Studying Sex

Looking for further your academic studies in human sexuality?  Explore these fine programs! If we missed any, send a note to Bill@SexEdStore.com and we'll update and repost!

GRADUATE and UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS                       

American Academy of Clinical Sexologists

North Miami, FL

Ph.D. – pastoral clinical sexology

Prepares students for sex therapy certification in Florida (a requirement in FL if wanting to practice in this state).  Emphasizes the importance of religion in providing therapy.

California State University – Human Sexuality Program - Center for Sex Research

Northridge, CA

Undergraduate minor in human sexuality

Involves cross-discipline studies. A practicum and fieldwork are required, adding experience to knowledge. Houses unique library containing resources from different departments and topics on human sexuality.

Columbia University – Mailman School of Public Health

New York, NY

M.P.H. – sexuality and health

Equips students with skills needed to address health issues, e.g., reproductive health, and child and adolescent health, related to sexuality through interdepartmental studies.  (Note: Students applying for the program are expected to have worked for 2 years in the field of public health, which can include undergraduate volunteer/practicum experiences).

Hofstra University – Interdisciplinary Studies/Marriage & Family Counseling

New York, NY

M.A. – interdisciplinary studies/marriage & family counseling (plus family counseling certification)

Provides skills needed for marriage/family counseling and introduces students to sexuality education, counseling and research.

Indiana University – Kinsey Institute

Bloomington, IN

Ph.D. minor - human sexuality; majors include counseling, education, health behavior, psychology, and sociology

Offers research programs investigating a variety of sex topics and a summer institute for students who are not involved with the university.  Houses one of the largest library holdings on human sexuality, as well as a sexuality art museum.  Hosts seminars on sexuality and holds special events.

Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality

San Francisco, CA

M.A., MPH, Ed. D., Ph.D., DHS (Doctor of Human Sexuality), plus certification options – human sexuality

Seeks to train sexologists.  Offers long-distance learning.  Certificate programs are unique to the Institute, e.g., erotology.  Also, the Master’s program allows students to travel to Paris or China for a cultural perspective on public health. 

San Francisco State University Program in Human Sexuality

San Francisco, CA

M.A. – human sexuality.

Provides foundation for sex counseling, teaching and research.  Specializes in gay, lesbian, and bisexual studies.  Houses the Institute on Sexuality, Social Inequality, and Health, the National Sexuality Resource Center, and the Center for Research on Gender and Sexuality, plus has a summer institute. Also has undergraduate minors in human sexuality and LGBT studies.

University of Connecticut – Center for HIV Intervention & Prevention – Psychology Department

Storrs, CT

M.A., Ph.D. – social psychology with a specialization in HIV prevention

Conducts HIV risk dynamics and prevention research.

University of Guelph – Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

M.Sc. – couple and family therapy; Ph.D. – family relations and human development

Emphasizes child/adolescent development, social/personality development, parent-child relations, social gerontology, human sexuality, and marriage/family therapy.

University of Hawaii – Human Sexuality Program – Department of Social Work; Pacific  Center for Sex and Society - Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology

Honolulu, HI

M.A., Ph.D. - specializes in human sexuality counseling

Houses the Pacific Center for Sex and Society, which provides research opportunities.

University of Minnesota – Department of Family Social Science

St. Paul, MN

M.A., Ph.D. - family social science; M.F.T. certification for clinical track

Specializes in marriage/family and sex therapy.

University of New Brunswick – Department of Psychology

Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

Ph.D. – psychology

Prepares students for clinical or experimental psychology involving human sexuality.

University of Quebec – Department of Sexology

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

B.A., M.A. – sexology

Focuses on sex education.  Master’s level encompasses sex therapy and research, plus more advanced sex education.

University of Utah – Department of Psychology

Salt Lake City, UT

Ph.D. – clinical psychology

Emphasizes human sexuality in research and clinical work.

University of Wisconsin – Departments of Psychology & Sociology

Madison, WI

Ph.D. – psychology or sociology

Focuses on human sexuality, especially sex research.  Is part of a consortium where a student may study at University of Chicago, University of Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Widener University – Human Sexuality Program

Wayne, PA

M.Ed., Ed.D. – human sexuality education/clinical sexuality

Prepares professionals for sex education, consulting, research, and counseling. Also offers joint degree programs with Social work or Clinical Psychology. Program is both distance and work friendly in that human sexuality courses are offered on weekends. One semester course is generally two weekends. Also provides opportunity to study abroad.

INTERNSHIPS and POST-DOCTORAL PROGRAMS                    

University of California – Center for AIDS Prevention Studies

San Francisco, CA

Grants traineeships in AIDS Prevention Studies.

University of Minnesota – Department of Family Practice and Community Health

Minneapolis, MN

Fellowships in human sexuality, dysfunction and disease prevention for post-doctorates in clinical psychology.

Conducts sexuality research, provides sex education, offers clinical services for sexual and relationship problems, and promotes community sexual health via community health initiatives.  Houses the Center for Sexual Health and the Center for HIV/STI Intervention and  Prevention Studies.

CONTINUING/PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS               

AASECT

Washington, DC

Offers an annual sexuality conference with keynotes, plenaries, workshops, etc. focusing on various aspects of sexuality for educators, counselors, and therapists.

The Center for Family Life Education

Morristown, NJ

Offers an annual National Sex Ed Conference with keynotes, plenaries, workshops, etc. focusing exclusively on sexuality education.

www.SexEdConference.com

The Masters and Johnson Institute

St. Louis, MO

Does not have an academic program, but provides training programs involving workshops and, through special arrangements, practicum in residence that focus on recovery from sexual trauma.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Piscataway, NJ

Post-graduate training in relationship and sex therapy

Offers a week-long sexuality course (40 hours) that’s not offered by any other program (counts as graduate credit if individual writes a paper).

Rutgers University – Post-Graduate Training Program in Sex Therapy – Department of Psychiatry/Medical School

Piscataway, NJ

Hosts a 10-month course, which meets for two hours on a weekly basis.  Covers both assessment and treatment of all sexual dysfunctions. The second semester of the course offers supervision of participants’ cases.

The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

Allentown, PA

Offers an annual conference with keynotes, plenaries, workshops, etc. focusing primarily on the research lens of sexuality.

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT

Graduate course in Human Sexuality, including a 15 hour SAR.

University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program

Ann Arbor, MI

15-month certificate program utilizes AASECT-recommended standards of learning, including six courses (90 hours) in sexuality education, SAR, and additional hours of training specific to certification credentials in sexuality educator, sexuality counselor, and sex therapist.

Editor's Note:

This list is updated from a list of programs originally reported in the AASECT professional newsletter Contemporary Sexuality. Thanks so much to Julian Collins, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, for providing updates.