Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• PDP AQ 101: Beginning Swim
  This is a course for swimmers who have had little or no swimming experience. Instruction will focus on basic swimming skills for beginners to advanced beginners. Skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and to help yourself and/or others in an aquatic emergency will be covered. Skills to be covered include: floating, breathe control, kicking, front crawl, elementary backstroke, backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke, comfort in the deep end of the pool, and treading water. This class takes place in our Recreation Pool
• PDP AQ 201: Swimming, Stroke Improvement
  For swimmers who have a solid understanding of the crawl stroke and are familiar with backstroke and breaststroke. Stroke Improvement is a course designed to improve participants' proficiency in basic aquatic skills and the six basic swimming strokes. The instructors will teach skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency. Skills to be covered include: refinement of front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke, introduction to butterfly, and continued practice for comfort in deep water. This class takes place in our Competition Pool
• PDP AQ 220: Scuba
  Prereq: Ability to swim 300 yards (with mask, snorkel, and fins) and float for 10 minutes. Students must also complete a medical questionnaire prior to the first day of class. A MD sign off may be required before participation depending on the student's answers to the medical questionnaire. This course is designed to provide students ages 15 years and older all the pool and classroom training needed to become a certified SCUBA Schools International (SSI) Referral Diver. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to seek out any SSI SCUBA Center to upgrade to Open Water Diver or any other SCUBA certification of their choice. No equipment is necessary, and students will leave this course with their own Personal Dive Equipment package (mask, fins, snorkel, booties, and mesh bag).
• PDP AQ 301: Fitness Swim
  Prereq: Ability to swim 200 yards continuously and competence in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. This course is designed for intermediate and advanced swimmers who want to improve their fitness and technique through workouts and drills. To accommodate multiple skill levels, the class may be divided into two groups. Workouts will focus on improving technique and building endurance. More advanced workouts will be provided for swimmers who enjoy swimming as a method of improving cardiovascular performance and maintaining their fitness level. The class will focus on applying the basics of fitness swimming, including technique drills, flip turns, reading a pace clock, interval training and creating a personalized workout. The instructors will critique students' strokes and offer stroke feedback. Students will also be taught starts and butterfly if they do not already know these skills. This class takes place in our Competition Pool
• PDP DA 100: Pilates-Based Conditioning
  Students will explore the fundamental Pilates techniques. Through simple, targeted exercises, students will increase their flexibility, strength, and core stability yielding improved posture, increased endurance and lowered risk of injury. Beginners and those with previous Pilates experience will find a safe, supportive environment. Exercises can be adapted for all abilities. Come ready to focus, explore and discover!
• PDP DA 111: Ballroom, Beginning
  An introduction to the American Style Ballroom & Rhythm form of partner dancing. For both students with little or no instruction and students who may have taken previous Ballroom & Rhythm classes. Two to three dances are introduced per semester on a rotating basis. American Smooth includes: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Viennese Waltz. American Rhythm includes: Cha-cha, Rumba, Swing, Mambo, and Bolero. Students will gain confidence in leading and following a partner.
• PDP DA 112: Ballroom, Tango
  An introduction to the American Style Tango. For both students with little or no instruction and students who may have taken previous Tango classes. Students will gain confidence in leading and following a partner.
• PDP DA 113: Ballroom, Swing
  An introduction to the American Style East Coast Swing and elements of Lindy and Foxtrot. For both students with little or no instruction and students who may have taken previous Swing classes. Students will build confidence in their ability to dance, create and enjoy a wide range of Swing music. Students will gain confidence in leading and following a partner.
• PDP DA 114: Salsa and Merengue Ballroom
  An introduction to the Salsa and Merengue. For both students with little or no instruction and students who may have taken previous Swing classes. Students will gain confidence in leading and following a partner.
• PDP DA 115: Ballroom, Latin
  An introduction to the Latin Style of Ballroom dancing. Appropriate for students who have had little or no instruction in this style of dance. In- depth enough for students who may have taken previous Latin Style Ballroom classes for the purpose of building confidence and gaining additional dance experience with a partner. Typically two dances per semester are introduced on a rotating basis: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cha Cha, Rhumba and/or Argentine Tango. Enjoy learning the skills of both leader and follower.
• PDP DA 129: Ballet, Beginning
  A class for first-time students of ballet or for students returning after several years without practice. Students begin with exercises at the ballet barre designed to teach basic ballet technique and to build strength, flexibility, control, and alignment. With each class, the barre technique is reinforced in the center through movement and traveling phrases. Accompanied by live music.
• PDP DA 130: Ballet, Advanced Beginning
  For students who have some ballet training or who are returning to ballet. Students will learn combinations at the barre and in the center that focus on developing alignment, strength, endurance, flexibility, control, coordination, and musicality. The class will focus on the athleticism of ballet along with development of fluidity by use of port de bras and a sense of musicality. Live music.
• PDP DA 138: Improvisation
  Dancers and non-dancers alike are welcome. The skills developed in this class are applicable to any creative process as well as to everyday life. In this class we engage in exercises and improvisational structures to heighten our awareness, broaden our individual movement vocabulary and develop our skills in instant composition. The class also introduces basic partnering skills and often involves optional performance opportunities. This is a dynamic class that fosters both the ability to work in ensemble as well as strengthening the individual's personal aesthetics and movement style.
• PDP DA 140: Modern Dance, Beginning
  This class is for those who've never taken a dance class before, those who have never studied modern before, or those returning to dance after a hiatus. The course is an overview of four modern dance techniques: Limon, Horton, Graham and Release. The basic concepts, theories, and vocabulary of each technique are explored to improve agility, physical awareness, coordination and expressiveness in a fun and supportive environment. Class includes energizing warm-up and choreography.
• PDP DA 150: Cardio-Jazz Funk
  A funky combination of low-impact aerobics, hip-hop, and jazz dance. Designed to improve muscle tone and cardiovascular strength while learning the fundamentals of jazz dance and the latest dance club moves. No prior dance experience is necessary.
• PDP DA 151: Cardio-Jazz Funk
  A funky combination of low-impact aerobics, hip-hop, and jazz dance. Designed to improve muscle tone and cardiovascular strength while learning the fundamentals of jazz dance and the latest dance club moves. No prior dance experience is necessary.
• PDP DA 160: Hip-Hop Dance
  Prereq: PDP DA 150 or previous dance training. Students will engage in full bodied physical movement, while developing confidence and subtle intricacies for a variety of hip hop styles. Class includes a warm-up/work out, progressions across the floor, and choreography. This class will challenge dancers to fully express themselves.
• PDP DA 161: Hip Hop Dance
  Prereq: PDP DA 150 or previous dance/aerobic dance training. Learn hip-hop and street funk dance choreography and get a fitness workout in this fun and challenging class.
• PDP DA 162: Afro-Fusion
  This course will build upon foundations of traditional and contemporary elements of African and Western dance styles including West African, Caribbean, hip hop, house and jazz dance. Students will engage in full bodied physical movement, while developing confidence and subtle intricacies for a variety of styles. Students will learn progressions across the floor and choreography that challenges them to fully express themselves. Some previous dance/movement training is helpful but not essential.
• PDP DA 170: Tap Dance, Beginning
  This class provides a solid foundation in tap technique and musicality, along with elements of classic repertoire, tap history, and music theory. Students will develop strong, fundamental skills relevant to both jazz tap and musical theater tap styles, and ultimately be able to perform basic steps and patterns with clarity, timing, style, joy, and confidence. Tap shoes required.

Back to full list of Department of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance