Courses 2025-26

An introductory survey course of important topics of physical, mental and overall health and wellness for students designed to be taken in the first two years. Topics include basic principles and components of exercise and physical conditioning, the role of sleep and nutrition in overall health, time and stress management skills, emotional and mental self and community care principals. The course will be team taught by members of the physical education department in collaboration with other student affairs partners and resources.

This course provides students with knowledge and practical opportunities to develop and implement an individualized program to successfully accomplish their physical fitness goals. Detailed proposals are developed during week two of the term, and journals are maintained throughout the term to monitor progress. May only be used for 3 units of the 9-unit physical education requirement.

This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to explore the outdoors of Pasadena and the San Gabriel Mountains while participating in physical fitness activities. Learn about proper hiking gear, basics for safety, trip plans, and how to research trails in the local area. The class will meet on campus and then travel to one of the local trails for an afternoon hike. Students will be asked to use maps, compass, and GPS devices on various hikes to teach them proper use of all forms of location guidance. Along the trail, students will be asked to identify local flora and vegetation, learn trail etiquette, discuss survival scenarios in the event of emergency, and practice basic trail first aid. Topics such as trail nutrition and hydration will be presented, and students will create a search and rescue plans in the event of an overnight emergency. This class will only be offered on Friday morning, meeting once per week for a three-hour block to accommodate travel off campus.

Introduction to walking for fitness. Emphasis on cardiovascular benefits for a healthy lifestyle. The program is progressive and suitable for walkers of all levels.

Students will learn fundamental principles of sound running training to help with short-term and long-term improvement. The course will cover workout design, running mechanics, injury prevention and other related topics. The course can accommodate a wide range of abilities and experience levels, from beginner to intermediate. Course assessments will include fitness tests to gauge improvement and written work on running-related topics.

Learn to develop functional fitness using core stability training techniques that focus on working deep muscles of the entire torso at once. The course is taught using exercises that develop core strength, including exercises on a stability ball, medicine ball, wobble boards as well as with Pilates exercise programs.

Instruction to increase foot speed and agility with targeted exercises designed to help the student increase these areas for use in competitive situations. Instruction will focus on increasing foot speed, leg turnover, sprint endurance, and competitive balance. Proper technique and specific exercises as well as development of an individual or sport-specific training workout will be taught.

An introductory course for students who are new to Pickleball. Fundamentals of the game will be emphasized, including rules, scoring, strategy, and winning shots. The course will emphasize groundstrokes, volleys, serve, and grips. Singles and doubles games will be played.

Fundamental instruction on shooting, passing, trapping, dribbling, penalty kicks, offensive plays, defensive strategies, and goal keeping. Course includes competitive play using small field and full field scrimmages.

Each class includes a thorough warm-up, a cardiovascular workout phase that includes a variety of conditioning exercises designed to tone and strengthen various muscle groups, and a relaxation cool-down and stretch, all done to music.

Features fundamental instruction on shooting, dribbling, passing, defensive positioning, and running an offense. Course includes competitive play and free-throw shooting.

Beginning fencing includes basic techniques of attack, defense, and counter-offense. Lecture topics include fencing history, strategy, scouting and analysis of opponents, and gamesmanship.

Hatha Yoga is a system of physical postures designed to stretch and strengthen the body, calm the nervous system, and center the mind. It is a noncompetitive activity designed to reduce stress for improved health of body and mind while increasing flexibility, strength, and stamina, and reducing chance of athletic injury.

This course will center on developing students' knowledge of techniques, rules, strategy, etiquette, and safety regulations of the game. Students will develop the ability to perform all the skills necessary to play ultimate Frisbee confidently on a recreational basis.

Students will participate in 5 specifically chosen strategic games (Inner Tube Water Polo, Dodgeball, Bocce, Corn Hole, Flag Football, Pickleball) and learn basic strategy and rules, fitness and health components as well as learning how to compete in cooperative team games. Course requirements include great attitude, attendance and effort of having fun and trying something new while working on your coordination and general fitness.

Beginning course covers fundamentals of the game, including rules, terminology, etiquette, basic grip, set-up, swing, and club selection for each shot. The following shots will be covered: full swing (irons and woods), chip, pitch, sand, and putting. Intermediate course will focus on swing development of specialty shots and on course play management.

