About the PhD in Human Sexuality

Clinical Practice Concentration

The Clinical Practice concentration prepares licensed clinicians already in practice to widen their lens. The curriculum enables you to deepen and broaden your knowledge of sexuality theory, research, and best practices in the field. The course offerings present culturally competent, scientific research, including sexual minorities and women's sexual and reproductive issues. This concentration is open to applicants who have completed a master's program in a clinical field (MFT, LPCC, or LCSW) and are licensed or are license-eligible.

The concentration includes a clinical methodology course, and a supervised two-semester proseminar to provide supervision and case mentoring. Cases come from the students' own practice.

Sexuality Policy Leadership Concentration

The Sexuality Policy Leadership concentration allows for specialization and training in two core areas:

• LGBT sexuality, health, and rights
; or
• Women's sexual and reproductive health, rights, and policy formation

This concentration provides the next generation of culturally competent thought-leaders and sexuality policy leaders with critical knowledge, skills, methodology, and reflection in making policy and interventions.

Sexuality Policy Leadership candidates take comprehensive seminars on knowledge and methods related to policy. Students then begin a two-semester, supervised internship at a major institution. Policy internships can be at centers for the LGBT community or women's sexual and reproductive health, national or global human rights organizations, providers in the area of sexual health and social services, or other organizations that focus on sexual justice or reproductive issues.

Applicants must have a master's degree.

 

Formation of the National Advisory Committee for the PhD Program in Human Sexuality at CIIS

To enrich and extend the professional opportunities for students and community alike, we are forming a National Advisory Committee that includes 15 outstanding professionals in the area of human sexuality, clinical practice, and policy leadership.

Dr. Pepper Schwartz, an internationally prominent sexuality studies research scholar, Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington, and advocate on behalf of AARP, will chair the advisory committee for the first three years (2013-2015). The Advisory Committee will have two "working groups," one focused on clinical practice and the other on policy. The Advisory Committee will extend and enrich faculty expertise in this complex interdisciplinary field, mentor students when they undertake their clinical praxis and/or policy traineeships, and be available to consult on doctoral dissertation design, sampling, and networking.  The Advisory Committee will convene regularly in the context of an annual research conference, described below, with quarterly check-in conference calls.