Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Sexuality plays a very important role in human life, and is commonly a problem about which people consult counsellors and psychologists. The purpose of this unit is to give you background knowledge about how sexuality is currently approached and understood through a variety of contemporary discourses including biology, sexology, sociobiology, sociology, psychoanalysis, feminism, Foucauldian perspectives and queer theory with an emphasis on contemporary critiques of the traditional paradigms of sexuality in the West. We will also consider contemporary issues in sexuality studies, and consider cross-cultural perspectives on sexuality. The unit mixes a basic level of theoretical sophistication with a practical applied approach and caters for students interested in developing a more critical understanding of what human sexuality "is".

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with an understanding of the development of sexuality within historical and cultural life contexts and to familiarise you with the major contemporary approaches taken in the social sciences to understand human sexuality.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Apply human sexual diversity to its cultural, historical and biological contexts


2. Research and critique a contemporary paradigm and contemporary debate on sexuality


3. Critically analyse contemporary discourse in the social sciences


4. Reflect on the nature of human sexuality and how human sexuality contributes to human diversity

Content

• The history of the study of human sexuality.


• Prevailing models and paradigms in the study of human sexuality.


• Biological, feminist, Foucauldian, psychoanalytic, sociological, and queer theory.


• The work of prominent sexologists


• Sexual orientation


• Cross-cultural perspectives on sex and sexuality


• The range of human sexual behaviours


• The intersection of religion, sex and power


• Attitudes towards the sexuality of children and aged people


• Attitudes the sexuality of differently abled people


• Infantile and childhood sexuality


• Incest and child sexual abuse


• Commercial Sex/Exploitative Sex


• Sexual "dysfunctions" and paraphilias


• Relationships


• Sex and the Media


• Safe sex

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Although the unit will use a traditional lecture format we hope to make the lectures interactive, with plenty of opportunity for small group interaction. You will be regularly consulted about the issues you wish to see covered in the lectures, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them. Audio-visual materials will also be drawn upon, especially to illustrate the richness of cultural representations of human sexuality. Some guest lecturers may also be used to enrich the scope of the lecture programme.

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: In addition to participating in discussions each week, you will be asked to submit a journal entry of approximately one-half page to a full page in length, in which you will record your reflections on the class content and any questions you would like addressed in future lectures (either about the previous class content or just on other issues you are curious about). These entries will be read each week by the lecturer to guide the formulation of the lectures, and to temper the lectures to the class' interests.
Relates to objectives: 1 - 4
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Submit weekly

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: This assessment will be undertaken in two parts:
Part A
Construct a sexual profile of a person of your choice. (Maximum word length: 1000 words each.) Weighting: 20%; Due: End of Week 5

Part B
From the details presented in your chosen person's story, and in the context of research, theory, socio-cultural background, make the connections between the theoretical and research basis of the unit. (Maximum word length 1500 words). Weightin 40%; Due: End of Week 11.
Relates to objectives: 1 - 4
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5, Week 11

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: You will be provided with two questions at the start of the semester and asked to write two short essays in response to these questions on the examination paper.
Relates to objectives: 1 - 4
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Readings for each week will appear on the class web site and can be down-loaded by the students taking this class.

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Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 04-Jul-2012