During this introductory course students will utilize indoor cycling as a tool for fitness and fun. This course is designed to teach students basic concepts associated with indoor cycling as well as build cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility through structured indoor cycling workouts. Students will also learn and apply principles of lifetime physical fitness.

This course is designed to help beginners learn to train for a sprint distance triathlon. All three disciplines will be taught, with specific technique instruction in each area. Students will learn how to develop a training schedule, choosing the correct event for their skill, nutrition, safety, and race preparation. The course will include techniques to increase transition efficiency, trouble shoot issues on the route and strategies to record a personal best in future races. Safe training to reduce injury and assure a healthy race is the foundation of this course.

Students will learn fundamentals of springboard diving to include basic approach, and five standard dives. Intermediate course includes instruction in the back somersault, forward somersault, forward somersault full twist, and reverse somersault.

Instruction in all basic swimming strokes, including freestyle, elementary backstroke, racing backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly.

Basic recreational water polo with instruction of individual skills and team strategies. A background in swimming is encouraged.

Fundamental self-defense techniques including form practice and realistic sparring. Emphasis on improving muscle tone, stamina, balance, and coordination, with the additional requirement of memorizing one or more simple kata (forms).

Chinese movement art emphasizing relaxation and calm awareness through slow, flowing, meditative movement using only minimum strength needed to accomplish the action.

Basic skills will be taught, including grips, services, overhead and underhand strokes, and footwork. Rules, terminology, and etiquette are covered. Intermediate skills such as drives, serve returns, forehand and backhand smash returns, attacking clears, and sliced drop shots are taught. Singles and doubles play along with drill work throughout the term.

Fundamentals of the game will be emphasized, including rules, scoring, strategy, and winning shots. All types of serves will be covered, as well as a variety of shots to include kill, pinch-off, passing, ceiling, and off-the-backwall. Singles and doubles games will be played. Intermediate course will review all fundamentals with a refinement of winning shots, serves, and daily games.

Learn by playing as basic rules and strokes are taught. Fundamentals to include proper grip, stroke, stance, and positioning, along with serve and return of serve. Intermediate and Advanced course will concentrate on skill development with inclusion of forehand and backhand drives, lobs, volleys, and drops, with emphasis on court movement, shot selection, and tactics.

Stroke fundamentals, singles and doubles play, plus rules, terminology, and etiquette are covered in all classes. Beginning course emphasizes groundstrokes, volleys, serve, and grips. Beginning/Intermediate course is for those players between levels and will concentrate on strategy, drills, and match play. Intermediate level focuses on improving technique, footwork, and court positioning, with instruction on approach shots, volleys, overheads, and lobs.

Active participation in a strength and conditioning program designed for individual skill level and desired effect. Course will enlighten students on various methods, terminology, and techniques in isokinetic strength and cardiovascular fitness training.

This course is intended for those experienced with high level physical training. This course helps individuals improve sport and physical fitness skills by addressing components including muscular strength, cardiovascular conditioning and flexibility. Active participation in a strength and conditioning program designed for individual skill level and desired effect.

Fundamental instruction on drills, strategies, and rules, with game-playing opportunities. Basics of serve, pass, set, spike, defense, and court position will be taught. Intermediate level focuses on skill development to a more competitive standard and features multiple offenses and understanding officiating.

Taught at the Caltech bouldering cave, Brown Gym. During this introductory course to bouldering, students will learn terminology, how to properly fit into a harness, set-up and use a tubular belay device, and belay commands. This course will emphasize muscle strength and endurance, balance, and flexibility, as well as be challenging for mind and body.

Taught at the Caltech Climbing Wall, Brown Gym. Basic skills will be covered to utilize each student's strength and endurance while learning to climb safely. Use of climbing rope and other equipment for belaying, rappelling, and emergency ascent will be taught.

Introductory course to provide general knowledge of equipment, rules, and basic strokes, including topspin drive, backspin chop, and simple block in both forehand and backhand. Multiball exercise utilizing robot machines and video. Intermediate class covers regulations for international competition and fundamentals of winning table tennis, including footwork drills, smash, serve, and attack.