Psychology 2075-650 (online)

Human Sexuality

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

1.0    CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

A survey of the psychological study of human sexual behaviour. Topics include history, methodology, theory, anatomy, physiology, attraction, sexual function, sexual orientation, contraception, conception and birth, sexual health and sexual coercion, and pornography.

 

1.0 course


2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Dr. Corey Isaacs                                                       

Office: SSC 7440    

Office Hours: by appointment                                       

Email: cisaacs3@uwo.ca                                                          

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.

 

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.


If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you.  Please visit:  http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.

3.0  TEXTBOOK

Hyde, J. S., DeLamater, J. D., & Byers, E. S. (2015). Understanding Human Sexuality (6th Canadian Edition). Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

 

4.0    COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to be an introduction to the study of human sexuality. The primary focus of the course will be on psychological issues related to sexuality but biological, sociological, and cultural topics will be also included. The course will cover a broad range of topics such as theory and research on sexuality, anatomy, gender, attraction, sexual behaviour and disorders, sexual coercion and assault, and sex in the media. Students taking this course can expect to become more comfortable with and more knowledgeable about a wide range of sexual issues. It is also expected that students will learn to think critically about the scientific study of human sexuality and become more informed consumers of sex research. Please note that this course will involve explicit consideration, readings, imagery, and class discussion of each of these topics, behaviours, and experiences.


   4.1    STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course provides a broad introduction to theories and findings related to the scientific study of human sexual behaviour. By the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:

  • Apply psychological theories and concepts to the study of human sexuality;
  • Distinguish between often conflated constructs such as sexual behaviour, sexual orientation, and gender identity;
  • Identify the contributions of leading scholars and researchers to the understanding of human sexuality;
  • Evaluate psychological, sociological, and biological theories used to explain human sexuality;
  • Integrate conflicting multidisciplinary perspectives concerning the study of human sexuality.

 

5.0     EVALUATION

Evaluation will consist of four multiple-choice examinations, each worth 25% of the final grade. The exams will be in multiple-choice format and will cover material from the online notes and the textbook. The exams are NOT cumulative.


Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:


70%     1000-level and 2000-level courses
72%     2190-2990 level courses
75%     3000-level courses
80%     4000-level courses
   
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf ):

A+  90-100      One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A    80-89        Superior work that is clearly above average
B    70-79        Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C    60-69        Competent work, meeting requirements
D    50-59        Fair work, minimally acceptable
F    below 50    Fail



6.0  TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

Exam 1 (Units 1-3)                                               Saturday, November 4

Exam 2 (Units 4-6)                                               TBA (December 10 – 21)

Exam 3 (Units 7-9)                                               Saturday, March 3

Exam 4 (Units 10-12)                                           TBA (April 14 – 30)


7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

UNIT 1 - Introduction to Human Sexuality

            Chapter 1 – Sexuality in Perspective

UNIT 2 - Theory and Research in Human Sexuality

            Chapter 2 – Theoretical Perspectives on Sexuality

            Chapter 3 – Sex Research

UNIT 3 - Sexual Anatomy and Sex Hormones

            Chapter 4 – Sexual Anatomy

            Chapter 5 – Sex Hormones, Sexual Differentiation, and Menstruation

UNIT 4 - Conception and Contraception

            Chapter 6 – Conception, Pregnancy, and Childbirth

            Chapter 7 – Contraception and Abortion

UNIT 5 - Sexually Transmitted Infections

            Chapter 8 – Sexually Transmitted Infections

UNIT 6 - Sexual Response and Techniques of Arousal

            Chapter 9 – Sexual Response

UNIT 7 - Sexuality and the Life Cycle

            Chapter 10 – Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Childhood and Adolescence

            Chapter 11 – Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Adulthood

UNIT 8 - Attraction, Intimacy, and Love

            Chapter 12 – Attraction, Intimacy, and Love

UNIT 9 - Gender and Sexual Orientation

            Chapter 13 – Gender and Sexuality

            Chapter 14 – Sexual Orientation: Gay, Lesbian, Bi, or Straight?

UNIT 10 - Sexual Variations & Sexual Disorders

            Chapter 15 – Variations in Sexual Behaviour

            Chapter 18 – Sexual Disorders and Sex Therapy

UNIT 11 - Sexual Coercion & Sex for Sale

            Chapter 16 – Sexual Coercion

            Chapter 17 – Sex for Sale

UNIT 12 - Sexuality Education

            Chapter 19 – Sexuality Education


8.0     STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link:  http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com

Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.



9.0    POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2017/pg954.html 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html


10.0        OTHER INFORMATION

Office of the Registrar web site:  http://registrar.uwo.ca

Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:

    http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html

- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2017 Calendar References

No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.