Main Content
Syllabus
PSYCH 422: Human Sexuality
Psychological influences on human sexual behavior such as love, sexual orientation, gender, intercourse, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, dysfunctions, and paraphilias.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements and Help | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Student Success and Support Resources | Additional Policies
Overview
Welcome to Human Sexuality! In this course, we will take a broad overview of the field of human sexuality, and explore the science behind the findings! Human Sexuality is an academic subject, albeit one that everyone can relate to, and the topics that we will cover this semester are likely to be important in your daily lives and relationships.
We will focus on the “science of sex” by examining the subject via “evidence-based inquiry”. In other words, we will approach the subject with a nondogmatic style and an open mind, and seek to understand ideas and theories that are supported by data and have been tested or are testable.
Over the next several weeks, we will look at research findings in many different areas of human sexuality. Some of the topics we will cover include: sexual selection theory, male and female anatomy with a focus on external genitalia and internal reproductive tracts, sex hormones and the menstrual cycle, sexual differentiation and development, sexual relationships, sexual behavior, attraction and arousal, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, sexuality across the lifespan, fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth, contraception and abortion, atypical sexuality, sexual disorders, sexually transmitted infections, sexual assault, harassment, and partner violence, prostitution, and pornography. Because sex makes some people uncomfortable, and because we’ll be discussing some very controversial issues, it is important that everyone is civil toward others and tolerant of other viewpoints. We will, of course, be learning about matters that many consider intimate and personal.
This course will use a combination of methods to assess knowledge and comprehension. We will have discussions, quizzes, exams, and writing assignments.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Recognize and recall major terms and concepts in Human Sexuality.
- Describe and explain major methods and theories commonly used in this field.
- Compare and contrast alternative theories or approaches in terms of their underlying processes and predictions.
- Evaluate major studies in terms of their methods, results, conclusions & implications.
- Apply theories or findings to real world situations.
- Generate and explain examples that demonstrate or test theories or concepts.
- Analyze and synthesize concepts and theories across topics, readings, and discussions.
- Communicate ideas in writing in a clear, coherent, and logical style.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Requirements and Help
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
| Help | If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
Course Requirements and Grading
Assignments
Assignments will be a combination of quizzes, essays, class discussions, and exams.
Quizzes
There are a total of 6 quizzes worth 30 points each (for a total of 180 points). You will have one attempt to complete the quiz, so before opening it, ensure you have a reliable Internet connection and 60 minutes of uninterrupted time. You must complete the quiz once you begin (the timer does not stop if you leave the quiz). You may save the quiz as you progress so that you do not accidentally lose your work. The quiz is open book/notes, but there will not be sufficient time to look up all of the answers, so please be prepared by having read and reviewed the readings. All of the quizzes have a hand-graded component, so I should have those graded and back to you by Wednesday of the following week. Once all parts of the quiz have been graded, you will be able to review them until the end of that week (Sunday night, EST). After that, quizzes will no longer be viewable.
Essays
There are a total of 6 essays worth 10 points each (for a total of 60 points). The writing assignments in this course are short essays. You should follow the directions of the lesson carefully and make sure you are answering the questions being posed in the assignment. Although these are not formal APA essays, you should use APA citations if you use additional sources to help answer the question. I typically have to remind people that they must cite anything that isn’t coming out of their own thoughts – if you present facts and do not properly cite the source, you are implying that these are your thoughts rather than someone else’s.
The best essays are the ones that are well-written (grammatically correct) and that answer the question thoroughly and concisely. It is also a good idea to bring in additional sources to underscore the points that you are making in your essay. You may organize your essay in any manner that you would like, but you must make sure that you have made all the points that are required according to the assignment question. Detailed feedback will be given on essays, so please allow up to a week for me to post essay grades and comments.
Discussions
During the course of this semester, you will participate in a number of discussion forums. There are a total of 4 discussions worth 5 points each (for a total of 20 points). I want to provide some guidelines for your participation. In order to get full credit on any of the discussions you must adhere to the following instructions:
- You must make at least two posts per discussion. This is the minimum requirement. You are welcome and encouraged to post more than twice.
