Courses

CLASSES PRIOR TO 2016: All cadets are required to take seven consecutive semesters of physical education classes and earn four semester credit hours (exclusive of PE 430), to meet graduation requirements. New cadets do not take a physical education class first semester of their rat year. Second semester of their rat year, and first semester of the third class year, cadets will take either Swimming (PE 100 or 101), or Boxing (PE 102). Second semester of the third class year, and first semester of the second class year, cadets will take either Drug and Alcohol (PE 200), or Wrestling (PE 211). Second semester of the second class year, and first semester of the first class year, cadets will take either Principles of Physical Conditioning (PE 300), or a PE elective course. Second semester of the first class year cadets will take a PE elective course.

CLASS OF 2016 AND BEYOND: All cadets are required to take seven semesters of physical education classes, and earn four semester credit hours (exclusive of PE 430) to meet graduation requirements. New cadets are required to take Wellness Concepts (PE 105), and Boxing PE 102 during their fourth-class year. Third-class year cadets are required to take Swimming (PE 100 or 101), and Principles of Physical Education (PE 300). Cadets will take two PE Elective courses during their second-class year. Cadets will also take a PE elective during the first semester of their first-class year to complete their Physical Education requirements. There is no PE requirement (OPEN semester), for the second semester of the first-class year. To accommodate special circumstances that may arise, such as study abroad and medical/health issues, the OPEN semester may occur during the fall/spring of the second-class year, or the fall of the first class year.

PE 100. BEGINNING SWIMMING
0—2—0.5
This course is for non-swimmers only.

PE 101. BASIC SWIMMING AND SURVIVAL
0—1—0.5
Stressed are the basic strokes, survival support, breath control skills, and pre-lifesaving skills.

PE 102. BOXING
0—1—0.5
Instruction in the fundamentals of boxing.

PE 105. WELLNESS CONCEPTS
1—0—0.5
This course will provide an introduction to basic nutrition and dimensions of wellness. Major topics will include, choosing a nutritious diet, maintaining healthy body composition and body weight, managing stress, avoiding risks from harmful habits, and sexual health.

PE 200. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AWARENESS
1—0—0.5
A review of the current understanding of the short-term and long-term effects of the chronic use of drugs and alcohol. Confrontation and intervention techniques will be taught. Current laws will be reviewed.

PE 211. WRESTLING
0—1—0.5
Fundamentals of wrestling.

PE 300. PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONING
0—1—1
An elementary course in exercise physiology. (This class will be 1 hour for the Class of 2011 and beyond.)

PE 315. COMBATIVES
0—1—0.5
The purpose of this course is to teach cadets basic grappling techniques in accordance with the United States Army’s Level One combative program. Prerequisites: PE 102 (Boxing) and PE 211 (Wrestling).

PE 320. DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS
3—0—3
A study of the substances being abused — the effects, prevention, diagnoses, intervention, treatment, corporate strategies, laws.

PE 321. LEADERSHIP EXERCISE AND SPORT
0—1—0.5
This course will provide the student with an introduction to leadership theories and practices, exercise physology and physical training. Basic concepts and components of leadership within the exercise and sporting environment will be introduced so that the student may use this knowledge for the promotion of his/her personal fitness benefits.

PE 401. GOLF
0—1—0.5
A beginning course. Offered during fall semester only.

PE 402. LIFEGUARDING
0—1—0.5
Successful completion leads to certification as a lifeguard. Prerequisite: PE 304.

PE 403. ADVANCED SWIMMING AND SURVIVAL
0—1—0.5
The course is designed for advance swimming and survival techniques. The course will cover strokes, conditioning, surface diving, snorkel introduction, underwater retrieval of gear, and advance survival techniques. Prerequisite: PE 101.

PE 404. C.P.R.
1—0—0.5
Successful completion confers American Red Cross certification. This course is a prerequisite for PE 103, Lifeguarding.

PE 405. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
1—0—0.5
Provides information on the benefits and detriments of common physical performance stimulants.

PE 406. HANDBALL/RACQUETBALL
0—1—0.5
A beginning course.

PE 407. VOLLEYBALL
0—1—0.5
A beginning course.

PE 408. GYMNASTICS AND TUMBLING
0—1—0.5
Instruction and practice in both activities will be provided during spring semester only.

PE 409. TENNIS
0—1—0.5
A beginning course. Offered during fall semester only.

PE 411. FUNDAMENTALS OF RESISTANCE TRAINING
1—0—0.5
Fundamentals of weight lifting.

PE 412. WEIGHT TRAINING
0—1—0.5
This will be an activity course designed to give cadets “hands-on” exposure to various types of resistive training programs. Cadets will actively participate in a variety of pre-determined functional lifting programs relative to all of the components (strength, power, endurance) of muscular development.

PE 413. CARDIOVASCULAR TRAINING APPLICATION
0—1—0.5
This is an activity course designed to expose cadets to various types of training programs. A cross-training approach will be utilized requiring cadet participation on a weekly basis with regard to a variety of aerobic and anaerobic training adaptations. This course is designed to be physically demanding. It will not only help cadets attain a higher level of fitness, it will also give them an opportunity to learn different training adaptations which they can utilize beyond their VMI experience.

PE 414. BASKETBALL
0—1—0.5
This course will introduce cadets to the basic rules and skills of basketball as well as teach offensive and defensive principles. Individual skills and team concepts will be covered. This course will have a high activity/fitness component.

PE 430. HEALTH EDUCATION
3—0—3
Topics to be studied include: recognition and management of stress, intervention and confrontation in drug/alcohol abuse, sexuality, AIDS, and other sexually-transmitted diseases, and other subjects such as nutrition, genetic counseling, cardiovascular health, and cancer.