Human Sexuality Studies Undergraduate Certificate : University of Dayton, Ohio

The University of Dayton’s mission statement clearly states that we are committed to “educating the whole person and linking learning and scholarship with leadership and service”. By creating a Human Sexuality Studies Certificate that blends course work with leadership opportunity, participants have the opportunity to apply course knowledge in productive ways. Human sexuality influences human experience at all levels, including intrapersonally, interpersonally, and culturally. Its reflection in social norms, attitudes and beliefs, public and private policies and practices, religious values, and the media present daily opportunities to critically reflect on one’s own identities, behaviors, and opinions. This formalized certificate program allows students the opportunity to think critically about these issues, and analyze how messages and social norms about sexuality influence their lives daily.

This Certificate is co-sponsored by the Department of Psychology, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Department of English, Department of Philosophy, and the Dean of Students Office.

To declare this Certificate, or if you have any questions, contact Kristen Keen, Assistant Dean of Students and Certificate Coordinator, at kkeen1@udayton.edu.

If you have completed all co-curricular requirements for this Certificate, please complete this form.

Completion of the Human Sexuality Studies Certificate requires both course credit and co-curricular leadership experiences.

Class Credit: Students will be required to take three academic courses, totaling 9 credit hours. Completion of any listed pre-requisites is necessary before registering for these courses.

Students must successfully pass (with a D or higher) two of the following three courses:

This course will cover various philosophical issues in sexual ethics, including the following: the proper meaning and role of sex within human life; the existence and content of any “natural law(s)” governing sexual activity; the relations between sex, love, and marriage; the meaning and value of sexual freedom; the moral status of homosexuality and same-sex marriage; the meaning and importance of sexual consent; sexual objectification; and the commodification of sex and (mostly) women’s bodies in prostitution and pornography. Special attention will be devoted both to Catholic perspectives and to contemporary feminist perspectives on sexual ethics.

Psychological factors in human sexuality including developmental, biological, and social perspectives. Such topics as sexual orientation, gender identity and roles, sexual relationships, sexual dysfunction, power and violence, and commercialization.

Examination of theoretical and conceptual issues, empirical research and social policies germane to the sociological study of human sexuality. Topics include: sexual identity and orientation; sexuality throughout the life-course; sexual assault and coercive sexuality; social control of sexuality; social locations (race, class, and gender) and sexuality; and the relationship between sexuality and the socio-political process. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or higher.

Students must successfully pass (with a D or higher) one of the following three courses:

Study of special topics or themes in literature. May be repeated as topics change. Prerequisite(s): ENG 100 or ENG 100B or ENG 200H or ASI 110 equivalent.

Upper level survey course which traces the history and trajectory of GLBTQ experiences over time and space. Prerequisite(s): HST 103 or ASI 110 or equivalent.

The course focuses on patterns of family formation and contemporary trends in family life. Topics covered include gender, sexuality, dating, mate selection, singlehood, marriage, reproduction, work and families, divorce, remarriage, and families in later life. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or higher.

Study of theological anthropology (what it means to be human in relation to God) with historical and gender studies questions about gender, sexuality, and marriage. Topics include: scriptural and historical examinations of gender; what it means to be made in the image of God; sexuality, including LGBT+ and celibacy; states of singleness and vowed religious life; and historical/theological accounts of Christian marriage. prerequisites: REL 103, ASI 110, or equivalent.

Co-curricular Experiences: Students must participate in three of the following opportunities. Each activity must meet a minimum of 15 hours.

Dating, relationships and hooking up — it’s complicated in college. This course draws from various readings — both medieval literature and contemporary research — to facilitate classroom dialogue on the romance culture at UD. Students will be challenged to go on a date and reflect on their personal experience.

In this course, you will reflect on your past and current experiences, including on this campus, using this reflection as a base for developing your own sense of what you value and hope for in your romantic and sexual relationships. At the end of the five sessions, you will have thought and written about many aspects of your relationship life, shared some of your thoughts with the group participants, and reflected further on your own. This is an ethics course – on that we hope will stay with you in a special way as you grow, and live, and love.

Green Dot Training is a bystander intervention training that focuses on the power we each have to end stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault in our community. To fulfill this experiential learning opportunity, students will participate in Green Dot Training, and then partner with the Green Dot Team to create a project to further Green Dot’s mission on campus.

Students can apply to live in a Special Interest House through Housing and Residence Life. If the house theme is in some way related to sexuality (gender, healthy relationships, power based personal violence prevention, LGBTQ+ identities, etc), participation will qualify. House topics will be approved by the Certificate Program Coordinator. Visit https://www.udayton.edu/studev/housing/AVIATE/specialinteresthousing/index.php for more information.

PAVE is a peer education group fighting power based personal violence through education. PAVEs run Red Zone presentations, Escalation Workshops, and campus wide programs such as Take Back the Night. The application and interview process is in the Fall, and participation requires a full year commitment. PAVEs are automatically registered for EXP 101, the internship course offered through Career Services. Visit go.udayton.edu/pave for more information.

To fulfill this experiential learning option, participate in an internship with an office such as, but not limited to: Sexual Violence Prevention Education, LGBTQ+ Support Services, the Women’s Center, Campus Ministry. Internship topic is flexible and can be of the student’s choosing, but must be related to human sexuality. Other offices not listed here that are able to provide this type of internship opportunity must be approved by the Certificate Program Coordinator.

Ally Training is an opportunity to learn more about how to more effectively ally with and support all members of the LGBTQ+ community. To fulfill this experiential learning opportunity, attend Ally Training and work closely with the Coordinator of LGBTQ+ Support Services to create a project to further Ally Training’s mission on campus.

Q*mmunity Leaders are student leaders on campus advocating for a safe and welcoming community for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Q*mmunity Leaders design, publicize, and implement educational programming on LGBTQ+ topics for an audience of their peers. For more information for how to get involved, visit go.udayton.edu/lgbtq.

Other experiences, as approved by the Certificate Coordinator We recognize that new and exciting learning opportunities may develop for students. If a student is engaged in an experience that they believe should qualify for this requirement, but is not listed here, they can petition the request to the Certificate Coordinator for approval.

Human Sexuality Studies Undergraduate Certificate