Okay, so I literally just last week passed my oral comprehensive exam for my masters program. I need a breather. I am exhausted from school and I need a change of pace.
But.
I think I really do want to apply for a PhD program in Human Sexuality. But the only accredited program in the US is at Widener in Chester, PA (they have two tracks- education and clinical; I would do the education track). So far away from friends and family!! But just looking at the classes and focus areas and faculty and dissertation titles makes me so incredibly invigorated and excited! I definitely need to talk more with staff there and get more information. It is so clear to me that I would totally enjoy that kind of program.
Just look at the sample curriculum! Gah, I want to do it.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to study what makes an individual satisfied with nonmonogamous relationships? Or what makes for a “successful” (definition TBD) nonmonogamous relationship? Or why there seems to be many more (out) bi women than bi men? Or what an educational intervention on relationship diversity does for college aged people in their own relationships? Or how relationship differ among those primarily in the kink versus open or poly communities? Or how motivations for nonmonogamous relationships differ among those in the open or poly community? Or documenting the infinite variety and difference among the negotiations, histories, and stories among those in nonmonogamous relationships??
Here are other graduate programs with emphases in human sexuality for anyone else totally taken with this idea (haha!); I think the Institute for Advanced Study in Human Sexuality in San Francisco may also be something I can look into; I also love the Kinsey Institute:
Graduate Programs
1Program reflecting training primarily as a researcher
2Program reflecting a practitioner model/clinical skills
³Program reflecting general sexology
American Academy of Clinical Sexologists2
Maimonides University – 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.
Columbia University – Mailman School of Public Health1
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 Counseling2
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 Institute1
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 Sexuality3
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 Sexuality1
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.
University of Connecticut – Center for HIV Intervention & Prevention – Psychology Department1
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 Nutrition1, 2
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 Biology1, 2
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 Science1, 2
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 Psychology1, 2
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Ph.D. – psychology
Prepares students for clinical or experimental psychology involving human sexuality.
University of Quebec – Department of Sexology2
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 Psychology1,2
Salt Lake City, UT
Ph.D. – clinical psychology
Ph.D. – clinical psychology
Emphasizes human sexuality in research and clinical work.
University of Wisconsin – Departments of Psychology & Sociology1
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 Program2
Wayne, PA
M.Ed., Ed.D., PhD – 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.