(file last updated: [8/10/1998 - 15:27:11])
Movement and activity are basicfunctions necessary for the human body to grow, develop, and maintainhealth. Realizing that good health is largely self-controlled,the physical education department's curriculum focuses on fitness,dance, and lifetime sports to encourage lifestyle changes in itsstudents.
Brandeis prides itself on educationof the body as well as education of the intellect. The physicaleducation department curriculum focuses on cardiovascular fitness,flexibility, body composition (percent of body fat), the maintenanceof muscular strength, and endurance.
Students should complete thephysical education requirement by the end of their sophomore year.Transfer students may offer toward the requirement physical educationcourses that appear on the transcript of their previous institutions.Most physical education courses meet for two hours per week andare limited in size; preference is given to first-year students.
Judith Houde, Chair
Racquet sports.
Richard Burr
Athletic training. Fitness.
Vincent Christiano
Karate.
Michael Coven
Team sports. Weight training.
Denise Dallamora
Dance. Fitness. Individualsports.
Lisa DeNicola
Athletic training. Fitness.
Susan Dibble
Dance.
Carol Ann Evans-Baer
Dance.
Zabelle Margosian
Dance.
William Shipman
Fencing. Racquet sports. Golf.
Mary Sullivan
Aquatics. First aid. CPR.
Richard Varney
Team and racquet sports.
James Zotz
Aquatics. Fitness.
Physical education is an undergraduatedegree requirement at Brandeis. This requirement is satisfiedby successful completion of two semester-long, noncredit coursesand a demonstration of an ability to swim, or by passing a fitnessand knowledge test taken the first year. The swimming componentmay be met:
A.by passing the swim test,
B.with a Red Cross card, or
C.by taking a swimming course, the satisfactory completion of whichcounts as one of the two required activity courses.
All students have two opportunitiesduring their first year at Brandeis to exempt themselves fromall or part of the physical education requirement by taking abattery of tests that measure muscular strength and endurance,flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, body composition, swimmingproficiency, and knowledge of topics in fitness, health, and nutrition.The written portion of the test, given at a later date, consistsof 25 multiple-choice and 25 true and false questions drawn frommaterials in the Physical Education Health Fitness Study Guide.This guide is provided in advance to qualified students who chooseto participate in the testing program. A student unable to passthe fitness test should enroll in a course in the Personal FitnessGroup.
Aquatics Certification
PE 1a Beginner's Swimming
Enrollment limited to 16.
This course is designed toteach the non-swimmer the basic skills of floating, treading water,and the crawl stroke. Students who successfully pass this coursewill be qualified to pass the Brandeis Swim Test. Usually offeredevery semester.
Ms. Sullivan
PE 3a Lifeguard Training
Prerequisite: An AmericanRed Cross lifeguard training pretest. Enrollment limited to 12.Satisfies the entire physical education requirement.
This course will be an instructionin American Red Cross Lifeguard training. Certificates will begiven to students who successfully complete the water and rescueskills test and pass the written test with scores of 80 percentor better. Usually offered every fall semester.
Mr. Burr
Dance
PE 26a Ballroom Dance
Enrollment limited to 40.
Each semester the six mostpopular dances will be covered. In addition to patterns basicto fox-trot, waltz, cha-cha, rumba, swing, and tango, technicalprinciples of partnered dance will be introduced. Usually offeredevery semester.
Ms. Evans-Baer
PE 26b Intermediate BallroomDance
Prerequisite: PE 26a orcomparable dance experience. Enrollment limited to 40.
This course will build on thefundamentals presented in PE 26a, introducing more involved patternsand techniques. Additional rhythms will be presented. Usuallyoffered every spring semester.
Ms. Evans-Baer
PE 31a Ballet
Enrollment limited to 15.
Students will begin with warming-upexercises (barre work) and balance, control, stretch, and armmovements will be incorporated. When dancers become strong enough,class will proceed to center work, including balancing exercises,turns, and jumps. Dancers will learn stretching and cooling-downexercises. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Margosian
PE 31b Intermediate Ballet
Enrollment limited to 15.
Students need to have two tothree years of recent ballet training to participate. Same materialas beginning ballet will be covered at an accelerated pace. Russianstyle ballet, the Legat Technique, will be taught. Usually offeredevery spring semester.
Ms. Margosian
PE 32a Modern Dance
Enrollment limited to 20.
This is a beginning coursein modern dance technique, based on Martha Graham and Jose Lemonstyle. The course will offer stretching and alignment to dancesequences. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Dibble
Health and Safety
Note: Students with approvedmedical excuses should take courses from this area.
PE 5a First Aid and CommunityCPR
Enrollment limited to 12.
An instruction in the AmericanRed Cross standard First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.Upon course completion, certificates will be given to studentswho successfully complete the skills test and pass the writtentest with scores of 80 percent or better. Usually offered everysemester.
Mr. Burr and Ms. Sullivan
PE 6a Sports Medicine
Enrollment limited to 20.
This course will be an introductionto sports medicine and a basic understanding of human anatomyand sports is required. The course will look at many facets ofsports medicine including weight training, nutrition, drug education,flexibility, and rehabilitation. Each of the major joints of thebody will be examined anatomically, based on injuries sustained.Class will also look briefly at surgical repair of certain joints.Usually offered every spring semester.