- In order to give your classmates time to respond and for a discussion to ensue, your postings should be evenly distributed during the discussion period (not concentrated all on one day or at the beginning and/or end of the period). Your first post is due by 11:59pm the fourth day of the lesson (Thursday if the lesson started on a Monday, Saturday if the lesson started on a Wednesday) so that your classmates have time to read and respond in a thoughtful conversation. The remaining posts are due by 11:59pm on the last day of the lesson for that week.
- Avoid postings that are limited to “I agree” or “great idea”, etc. If you agree (or disagree) with a posting, then say why by supporting your statement with concepts from the readings or by bringing in a related example or experience.
- Try to use quotes from the readings that support your opinion. Include page numbers when you do that.
- Build on others’ responses to create threads.
- Bring in related prior knowledge (work experience, prior coursework, readings, etc.)
- Address the questions as much as possible – try to avoid letting the conversation stray.
- Cite appropriately.
Exams
There are a total of 3 non-cumulative, multiple-choice exams worth 100 points each (for a total of 300 points). Each exam will have 50 multiple-choice items worth 2 points each for a total of 100 points. Exam 1 will only cover material from the start of the semester through Lesson 4 (i.e., Lessons 1 through 4) as well as all the textbook readings associated with each of those lessons. Exam 2 will only cover material from Lessons 5 through 9, as well as all the textbook readings associated with each of those lessons. Exam 3 will only cover material from Lessons 10 through 15, as well as all the textbook readings associated with each of those lessons.
Late Work
This is a semester-based course with deadlines. Students are expected to complete work by posted deadlines. Please check the course schedule for the times and dates that assignments are due in this course (times are listed in North American Eastern Time). Please contact your instructor to discuss legitimate and unavoidable situations that may cause lateness (such as illness, injury, or family emergency). If you know that you are going to miss a deadline, please contact your instructor before the deadline, as soon as you are able). Decisions regarding extensions will be made at the discretion of the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
Grading
To calculate your grade at any point in the semester, add the total points you have earned and divide by the total points available at that point. Your final grade at the end of the semester will be determined by dividing total points earned by 530. Assignments points are distributed as follows:
| Activity | Quantity | Points | Percent of Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 6 | 180 | 32.1% |
| Essays | 6 | 60 | 10.7% |
| Discussions | 4 | 20 | 3.6% |
| Exams | 3 | 300 | 53.6% |
| Total | 19 | 560 | 100% |
| Percentage of Total Points | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 93-100% | A |
| 90-92.9% | A- |
| 86-89.9% | B+ |
| 83-85.9% | B |
| 80-82.9% | B- |
| 76-79.9% | C+ |
| 70-75.9% | C |
| 60-69.9% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Lesson 1: Introduction to Human Sexualities
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Lesson 2: Women’s and Men’s Bodies
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Lesson 3: Sexual Differentiation and Development
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Lesson 4: Sexual Relationships
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Lesson 5: Gender and Transgender
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Lesson 6: Sexual Orientation
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Lesson 7: Attraction and Arousal; Sexual Behavior
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Lesson 8: Fertility, Pregnancy, and Childbirth
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Lesson 9: Contraception and Abortion
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Lesson 10: Sexuality Across the Lifespan
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Lesson 11: Atypical Sexuality
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Lesson 12: Sexual Disorders
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Lesson 13: Sexually Transmitted Infections
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Lesson 14: Sexual Assault, Harassment, and Partner Violence
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Lesson 15: Prostitution and Pornography
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Student Success and Support Resources
- Finances—tuition, scholarships, and financial aid
- Inclusion and Wellness—diversity and inclusion, mental health services, disability accommodations, care and advocacy
- Enrollment and Registration—course planning, adding and dropping courses, and much more
- Course Work and Success—academic advising, tutoring, and other services
- Involvement and Opportunities—career resources, student organizations, internships, service, study abroad, and more
Following are some key resources.
Student Disability Services
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Military Student Information
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Additional Course Policies
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Values.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.