All undergraduate students of Binghamton University are required to fulfill a two-credit physical activity/wellness requirement as part of the General Education requirement. Most of these credits will be taken in the Department of Health and Wellness Studies, but other departments have courses that will satisfy either the physical activity or the wellness components of the requirement.
We offer a variety of credit courses that satisfy the undergraduate General Education requirements of Activity (Y), Wellness (S) and/or Both (B). These requirements enable us to introduce fundamentals and new experiences to those students who otherwise might not seek them out, and to encourage higher-level skill development and depth of knowledge for more experienced students.
Students may satisfy this two-credit Physical Activity/Wellness requirement in any of the following ways:
· 2 credit B course
· 1 Y + 1 S
· 1 B + 1 Y
· 1 B + 1 S
· 1 B + 1 B
With the intent of making it easier to fulfill the graduation requirement, most of these credits are offered through the Department of Health and Wellness Studies in the form of a 2 credit "B" course. Other departments also have courses that will satisfy either the Physical Activity or the Wellness components of the requirement: Decker School of Nursing, College of Community and Public Affairs, Continuing Education & Outreach and the departments of Anthropology, Psychology and Theatre.
The above requirements are applicable to all undergraduate students across the five undergraduate schools. However, there are differences in the application of elective credits that may be applied toward the degree among the five schools. Those differences are outlined below.
Harpur College: Students may apply a maximum of six physical education (HPEY) credits toward the 126 required for graduation. Additional health and/or physical education (HPE) credits may also be used toward the degree, as long as the total of non-liberal arts credits does not exceed eight.
Decker School of Nursing: Six elective credits of physical education may be applied toward the degree. HPE courses are included in that total of six. Division 1 athletes are allowed eight credits of HPE/HPEY courses.
College of Community and Public Affairs: Students may apply a maximum of two physical education credits (HPEY) toward the 124 required for graduation. There is no maximum limit of HPE credits that may be used toward the human development degree.
School of Management: Four elective credits of physical education may be applied toward the degree. HPE courses are included in that total of four.
Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science: All Watson School students must complete the two-credit General Education Physical Activity/Wellness requirement. For computer science majors, a maximum of two such credits may be used in the free elective area only. For engineering majors, the two credits are used for General Education only.
Graduate students may audit physical education courses on a "space available" basis and are not allowed to advance register.
Transfer credits may be accepted from other academic institutions if the course is equivalent in contact hours and content to that offered at Binghamton University. Credits may not be transferred from non-academic agencies such as health spas, fitness clubs, karate schools, dance schools, etc. Students intending to take a health and/or physical education course at another institution during the summer should receive prior approval. A course description, contact hours and credit value for the course are needed to determine if the course credit is transferable.
Teaching assistantships, internships and independent study opportunities (for variable credit) are available through the Health and Wellness Studies Department faculty.
Students with temporary or permanent physical disabilities, after being examined by the University physician, may be assigned to the ACR (adaptive, corrective, rehabilitative) program or request to have the requirement waived. Waiving the credit does not grant credit for courses not taken, nor does it reduce the credit hours required for graduation.
Students are encouraged to begin fulfilling the requirement early in their academic career. Postponement may cause scheduling difficulties in the senior year and the requirement will not be waived because of schedule conflicts when previous opportunities to fulfill the requirement were not used. The requirement may not be fulfilled by taking the same course more than once.
Activity based courses are at the beginner skill level unless otherwise specified. Intermediate and advanced courses that do not have specific prerequisites do require some mastery of knowledge and skills. Students should realistically assess their skill level before registering for a course beyond the beginner level. Instructors should be consulted if students are unsure of their qualifications. Students can be dropped from a course by the instructor if their skill level is not appropriate to the class.
All HWS courses have attendance requirements. Most courses are held in the West Gym with some being held in the East Gym. Students should note the location of the class when they register. It is the policy of Health and Wellness Studies that any registered student who does not show up for the first two class meetings can be officially dropped from the course by the department at the discretion of the instructor.
Some courses may meet for half the semester only. It is the student's responsibility to know the start and end dates as listed on the BU Brain. If a course is restricted on BU Brain, students may attend for the first several class meetings, and instructors will add students as vacancies occur through drops or "no-shows."
All students registered for a Health and Wellness Studies class as of the first day of classes are liable for a fee that is non-refundable once classes begin. In other words, students who advance register for a course must drop it before classes begin if they do not intend to take the class. Students are entitled to a locker and towel service in either gym; however, failure to obtain a locker does not relieve the student of financial responsibility for the fee. Some courses, such as scuba, have additional fees specific to the course.
Lisa Hrehor
Health and Wellness Studies Department Chair
lhrehor@binghamton.edu
