PSYC120 Human Sexuality
Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Psychology
- I. Course Number and Title
- PSYC120 Human Sexuality
- II. Number of Credits
- 3 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 2250
- IV. Prerequisites
- None
- Corequisites
- None
- V. Other Pertinent Information
- None
- VI. Catalog Course Description
- This course seeks to foster healthy attitudes toward sexuality by providing knowledge and having discussions about the formation of sexual attitudes and myths, the physiology of human sexual systems, psychological aspects of sex roles, love and human sexuality, sexual minorities, and the legal aspects of sexuality.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
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Course Learning Goals
Students will:- describe the scientific method as it is applied to research on human sexual behavior;
- identify the historical development of sexual practice, attitudes, and laws in various cultures;
- describe the male and female sexual anatomy and physiology, sexual development across the lifespan, and sexual behavior patterns;
- explain human relationships including sex roles, stages of love, intimacy, effective sexual communication, and distinguish between healthy and unhealthy/abusive relationships;
- recognize personal and societal attitudes/prejudices about human sexuality and alternative lifestyles (homosexuality/bisexuality), and discuss ways of taking personal responsibility for their own sexual behavior and attitudes; and
- examine psychological issues related to sexual behavior such as shared responsibility of contraception, pregnancy, infertility, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual dysfunction, paraphilias, and the commercialization of sex
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Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
The following topics are presented:- sex research, methods, and problems
- history of sexual practices and attitudes in western society and other cultures
- female and male sexual anatomy and physiology
- love and the development of sexual relationships
- sexual behavior patterns
- communication in sexual behavior
- the continuum of sexual behavior: heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality
- contraception, fertilization, and infertility problems
- sexuality during childhood, adolescence, the adult years, and the older years
- nature and origin of sexual difficulties and sex therapy
- sexually transmitted diseases
- sexual victimization
- commercialization of sex
- paraphilias
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Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
Exams, quizzes, classroom exercises, class or online participation, and/or projects as specified in the individual instructors' course syllabus are utilized. -
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
Students use educational resources as specified in the individual instructor's syllabus.
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Review/Approval Date - 11/98;Revised 4/2010; Core added, 7/2010; New Core 8/2015