Overview
This course examines sexual health as a multidimensional component of physical, mental, emotional, relational, and social well-being. Students analyze how stigma, shame, misinformation, discrimination, gender norms, sexuality, power, religion, culture, disability, age, race, socioeconomic status, and public policy influence sexually transmitted infection risk, testing, treatment, disclosure, and access to care.
Students develop patient-centered communication skills through study and practice of health literacy, motivational interviewing principles, shared decision-making, trauma-informed practice, confidentiality, informed consent, intimate partner violence response, partner notification, inclusive language, and communication with adolescents and diverse communities. The course emphasizes accurate risk communication, ethical practice, culturally responsive care, and the adaptation of educational messages for individual, community, and public health settings.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify stigmatizing assumptions and their effects on sexual health beliefs, behaviors, and service access.
- Analyze social, cultural, structural, and policy barriers to sexual health services.
- Demonstrate respectful, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed communication in sensitive health conversations.
- Apply active listening, motivational interviewing principles, and shared decision-making to sexual health counseling.
- Evaluate media, social media, and public health messages for accuracy, inclusivity, and fear-based communication.
- Communicate sexual health risk, uncertainty, testing information, and results clearly to diverse audiences.
- Develop audience-specific and inclusive sexual health education materials for individual, community, and public health settings.
- Apply ethical principles relating to confidentiality, informed consent, disclosure, partner notification, and intimate partner violence.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Test | Role-play practical assessment | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Message critique | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Reflective analysis | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Inclusive sexual health campaign | 30.00% |
| Tutorial | Tutorial participation and preparation | 15.00% |
Prerequisites
- Requirement 8 NCEA Level 2 English credits, externally assessed
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
