Description

Bryn Mawr's Physical Education curriculum is designed to provide opportunities to develop lifelong habits that will enhance the quality of life. From organized sport instruction, to dance, lifetime sport skills, and a wellness curriculum, the Department provides a breadth of programming to meet the needs of the undergraduate student. The physical education and dance curriculums offer more than 50 courses in a variety of disciplines and ability levels.

Registration - Students register for physical education courses during the first week of classes of each semester.

PE Requirements for 2013/2014

                

PE Requirements for 2015/2016

                

McBride and Transfer Students

 

Physical Education Requirements for Class of 2013, 2014

Description - Bryn Mawr's Physical Education curriculum is designed to provide opportunities to develop lifelong habits that will enhance the quality of life. From organized sport instruction, to dance, lifetime sport skills, and a wellness curriculum, the Department provides a breadth of programming to meet the needs of the undergraduate student. The physical education and dance curriculums offer more than 50 courses in a variety of disciplines and ability levels.

Graduation Requirement - Undergraduates must complete eight units/credits of physical education, successfully pass the swim proficiency and complete the wellness seminar. To meet the College degree requirement students are urged to complete the credits by the end of their junior year. These credits do not count as academic credits toward the degree, but are required for graduation. Credit is awarded for successfully completing courses offered in the physical education curriculum, intercollegiate participation or by meeting a specified standard of participation in a club sport. Students may also earn up to two credits for a pre-approved independent study. Students may enroll in courses offered at Bryn Mawr, Haverford or Swarthmore College. Physical Education courses completed at another institution are eligible providing the student submits written verification contained in either a transcript or letter from the Department Chair.

Requirements

  • 8 credits total
  • Pass swim proficiency requirement - 1 credit if completed before the completion of the junior year
  • Complete Wellness Seminar (2 credits)

Wellness Seminar - The Department of Physical Education in conjunction with Health Services, Student Life and the Dean’s Office offers an eight week Wellness Seminar that focuses on a variety of issues confronting college women. The course is mandatory for all first year students and fulfills two physical education credits.  The topics are generally not part of any academic discipline or lend easily in a Customs Group meeting. The Wellness curriculum is designed to be relevant, interesting and provide a base of knowledge that will encourage students to think about their well being as an important partner to their academic life. Download syllabus

Swim Proficiency Requirement - All members of the Class of 2013, 2014 are required to complete this requirement by the end of their junior year.  There are three options:

  • Earn one P.E. credit for completion of the swim test which includes:  10-minute continuous swim in the 25-yard pool showing proficiency in one or more strokes, 1-minute treading water in deep end and 1-minute floating on back in deep end, OR
  • Earn one P.E. credit for completion of a beginners’ swimming class (one quarter class) and complete swim test, OR
  • Earn two P.E. credits for completion of two beginners’ swimming classes (one quarter classes).

Physical Education Classes - The College offers a broad curriculum in physical education. The instructional offerings include sport classes, fitness and recreational activities, dance, swimming and life skill programs.  For a detailed description of classes offered click here.

Intercollegiate Athletics - Members of Bryn Mawr College intercollegiate athletic teams are eligible to earn physical education credit towards completing the eight-credit requirement. Each Head Coach distributes notices of organizational meetings and subsequent tryouts each year. Only students selected to the team by the Head Coach are eligible for physical education credit. Click here for the athletic teams

Club Sport Credit - PE credit may be awarded for Club Sport participation. Clubs must register annually with the Jill Breslin, Club Sport Coordinator. Club organizers will be responsible for articulating guidelines and requirements and providing a list each semester of students awarded PE credit. Click here for club sports

Independent Study (IS) - Independent Study Physical Education supports students who choose to engage in an activity/course that Bryn Mawr’s Department of Athletics and Physical Education does not offer and/or is a class or activity that is performed during the summer or while a student is studying abroad. The IS opportunity does not include activities that students engage in as a part of a regular lifestyle or fitness routine. A self-paced work-out proposal will not be accepted. Classes must be instructor based with documentation of participation. The goal of the IS option is to enhance the current physical education curriculum by encouraging students to learn an activity that is not offered as part of the curriculum or accommodate a special circumstance. Students may earn up to 2 PE credits total for an independent study project. Prior to the start of the IS project the student must complete an IS proposal request to Deb Charamella for approval. Appropriate documentation is required for credit to be awarded. More information for IS and/or application

Registration - Students register for physical education courses during the first week of classes of each semester. Visit the Course Description page. 

