Master of Arts - Human Sexuality Studies

Program Description

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 advisors to students wanting information or assistance in making curricular choices.

The career outlook for graduates with specialized knowledge of human sexuality has never been better in 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 Master of Arts in Human Sexuality Studies program is designed to meet the following career needs:

• Preparation for Ph.D. studies and professional schools in the fields of 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.
• 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 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.