During your undergraduate career at RIT, unless you are a varsity athlete, you will be required to complete two wellness courses. RIT's policy is that students participating in the institute's Intercollegiate Athletic programs will be granted wellness course credit for the season(s) of participation.
These wellness courses last one semester, so in total, you are required to have two semesters where you are engaging in a wellness course. You are not limited to two, however, so if you enjoy a particular sport or activity, you are welcome to take more classes!
There are a few different categories of wellness classes that you can take, and not all of them are necessarily athletic! Wellness classes don't need to be a burden. Choosing the right one for you could be extremely beneficial, and even relieve some stress during the semester.
Health and Wellness Seminars
This is the category that doesn't fit into the typical "athletic" wellness course sections. In this section, there are classes such as Body Image and Food, Financial Fitness, Introduction to Massage Therapy, Stress Management, Foes and Lovers, How to Become Smoke-Free, and more. These classes can be incredibly beneficial for learning essential life skills, are a great substitute if you don't consider yourself particularly athletic.
Dance
There is a wide variety of dance classes available at RIT, and these include Ballet, Advanced Ballet, Ballroom Dance, Advanced Ballroom Dance, Argentine Tango, Country Line Dance, Hip Hop Dance, Irish Step Dance, Jazz Dance, Latin Dance, Musical Theatre & Dance, Swing Dance, and Tap Dance. For anyone previously involved in dancing, some of these might be too basic. But for anyone curious about any of these, it's a great introduction to an activity that might not have been available to you during high school.
Fitness
This category is where you'll find some of the more athletic classes to choose from, including Core Glutes & Abs, Insanity, P90X, Nerfology, Yoga, Pilates, Introduction to Weight Training, and Kundalini Yoga. I took Kundalini Yoga this past semester, and it was a calm class that was a great break from classes at the end of each week. I'd highly recommend it!
Health and Life Support
These classes can offer many skills that are particularly applicable outside of the classroom. These courses include Advanced CPR & First Aid, CPR and First Aid, and Lifeguarding. Lifeguarding is also a job that students can hold on campus at the pool in the Gordon Field House, so it's helpful if you just want a job on campus, or for general use.
Recreation
This category is where you'll find the vast majority of your typical sports, like volleyball, soccer, golf, hockey, basketball, dodgeball, flag football, and more. There are some more unusual sports in this category, like fly fishing, pocket billiards, juggling, and table tennis, if you're more inclined toward those. They're all a ton of fun, and you can't go wrong with any of them.
Outdoor Education
This category is perfect for those of you that love spending time outdoors. You can take classes that include outdoor rock climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, whitewater kayaking, backpacking, and beekeeping. These classes in particular offer many skills that will be beneficial for the rest of your life.
Martial Arts
Among the more typical wellness courses, RIT also offers many martial arts classes, including aikido, kung fu, tai chi, sparring, self-defense, and warrior workout. These are all great classes, especially if you're looking to gain some confidence and control of your body.
I'd recommend taking as many wellness courses as you can during your time here! They're a great way to meet friends, manage stress, and are always a welcome break from homework and classes during the week.