Regulations and Requirements for Undergraduate Physical Education Courses at Tsinghua University

These regulations are formulated in accordance with the Ministry of Education's "Guiding Outline for Physical Education Curriculum in Regular Higher Education Institutions" and the "National Student Physical Health Standard", and in line with the undergraduate educational goals and the "4+2+2" teaching model for physical education at our university.

I. Basic Requirements

1. Physical education courses are offered progressively over the four undergraduate years, with a gradual increase in skill level. Physical education courses from the first to the fourth semester are compulsory, earning 1 credit per semester. Specialized sports courses in the fifth and sixth semesters are limited electives, while those in the seventh and eighth semesters are free electives. To be eligible for undergraduate graduation, students must earn the required credits from the first to the fourth semester, complete and pass the physical education courses in the fifth and sixth semesters, and meet Tsinghua University's swimming proficiency requirement (effective for students enrolled since 2017).

2. According to Article 18 of the "Tsinghua University Undergraduate Academic Regulations", physical education courses cannot be taken as independent study. Students who fail to complete the PE courses from the first to the sixth semester on schedule must retake them in the corresponding subsequent semesters. Due to their different attributes, physical education courses from the first to the sixth semester cannot be replaced by the specialized sports courses offered in the seventh and eighth semesters.

3. Students should not take more than two physical education courses per semester (including retakes and regular courses) and must strictly follow the course regulations and requirements to complete all content.

4. Starting with the class of 2016, students applying for recommendation for postgraduate admission at the end of their third year must have completed the compulsory physical education courses from the first to the fourth semester and earned the credits.

5. To be considered for "Outstanding Graduate, a student's average GPA for physical education courses from the first to the fourth semester must be 3.0 or higher.

II. Course Selection, Assessment, and Grading

6. Physical education courses are offered by year and semester. As a rule, students cannot cross years or semesters to take these courses. Students who fail a course or have officially dropped it must re-enroll in the corresponding semester in a subsequent academic year. They should select the physical education course with the course number "88" for the required semester during the pre-selection or main selection period and confirm the specific course with the Department of Physical Education at the beginning of the semester to retake or make up the course.

7. Physical education courses cannot be dropped or added for special reasons after the first phase of the add/drop period.

8. The grade for a physical education course is determined each semester based on a comprehensive assessment of the teaching requirements. The assessment includes the specific sport of the course, physical fitness, the "National Student Physical Health Standard" test, the Sunshine Long-Distance Running program, and attendance. All assessment and testing requirements are carried out in accordance with relevant university regulations. Any student found in violation of rules or discipline will receive a grade of "F" for the physical education course and will be handled according to the "Implementing Rules for the Management of Disciplinary Actions against Tsinghua University Students.

9. Students who receive a final grade of "F" must retake the course.

10. Students who are absent for a cumulative total of one-fourth of the physical education classes in a semester will receive a grade of "F" for that course. Students who are unable to continue a physical education course due to acute injury, illness, or other reasons should follow the university's procedures for such situations.

III. Handling of Special Circumstances

11. Students participating in an overseas exchange program may apply to substitute their physical education course for the corresponding semester with the grades from physical education or training taken at the host university. The application for course substitution must be submitted within one month of the student's return to campus. The student must submit a written application, which is then reviewed and signed by the departmental academic affairs office and filed with the relevant university authorities. The Department of Physical Education will organize an assessment of the student's specific sport skills and physical fitness, conducted by the instructor of the corresponding course. Only upon passing the assessment can the course be substituted for the physical education course of the corresponding semester abroad.

12. Physical education courses cannot be waived. For students who are unable to participate in regular physical activities due to health conditions (mainly chronic diseases of internal organs or postoperative recovery), the university offers physical therapy courses to address the issue of their inability to complete the physical education requirements for graduation.

To apply for a physical therapy course, students must complete the application and approval procedures within the first week of each semester: after obtaining a diagnosis (or re-examination) and a certificate (including the condition and duration) from the relevant department of the university hospital, the certificate must be reviewed and stamped by designated personnel in the Health Care Department, and then confirmed by the instructor at the Department of Physical Education before the student can enroll.

The attendance policy for physical therapy courses is the same as for regular physical education courses (a student who is absent for one-fourth of the classes in a semester will receive a grade of "F"). However, because the teaching content, assessment standards, exercise intensity, and physical fitness test standards differ significantly from those of regular physical education courses, the grades for physical therapy courses are recorded separately (final grade ≤ D). When calculating a student's GPA, the weighting factor for this grade is 0.8.

Physical therapy courses are taught in mixed-year classes and therefore cannot accommodate students who are retaking the course. Students who are unable to retake or make up a regular physical education course due to legitimate health reasons must submit a written application with supporting medical documentation. With the approval of the Department of Physical Education, they may take a physical therapy course in the seventh or eighth semester to make up or retake a course for one corresponding semester.

13. Undergraduates must demonstrate swimming proficiency to graduate, i.e., they must pass the swimming test. During their undergraduate studies, students must register through the system designated by the Department of Physical Education and take the swimming test at the specified time and location. Passing standard: The student must independently and continuously swim a distance of 50 meters without the aid of any equipment, using one or more of the four competitive swimming strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, or freestyle). Upon passing the test, a uniquely numbered certificate and medal will be awarded.

Students who are unable to take the swimming test due to legitimate health reasons must submit a written application with supporting medical documentation before the end of their third year. After obtaining a diagnosis (or re-examination) and a certificate (including the condition, duration, etc.) from the relevant department of the university hospital, which must be reviewed and stamped by designated personnel in the Health Care Department, the application must be confirmed by the teaching office of the Department of Physical Education and filed with the university's Academic Affairs Office.

IV. These regulations shall take effect from the 2018-2019 academic year.