Mr. Burr
Personal Fitness
PE 2a Swim Fitness
Enrollment limited to 20.
Course is designed to improveoverall fitness levels through lap swimming. Emphasis is on usingthe heart rate to improve cardiovascular endurance level. Theinstruction will be geared more to understanding and implementingswimming as a vehicle to fitness and less toward teaching individualswimming stroke mechanics. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Zotz
PE 2b Water Aerobics
Enrollment limited to 20.
Course is designed to improveoverall fitness levels through water exercise. Emphasis will beon improving cardiovascular endurance through a cross-sectionof exercises done in the water. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Zotz
PE 11a Nautilus/Free Weights
Enrollment limited to 25.
Course will be an instructionof proper use of Nautilus, Body Master, and free weight training.Classes will also include aerobic activity such as use of Lifecyclesand Tru-Climb 450. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
PE 12a Step Aerobics
Enrollment limited to 30.
Step aerobics is a programthat includes stepping up and down on an adjustable platform whileperforming upper body movements to music. Unlike aerobics, itis low impact and can be moderated to any fitness level. Usuallyoffered every semester.
Ms. DeNicola
PE 13a Aerobics Medley
Enrollment limited to 30.
This class is basic exerciseand dance movements executed to music. Light weights will be usedand proper stretching techniques, warm-up, abdominal work, andcool-down also included. Variations of step aerobics may alsobe included. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Dallamora
PE 14a Yoga
Enrollment limited to 15.
Hatha yoga is physical in natureand is based on proper body alignment and is distinctive in itsuse of props such as belts, walls, and blankets. Classes startwith gentle stretches and work toward more challenging poses.Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Dallamora
PE 27a Wellness
Enrollment limited to 25.
This course is designed tohelp students achieve wellness through exercise, nutrition, andhealth education. Students will be taught to recognize componentsof their lifestyles that are detrimental to their health whiledeveloping a personal fitness program. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. DeNicola
PE 33a Walking for Fitness
Enrollment unlimited.
This course is designed toimprove your overall fitness level through walking. Emphasis willbe on improving cardiovascular endurance level. Instruction willbe given on how to develop a personal fitness program. Usuallyoffered every semester.
Staff
PE 35a Power Walking
Enrollment limited to 25.
Designed to help increase thefitness level of the students through a high-intensity, low-impactworkout. The workout consists of walking with hand-held weights.Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Zotz
PE 37a Fitness for Sports
Introduces proper cardiovascularand stretching warm-up to prevent injury and prepare for athleticcompetition. Students learn running drills which improve flexibilityand coordination and develop good running form to be used in anysport.
Staff
Sport Appreciation
PE 9a Volleyball
Enrollment limited to 40.
An introduction to the fundamentalsof volleyball--scoring, rotation, rules, and the basic skillsof passing, serving, hitting, and setting. Methodology includeslectures, demonstrations, drills, but mostly play. Course is intendedto be fun through active participation. Usually offered everyfall.
Staff
PE 10a Basketball
Enrollment limited to 30.
Class will be structured tomeet needs of students with an overview of offensive and defensiveskills. Methods used are lecture, demonstrations, drills, andplay. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
PE 16a Golf
Enrollment limited to 12.
This is a beginning golf groupinstructional course. Techniques such as grip, set-up, swing,chipping, pitching, and putting will be covered. Some discussionon golf rules and etiquette will be introduced. Usually offeredevery semester.
Staff
PE 17a Beginner's Fencing
Enrollment limited to 20.
This course will cover basicmobility, offensive and defensive strategy, and tactics. Competitivebouting will be done, with a class tournament scheduled for theend of the semester. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Shipman
PE 18b Intermediate Fencing
Enrollment limited to 20.
Basic mobility and blade actionswill be reviewed, with advanced attacks and tactics, strategy,and more bouting included. Also an introduction to the saber andepee. Usually offered every other spring semester.
Mr. Shipman
PE 21a Tennis
Enrollment limited to 16.
This course will be an overviewof grips, groundstrokes, serve, return of serve, and net play.Basic singles and doubles strategy, rules, and scoring of thegame will be introduced. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
PE 22a Squash
For sections that are one-hourin length, enrollment is limited to 16; for sections that areone-and-a-half hours in length, enrollment is limited to 25.
This course will cover rulesfor softball. The serve, return of serve, grip, forehand, backhand,and other basic strokes will be introduced. Strategy and playwill be emphasized. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
PE 24a Beginner's Karate
Enrollment limited to 25.
The first three Kata of Uechi-Ryuwill be taught. Application to kanshiwa and kanshu will be explored.Students will begin slow speed, focused free-fighting, with emphasison technique from Uechi-Ryu Kata. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Christiano
PE 25a Intermediate Karate
Prerequisite: PE 24a. Enrollmentlimited to 25.
Advanced Kotekitae and bodyconditioning, especially shin and toe development, will be practiced.Study of self-defense will focus on multiple, unarmed attackers.Usually offered every spring semester.
Mr. Christiano
These courses count as activitycourses towards the Physical Education requirement.
Movement for the Stage I
Movement for the Stage II
Stage Combat
Modern Dance and Movement
Movement and Dance TheaterComposition