Sexuality Studies
College of Health and Social Sciences
Dean: Don Taylor
Department of Sociology
Chair: Edward McCaughan
Sexuality Studies Program
HSS 377
Phone: 415-405-3570
Fax: 415-405-0411
Website: https://sxs.sfsu.edu/
Faculty
Professors: Herdt, Hoff
Associate Professors: Carrington, Fields, Melendez, Sueyoshi
Assistant Professor: Frost
Associated Faculty: Belkin, Clay, Cohler, Elia, DeVries, Hossfeld, Jenkins, LeBlanc, Martel, Mamo, Mann, Martinez, Moffatt, Sears, Tate, Yep
Lecturers: Angelo, Brown, Chen, Fischer, Gomez, Keegan, Mackenzie, Stevens, Tully, Vallin
Programs
Minor in Human Sexuality Studies
Minor in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Master of Arts in Human Sexuality Studies
Program Scope
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 Health and Social Sciences, Liberal & Creative Arts, and Science and Engineering, 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 program 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 to examine the related issues of mixed-gender and cross-gender roles and practices. The minor is broadly interdisciplinary. It draws from courses in anthropology, biology, cinema, counseling, English, history, human sexuality studies, psychology, social sciences, communication studies, and women and gender studies.
Minor in Human Sexuality Studies
Undergraduate Adviser: R. Melendez
The Minor in Human Sexuality Studies 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.)
On-line course descriptions are available.
Introductory Courses
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SXS 300 | Introduction to Human Sexuality | 3 |
| BIOL 330 or H ED 320 |
Human Sexuality Contemporary Sexuality |
3 |
Core Courses
Students are required to complete requirements in each of the three areas listed below.
Psychological Aspects (3 - 4 units)
One course from the following
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| SXS 436/ PSY 436 |
The Development of Femaleness and Maleness (4) |
| SXS 456/ PSY 456 |
The Psychology of Human Sexual Behavior |
Socio-Cultural Aspects (6 - 7 units)
Two courses from the following from two different disciplines
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| SXS 567/ ANTH 569 |
Cross-Cultural Aspects of Sex and Gender |
| SOC 468 | Social Aspects of Human Sexuality (4) |
| SOC 469 | Gender and Society (4) |
| CFS 325 | Transitions in the Family Life Cycle |
| SXS 301 | Perspectives in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies |
| SXS 400/ SOC 400/ PSY 450 |
Variations in Human Sexuality |
Humanistic Aspects (3 units)
One course from the following
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| SXS 369/ PHIL 369 |
Philosophical Issues in Sexuality |
| SXS 500/ H ED 500 |
Values Clarification in Sexuality |
| HIST 313 | History of Love and Sexuality |
Colloquium
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| SXS 680 | Colloquium in Human Sexuality |
Elective Courses (6 units)
Electives on advisement selected from the listings below (may include courses from above not used to satisfy basic requirements)
Total Minimum Courses: 27 - 29 units
Elective courses
Biological Sciences
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| CFS 323 | Infant/Toddler Development |
| BIOL 621 | Reproductive Physiology |
| H ED 414 | Women’s Health—Problems and Issues |
Behavioral and Social Sciences
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| ANTH 310 | Family, Kin, and Community |
| ANTH 590/ CST 590/ WGS 595 |
Anthropology of Women |
| CFS 320 | Children and Families |
| CFS 321 | Adolescents and Families |
| CFS 426 | Family Crises |
| SXS 320/ PSY 320 |
Sex in Relationships |
| SXS 402 | Advanced Topics in Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Studies |
| SXS 455/ S S 455 |
Sex, Power, and Politics |
| SXS 569/ PHIL 455 |
Sex and the Law |
| SOC 464 | Families and Society (4) |
Humanities and Creative Arts
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| COMM 503 | Gender and Communication (4) |
| SXS 469 | Sex and Morality |
| WGS 552 | Transgender Identities and Communities |
| WGS 611 | Theories of Female Sexuality |
Counseling Research Education and Field Experience
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| COUN 605/ COUN 606 |
Interviewing Skills Practicum/Interviewing Skills (5/6) |
| SXS 550 | Fieldwork in Human Sexuality Studies (1-3) |
| S W 352 | Gender, Sexism, and Social Welfare |
Minor in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
The Minor in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies consists of a minimum of 21 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.
On-line course descriptions are available.
Required Courses
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SXS 301 | Perspectives in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | 3 |
| SXS 314 | Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual History | 3 |
One course from the following (3 - 4 units)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| SXS 421/ S S 421 |
Homophobia and Coming Out |
| COMM 525 | Sexual Identity and Communication (4) |
| WGS 552 | Transgender Identities and Communities |
One course from the following (3 - 5 units)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 633 | Gay Love in Literature (4) |
| WGS 551 | Queer Perspectives in Literature and Media |
(3 units)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| PSY 320/ SXS 320 |
Sex and Relationships |
Elective units from the following (9 - 10 units)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL 330 | Human Sexuality |
| ENG 580 | Individual Authors [selected topics on advisement] |
| SXS 400/ SOC 400/ PSY 450 |
Variations in Human Sexuality |
| SXS 405/ ART 403 |
Queer Art History |
| SXS 436/ PSY 436 |
The Development of Maleness and Femaleness (4) |
| SXS 550 | Field Service in Human Sexuality Studies (1-3) |
| SXS 567/ ANTH 569 |
Cross-Cultural Aspects of Sex and Gender |
Total for Minor: 24 - 28 units
Master of Arts in Human Sexuality Studies
Graduate Adviser: C. Carrington
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 M.A. in Human Sexuality Studies is designed to meet the following career needs:
- Preparation for Ph.D. studies and professional schools in the field of psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, medicine, social work, or communication.
- Preparation for graduate studies professional schools such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, medicine, social work, or communication.
- Work in public health settings, such as 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 and professional schools, in 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.
- Preparation for work in policy or research public policy institutes located at Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley.
- 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 graduate program in human sexuality studies, an applicant 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 analytical writing portion of the GRE; TOEFL scores; and an SF State 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 https://sxs.sfsu.edu/
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 the 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 ATC form 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 master’s 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.
Core Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SXS 701 or SXS 702 |
Sexual Cultures, Sexual Identities Sexuality in Historical Perspective |
3 |
| SXS 800 | Sociocultural Foundations of Human Sexuality | 3 |
| SXS 801 | Biological and Psychological Foundations of Human Sexuality | 3 |
| SXS 890 | Professional Development | 3 |
Research Methodology
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SXS 881 | Research Methods in Human Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| SXS 882 | Research Design in Human Sexuality Studies | 3 |
Upon advisement, a student may select from the following courses in lieu of either SXS 881 or SXS 882:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| ANTH 710 | Proseminar in Anthropological Theory and Method |
| COMM 872 | Field Research Strategies (4) |
| GRN 760 | Research Methods in Gerontology |
| HIST 700 | History as a Field of Knowledge |
| ISED 797 | Seminar in Educational Research |
| PSY 742 | Seminar in Survey Research |
| PSY 770 | Research Methods and Techniques |
| PSY 837 | Research Methods in Developmental Psychology |
Electives (9 units)
Units selected from upper division/graduate courses upon advisement
Culminating Experience
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SXS 894 or SXS 895 or SXS 898 |
Creative Project Research Project in Human Sexuality Studies Master’s Thesis and Oral Defense of Thesis |
3 |
Minimum Total for Degree: 30 units
