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Whitman Baseball cheering each other on.

Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletics

Majors & Programs

LEARN, PLAY & GROW

Active fun for everyone.

At Whitman, your body and mind will get a workout. Student-athletes are a vital part of our campus community and can take advantage of top-notch facilities, varsity and intramural sports, club teams, activity courses and an unrivaled Outdoor Program. We’ll surround you with resources to help you try new things, test your limits and achieve your personal best. Whether you’re planning a sports-related career or you just love to play hard, you’ll build life-changing skills and lifelong friendships in Whitman’s Sports Studies, Recreation & Athletics programs.

3 Reasons to Explore Sports Studies, Recreation & Athletics at Whitman

Great Places to Play

A state-of-the-art fitness center. A 30-meter swimming pool. One of the top collegiate climbing facilities in the nation. Indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Basketball courts. Racquetball and squash courts. A dance studio. Plus, a nearby baseball stadium and golf course. Whitman has it all!

Be Part of a Team

Whitman’s varsity student-athletes compete in both the NCAA (Division III) and NWC (Northwest Conference) in baseball, basketball, cross country, distance track, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Discover Your Passion

Through Whitman’s activity courses, you’ll gain confidence to try new things. From jogging to yoga, fly fishing to snowboarding, you can explore your abilities, connect with others who share your interests, and learn skills you can enjoy for the rest of your life.

Interested in Whitman Athletics?

We’d love to send you information, including more on getting recruited and student life at our beautiful campus in Walla Walla, Washington.

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Erin M. Biology Major and her swim team teammates.

“One of my favorite things about Whitman Athletics is knowing that however my day went, there are always those few hours every day where everything else can fade away—and I know I will be surrounded by people who will support and encourage me no matter what.”

Erin M.,Biology Major (Women’s Swimming)

Prospective Student Athletes

Courses in Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletics

See just a few of the exciting courses you might take.

Beginning Camping Skills

Learn what to bring, how to choose a camping spot, and how to set up camp. Plus, you’ll pick up essential skills like reading maps, tying knots, treating water, building fires, cooking and more. We’ll emphasize how to “leave no trace,” and we’ll put what you’ve learned into practice with a weekend camping trip.

Introduction to Olympic Weightlifting

In this course, we’ll focus on perfecting the two Olympic lifts: the clean and jerk and the snatch. We’ll cover all variations of the two lifts, including hang and power positions, squats, and pulls. Are you ready to put your lifting skills to the test?

Sports, Social Justice & Facilitation

Well-known athletes have often used their platforms to address injustice. But what exactly is the relationship between sports and social justice? And how can we have more productive conversations where they intersect? In this course, we’ll explore historical and current topics in sports as we examine sports movements and team culture through the lens of social justice.

Wilderness First Responder

This nationally recognized course will train you to respond to emergencies in remote settings. You’ll learn about topics like wound management, realigning fractures and dislocations, splinting techniques, and more. Once you successfully complete the practical and written exams, you’ll earn your two-year Wilderness First Responder and Adult Heartsaver CPR certifications.

Climbing Movement & Technique

Want to take your climbing skills to the next level? Work on your footwork, hand and arm techniques through bouldering and roped climbing exercises. We’ll cover advanced movement skills such as crack climbing, off-width technique, knee bars, the drop knee, flagging, monkey hangs and more, along with taping and injury prevention techniques.

River Guide Leadership

In this course, you’ll develop the technical skills, leadership skills and theoretical foundations for leading trips in a dynamic river environment. You’ll learn about trip planning, risk management, hazard awareness and avoidance, legal implications, conflict resolution, river hydrology, rescue skills, and so much more. This course will give you resume-ready skills to lead trips on the water.

Whitman students practicing volleyball in outdoor sand courts.

Amazing Experiences You Can Pursue

Have some serious fun. You don’t have to play varsity sports to enjoy being part of a team. About 70% of Whitman students participate in intramurals like basketball, dodgeball, flag football, soccer, spike ball, tennis, volleyball and even cornhole. And there are club teams for climbing, cycling, skiing, ultimate Frisbee and more.

Build leadership skills. Whitman offers a wide range of outdoor and sports leadership opportunities. You can gain first aid and lifeguard skills, learn to lead outdoor trips, take coaching courses, intern in the varsity athletics program, and even start preparing for a career in sports medicine.

Whitman students on an outdoor expedition.

Outdoor Adventure Awaits

Explore the outdoors. Whitman’s Outdoor Program leads trips most weekends. So you can experience kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snow-shoeing and more firsthand. Our no-barriers approach means we welcome students of all experience levels—and every Whitman student automatically receives funds to spend toward trips and equipment.

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