Sexuality Studies

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joel Kassiola

Department of Sexuality Studies
HSS 235 / Downtown Campus RM 517
415-405-3570/415-817-4522
Fax: 415-405-0411
Website: http://hmsx.sfsu.edu/
Chair: Rita Melendez

Faculty

Professors—Brogan, DeVries, Diaz, Herdt, Hoff, Jenkins, Mann, Ovrebo, Prinz, Yep

Associate Professors—Carrington, Cohler, Elia, Fields, Hossfeld, Leitao, Levy, Loomis, Melendez, Soh, Sueyoshi

Assistant Professor—Howell

Lecturers—Angelo, Ashcraft, Assali, Auleb, Chen, Eliason, Mackenzie, Mallare, Tully, Vallin, White

Programs

Minor in Human Sexuality Studies
Minor in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Master of Arts in Human Sexuality Studies

Program Scope

Human Sexuality Studies provides students with knowledge about the processes and variations in: sexual functions and reproduction; intimate relationships; sexual and gender role development and behavior; and the social, cultural, historical and moral contexts of sex and love. This interdisciplinary field relies primarily on faculty from the Colleges of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Health and Human Services, Humanities, and Science, who serve as advisers to students wishing information or assistance in making curricular choices. Students can use the Minor in Human Sexuality Studies to complement their majors. The program provides an opportunity to gain basic knowledge; develop an awareness of attitudes; and to acquire skills for counseling, teaching, and conducting research.

The Minor in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies intends to delineate and analyze meanings that have been associated with homosexuality in various artistic, biological, cultural, educational, ethical, historical, and literary contexts; and examine the related issues of mixed-gender and cross-gender roles and practices.

The minor is broadly interdisciplinary. It draws courses from anthropology, biology, cinema, counseling, English, history, human sexuality studies, psychology, social sciences, speech and communication studies, and women studies.

MINOR IN HUMAN SEXUALITY STUDIES

The minor consists of 26 to 28 units of undergraduate study. With proper advising it is possible to use these courses to fulfill some undergraduate major, minor, and General Education requirements. Written declaration of the pursuit of the minor is not necessary prior to enrollment in any of its required or elective courses.

Introduction: Students should try to complete SXS 300 and either BIOL 330 or H ED 320 before taking any further courses in the minor. (These courses may, however, be taken concurrently.)

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

MINOR IN LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER STUDIES

The minor consists of a minimum of 24 units of undergraduate study. It is possible to use these courses to meet requirements in some undergraduate majors, in other minors, and various clusters in the General Education program. Specifically, several courses meet the requirements of the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer cluster in Segment III of the General Education program.

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

MASTER OF ARTS IN HUMAN SEXUALITY STUDIES

Graduate Adviser— J.Fields

Career Options for M.A. Graduates

The career outlook for graduates with specialized knowledge of human sexuality has never been better in our society, due to the changing positive attitudes regarding the role of sexuality in the universities and colleges, high schools, local and national government, research and training, clinical and mental health training, and private sector positions that call for expertise of human reproduction, sexuality, sexual identity and diversity, sexual orientation, gender, and human resources.

The degree is designed to meet the career needs of students including:

• Students who will work in public health settings, especially those related to AIDS education, AIDS/HIV treatment and care centers; e.g., the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California at San Francisco, and welfare centers throughout the Bay Area.
• Preparation for graduate studies professional schools such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, medicine, social work, or communication.
• Reproductive health education, research, training, and prevention facilities and organizations; i.e., Planned Parenthood.
• Sexuality education for students at the regional community colleges and at the local school boards that offer or plan to offer courses and curricula on sexuality, including counseling in the secondary schools.
• Students who are preparing for work in policy or research public policy institutes.
• Service provision and training for service providers in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and others that require sensitivity training related to sexuality across the life course and sexual orientation issues.
• Human resource departments of businesses and corporations, responsible for the provision of sexuality and sexual orientation anti-discrimination and partner benefits areas for employees.
• Research, policy, and education providers who are needed to fill gay and lesbian agencies and community centers in the Bay Area and elsewhere.

Admission to Program

A prospective student must fulfill the general university requirements as stated in the section on Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Admissions of this Bulletin. To be considered for unconditional admission to the M.A. in Human Sexuality Studies, a student must have completed an undergraduate major in an appropriate field under advisement with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. It is expected that applicants will primarily come from behavioral and social sciences (psychology, anthropology, sociology, history), health education (social services professions (social work), business (human resources, management, marketing), humanities (speech and communications, women studies). Students whose undergraduate major did not include human sexuality studies courses should consult the graduate adviser about making up course deficiencies in human sexuality studies.

Applicants must furnish the department the following materials, no later than 15 February for the following fall semester (no spring admissions): a program application with a statement of purpose outlining experience, career objectives, and rationale for studying human sexuality studies at the graduate level; two letters of recommendation; unofficial transcripts of all college course work, indicating a GPA of 3.0 or higher; Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with a minimum score of 4.0 for the "writing assignment" portion of the GRE; TOEFL scores; and a San Francisco State University Application. Applying to the university is a separate process from applying to the department. For detailed information regarding our admissions process please see our website at http://hmsx.sfsu.edu/index.htm

The faculty graduate committee evaluates applications for admission, assesses the overall program, and reviews student progress. If a student is not making reasonable progress towards the degree, the committee may recommend termination of candidacy.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: GRE writing score of 4.0 and above or satisfactorily meeting the writing requirements in SXS 800. Level Two: satisfactory completion of Culminating Experience requirements: SXS 894 Creative project or SXS 895 Research Project in Human Sexuality Studies or SXS 898 Master's Thesis.

Advancement to Candidacy

Besides meeting all general requirements for advancement to candidacy, applicants must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all human sexuality courses taken for the degree, and may not list on the Advancement to Candidacy any course in which the grade received is below B-.

Prerequisite Courses

Completion of the following undergraduate course is also required: BIOL 330, Human Sexuality. Equivalent course work is also acceptable upon petition. Upon admission to the M.A. program, this class must be taken during the first semester in the program.

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.