Physical Education

Claremont McKenna College participates in a joint physical education program with Harvey Mudd and Scripps Colleges (CMS). Under this umbrella are located intercollegiate athletics, physical education courses, intramural and recreational sport activities, and club sports. All students are invited to participate in a full range of intramural, recreational, and club sports. Club sports include men’s volleyball, ballroom dancing, cycling, men’s lacrosse, rugby, and ultimate Frisbee, among others; most of the club teams include members from all undergraduate Claremont Colleges. CMC’s extensive physical education program is designed to develop and support fitness and recreational habits that will last a lifetime. Although each individual college has its own recreational facilities, the physical education courses, athletic teams, and faculty and staff are part of the joint program. The physical education courses offered by both CMC and Pomona College are open to all undergraduate students.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the weight-training equipment, including the use of Universal, Hammer Strength, and free weight equipment, and the Wells Fitness Center for personal fitness training. In addition to the intercollegiate athletic facilities, CMC also has a climbing wall, a boxing ring, and the Easton Archery Range.

CMS intercollegiate athletic teams compete in NCAA Division III, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), and are well-represented at national championships. See Athletics and the webpage for further information.

To participate in any physical education courses or team sports, CMC students must officially register for both courses and teams. There is no academic credit for these courses for CMC students, but CMC has a physical education requirement for graduation (see General Education Requirement below.). Students may not audit PE courses and all fees for PE courses with fees must be paid through Student Accounts.

General Education Requirement in Physical Education

In order to graduate, all CMC students are required to complete three semesters of physical education. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skill in a broad variety of movement and fitness activities. All activity courses meet two hours per week, have no prerequisites, may be repeated, and are graded on a CR/NC basis. Season-long participation on an intercollegiate or club sport team may be substituted for one semester of physical education. Two seasons of CMS intercollegiate athletic team participation will also fulfill the three-semester physical education requirement. Registration procedures and deadlines for physical education courses or teams are identical to those of credit courses.

The Faculty

Joint Athletics Faculty: Burton, Calichman, Candaele, Goldhammer, Griffiths, Hipple, Lonzo, Miles, Retzlaff, Sanchez, Scalmanini, Settles, Sutton (chair), Sweeney, and Town