range of eight levels from the first time on skis through racing skills. Classes are one hour in length for instruction and one and one-half hours of free skiing.

Strength Training. This co-educational course stresses developing an overall muscular strength and endurance program, and proper lifting and safety techniques. The comprehensive strength course introduces the student to use of free weights, Universal equipment, and hand weights.

Soccer. This is a co-educational offering with emphasis on playing soccer. Included are warm-up drills, skills and mini games on short fields.

Racquet Sports. This course offers the student an introduction to the racquet sports of racquetball, squash, tennis, and badminton. A brief exposure to the fundamentals of each of these games is experienced as well as an opportunity to have limited play experience in each activity.

Jazz Dance. The course offers an introduction to the art and discipline of jazz dance. After the foundation skills/steps of jazz dance are mastered, students then are involved in composition of dance routines.

Active Games. Team games such as ultimate Frisbee, team handball, and triad soccer along with individual sport pursuits like racquetball and strength training contribute to the substance of this course. The objective is to promote overall physical fitness through games and sport activity.

Ballroom Dancing. This course introduces students to a variety of classic dances. Such classic dances are waltz, fox trot, rumba, Charleston, etc.

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Updated June 21, 2005