Coincidentally, Cornell has an almost identical graduation requirement and legend attached to it but apparently the legend proves false. Students aren't required to take a swim class unless they fail the swim test that they usually take during orientation week of their freshman year. The swim test consists of swimming three consecutive lengths of the pool; the first using breaststroke, the second backstroke, the third is whatever you want. I got no less than 10 feet away from finishing my third and final lap when I got winded and had to be helped out of the pool. So embarrassing. But the class definitely helped me improve my form.