The University of Texas at Dallas

Human Sexuality
PSY 4346
Summer 2005
Thursdays 6-10 p.m.

Instructor: Joanna Gentsch

Email: jgentsch@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 4-5 p.m. by Appointment
Classroom: Green 4.428
Office: Green 4.108

PSY 4346: Human Sexuality: This course examines human sexuality from biological,
behavioral, social, and historical perspectives. Topics include sexual research, values and
sex, love and intimacy, male and female sexual anatomy and physiology, sexually
transmitted diseases, patterns of sexual response, sexual problems and therapies, the
development of sexuality, sexual orientation, reproductive sexuality and the law, forcible
sexual behavior, and other social issues in sexuality.

Text: Understanding Human Sexuality, Eighth Edition, Hyde and DeLamater

Organization and Grading: This course meets weekly for lectures, discussions, film
presentations and in-class activities. There are weekly reading assignments from the text
as well as several additional readings. There are two exams and an on-going response
portfolio project.

Response Portfolio- Each week there will be 2 to 3 topics assigned. The students are
responsible for choosing one topic and writing a brief 1-2 page response paper. There
will be 11 assigned but it is only necessary to complete 10. Papers will be graded on
critical thinking and written expression. The total portfolio will be worth 30% of the
final grade.

Exam 1- exams are composed of multiple choice and short answer questions.
June 23- 30%

Exam 2-
July 28- 30%

Attendance and Participation-10%

Attendance and participation are important in this class. Lectures will cover material
outside of the text and exams will reflect the content of the classroom lectures. There will
also be several in-class activities in the course of the semester. Make up exams are only
given in the event of an emergency or serious illness. You must make up the exam
within one week of the originally scheduled class.
Classroom Environment:
Topics in this class are often of a mature nature and there will graphic discussions and
sometimes film depictions of issues related to human sexuality. It is important to respect
your fellow classmates. If you have concerns please feel free to discuss them with me.

It is important you stay for the entire class. If you must leave before a class is over or
need to be late, please make arrangements with me prior to the class. Students entering
and leaving in the middle of the class are distracting to the other students and the
instructor. Please turn off cell phones and pagers before coming to class.
 Topics and Reading Assignments
5/19 Class Overview/Sexuality in Perspective Chapters 1, 2
Film: The History of Sex

5/26 Sex Research/Sexual Anatomy Chapters 3, 4

Film: American Experience- Alfred Kinsey

6/2 Sex Hormones and Sexual Chapters 5,9,10

Differentiation/ Physiology of Sexual
Response
Film: Anatomy of Sex

6/9 Sexuality and the Life Cycle Chapters 11,12

Childhood/Adolescence/Adulthood
Film: The Lost Children of Rockdale County

6/16 Menstruation and Menopause Chapters 6,7, 8

Conception, Pregnancy and Childbirth
Contraception and Abortion
Film: The Human Sexes

6/23` Exam 1

6/30 Attraction/Intimacy and Love Chapters 13, 14

Gender Roles
Film: The Unexplained- Sexual Attraction

7/7 Sexual Orientation/Variations in Sexual Behavior Chapters 15, 16,17,18

Sexual Coercion/Sex For Sale
Film: Auto Focus

7/14 Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Sexual Education Chapters 20, 23

Film

7/21 Sexual Disorders and Sex Therapy Chapters 19, 21, 22

Ethics, Religion and Sexuality
Sex and the Law

7/28 Final Exam