Grades and Attendance

  • Attendance in one of the first two classes in mandatory.  If a student misses both of these classes, she will not be admitted into the class.
  • Each student is expected to wear proper attire when participating in physical education classes, including, but not limited to the following:  sneakers, socks, proper athletic shorts/pants and proper athletic tops. 
  • Semester long class:  Each student is expected to actively participate in class. To earn credit a student is permitted no more than 4 missed classes. No partial credit is given for PE classes.
  • Quarter long class:  Each student is expected to actively participate in all classes. To earn credit a student is permitted no more than 2 missed classes.
  • Making-up Missed Classes:  The student must make-up any missed classes by the end of the period (either quarter or semester).  Make-ups can be completed in two ways:  the instructor holds one make-up class at the end of the period or the instructor gives the student an assignment in order to complete the class.  A student may not substitute one activity class for another activity class in order to make-up the incomplete. Fit Club classes do not qualify for a makeup.

Grading:

  • Pass: A student successfully completes the class if she actively participates in the required number of classes required. Generally, 10 classes are required for a quarter course and 20 classes for a semester course. Specific requires will be communicated by the course instructor.
  • No Credit: A student will receive a grade of “No Credit” on the day that she has missed her 4th class during a quarter class or her 6 th class during a semester class. Please refer to class syllabus.

Physical Education Requirement for Class of 2015, 2016

Core Requirements - Core Requirements are considered essential for all students matriculating at Bryn Mawr College. The Core Requirements at Bryn Mawr College are designed to cover a variety of topics and to develop a certain level of skills for all students during their Freshman year at Bryn Mawr College. 

Swim Proficiency Requirement  (1 Credit)

  • Pass the swim test -OR-
  • Take 1 Beginner Class (if test cannot be passed)

Wellness Class (2 Credits)

Students must complete the Wellness Class during their first semester of Freshman year at Bryn Mawr College. If an exceptional situation prevents a student from completing Wellness in her freshman year she must complete the course in its entirety during the sophomore year.

General Electives - Students are required to accrue a minimum of 3 credits through General Elective opportunities. Students are encouraged to explore a wide variety of opportunities available to them in the completion of the General Elective requirement. PE Classes

  • Quarter Class - 1 Credit
  • Semester Class - 2 Credits  

Dance Classes Dance classes may be used for academic or Physical Education credit but not both. Classes are awarded PE credit on a quarter or semester basis.  

Bi-Co/Tri-Co PE Classes (Credits awarded similar to Bryn Mawr)

Varsity Athletics and Club Sports (A maximum of two credits can be earned per year from the varsity athletics and club sport category.)

  • Varsity Athletics - 2 Credits
  • Club Sports - 1 Credit - Maximum of 1 PE credit per year

Independent Study 

  • Quarter Equivalent - 1 Credit
  • Semester Equivalent - 2 Credits

Special Offerings 

  • Credit Varies

Condensed department sponsored recreational classes that fall outside of traditional academic time blocks (i.e.  Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard Certification, RAD). TOTAL CREDITS TO FULFILL PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:         6 Credits

  • Bryn Mawr College recognizes that the Physical Education requirement is essential to a student’s introduction to health and well-being at the College. As such, students are expected to complete the Physical Education Core Requirements during their freshman year and reach a minimum of 3 General Elective Credits by the Thursday prior to Spring Break of their sophomore year.
  • Students are expected to complete their physical education requirement by the Thursday prior to spring break.  Students who fail to do so will be placed at the bottom of their class's lottery list for the ensuing room draw  and may be ineligible to study abroad during their junior year.
  • Students who will not meet this deadline but are on track to complete the requirement by the end of the sophomore year may submit a petition to the physical education department  for permission to participate in the room draw lottery and/or study abroad  by CLICKING HERE.  Successful petitions will normally show that the student has completed the core requirements and is on pace to complete six P.E. requirements by the end of the sophomore year. For permission to study abroad, the petition must be submitted by February 10.  For permission to participate in room draw, it must be submitted by the Thursday prior to spring break.

Physical Education Requirements for McBride and Transfer Students

  • McBride Students are not required to take Wellness. Any introduction to the college, if deemed appropriate, will be handled by the college and not considered part of the PE requirement.
  • McBrides entering with freshman or sophomore status will be treated as sophomore transfer students (see below) for the purpose of the determining their PE requirements.
  • McBrides entering with junior status will be treated as junior transfer students (see below) for the purpose of determining their PE requirements.

Transfer Students Students entering as juniors: (2 credits)

  • Will be expected to fulfill the swim requirement during their junior year - 1 Credit
  • Will be expected to fulfill 1 Credit of PE General Elective - 1 Credit

Students entering as sophomores: (4 credits)

  • Will be expected to fulfill the swim proficiency requirement - 1 Credit
  • Will be expected to fulfill a minimum of 3 credits of PE General Elective - 3 Credits