Overview

This unit introduces students to a variety of biological, psychological, and psychosocial dimensions of human sexuality. Students will design a program evaluation of, or information tool in, the sexuality domain and develop an understanding of how biological, psychological, and psychosocial factors can influence sexual behaviour.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically examine research methodologies in the context of ethical, valid and reliable research into human sexuality
  • Explain the biological dimensions that impact on sexuality
  • Compare and contrast the physical and psychological aspects of sexual health and dysfunctions
  • Describe sexual development over the lifecycle and explain the reasons for changes
  • Discuss some of the social issues surrounding sexuality and analyse these issues in regards to the physical and psychological factors underpinning sexuality

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Activities
Various		2.17 12 weeks 26
Unspecified Activities
Various		7.33 12 weeks 88
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4,5 
AssignmentIndividual 35% 1,2,3,4,5 
PresentationGroup 25% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • Perspectives on Human Sexuality: What is sexuality? Introduction to the major theoretical perspectives in the sexuality domain; Gender roles
  • Research into Human Sexuality: Methodology, ethics, and problems
  • The Biological Basis of Sexuality: Female sexuality and physiology; Male sexuality and physiology
  • Sexual Health: Sexual dysfunction and sexual therapy; Sexually Transmissible Infections
  • Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Contraception and conception; Childhood and adolescence; Adult years; Sexuality and aging
  • Social Psychological Context of Sexuality: Sexual orientation: Atypical sexual behaviour; Commercialisation; Sexual coercion
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 3 (Teamwork 1 - Collaboration and negotiation)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.