Hi, I’m Kessi! I’m a junior, and this is my sixth semester at Cal. So far, I’ve taken five PE courses, and I’ve loved every single one of them!
Berkeley's Physical Education program offers a diverse range of 0.5-unit courses in different activity categories under the PHYS ED 1 label. These courses fall under categories like Aquatics (Swimming, Water Polo), Dance (K-Pop, Salsa, Samba, Contemporary, Ballroom), Fitness (Boxing, Core, Resistance, Hiking, Stretching), Martial Arts (Boxing, Taekwondo, Judo), and other Sports (Basketball, Tennis, Golf). ome classes even have different skill levels—Level 1 courses are open to all students, while Levels 2, 3, and 4 require prior experience.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the PE courses I’ve taken and why I think you should give them a shot!
5K/10K/Half Marathon Training
This PE course is only offered every Fall semester because the Berkeley Half Marathon is held every November (it has 5K/10K/Half Marathon races). We met every Monday and Wednesday morning. Mondays were dedicated to interval training at Edwards Stadium, where we timed our laps and tracked our heart rates. Wednesdays were for outdoor runs around campus. I have to say, running up Hearst Avenue was brutal (I hate the hill). The final assessment for the course is a 5k run around the campus. For the final assessment, we had to complete a 5K run around campus. Many students took this class to prepare for the Berkeley Half Marathon, and after finishing the course, I continued training and participated in the race the following year, completing my first 10K in 58 minutes. It was an incredible experience, and I developed a real love for running.
Hiking 1
Hiking is a half-semester course (but I enrolled in both sessions that semester, so I got to hike every week the whole semester, yayyyy!). Each Friday, we would go on a 5 mile hike in surrounding trails. Most of the trails are located in the regional parks nearby, like Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, etc. Carpooling was arranged on the first day so everyone could get to the trailheads easily. The hikes weren’t too challenging, but they were a fantastic way to explore nature, chat with classmates, and unwind. Along the way, I got to see so many cute dogs and even horses on the trails. It was such a chill and rewarding class, and I really looked forward to it every week.
Boxing Fitness (non-contact) 1
The course is non-contact, meaning we didn’t spar with people but instead practiced on sandbags while learning proper boxing techniques and building core strength. There are multiple Boxing 1 classes available each semester, taught by different instructors. Some sections have two one-hour sessions per week, while others meet once for a two-hour session. I enrolled in the two-hour session, and I remember the instructor saying on the first day, “You’ve been studying all week—this class is just to relax. Forget all your schoolwork for these two hours and just let your body move.” That mindset really helped me enjoy the class.
You will need to purchase your own compliant half-finger boxing gloves for this class. We got to learn many boxing techniques, and got some cardio training as well. During the last session, each of us released our stress by hitting wildly at the sandbags. It was such an intense but satisfying experience.
Circuit Weight Training 1
This is a strength training class designed to enhance overall physical fitness through a variety of exercises. Each session involves rotating through a dozen workout stations, where you’ll perform movements such as pull-ups, sit-ups, barbell weight training, squats, cycling, and more. These exercises target key areas of strength, including leg power, pulling strength, and pushing strength.
To track progress, there will be pull-up and sit-up assessments at both the start and end of the semester. Through this class, I learned a lot of new strength training moves and significantly improved my overall strength.
Stand-up Paddleboarding 1
Right now, I’m taking Stand-Up Paddleboarding 1, and it has been the most fun PE class so far! This course is fairly new, but it’s an absolute blast. We get to swim, play with water polo balls, and, of course, fall off our paddleboards into the water. It’s a great way to enjoy being active while also having fun with classmates. The only downside is when it’s cloudy or raining—climbing back onto the paddleboard in cold water is not fun. But overall, it has been such a unique and exciting experience, and I highly recommend it.
The best part about PE classes at Cal is that there’s no pressure to be perfect. You don’t need to be an athlete—just improving a little by the end of the semester is enough. They’re a great way to stay active, relieve stress, and meet new people while earning units. I’m definitely planning to take more PE courses in the future, and I highly recommend that everyone try at least one during their time at Cal. They add so much fun to the semester and provide a great balance to the usual academic workload. If you’re considering a PE class, go for it—you won’t regret it!!!!