Sexual Health

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Break Barriers with an Education in Human Sexuality & Gender Health

From the workplace to community gatherings, there is a growing realization in our country and around the world regarding the importance of better understanding sexual and gender health. The College of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Minnesota is proud to partner with the Medical School’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Health to provide a number of educational opportunities—including a master’s degree and graduate certificates—to examine this vital area of community and individual health and wellness.

Each of our programs was designed to help students better understand the issues surrounding human sexuality, gender, and sexual behavior as they each relate to health care, social sciences, biological sciences, and culture.

Find Your Program

Master of Professional Studies in Sexual Health

• No additional licensure needed

• Average Completion Time: 2 yrs (full-time) / 4 yrs (part-time)

• AASECT Certification: Up to 75 hrs Core Knowledge; may satisfy some training requirements for Sex Educator or Sex Therapy certification (track-dependent).

• 30 credits | $936/credit 

Graduate Certificate in Human Sexuality

• No additional licensure needed

• Average Completion Time: 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• AASECT Certification: Up to 75 hrs Core Knowledge; may meet some training requirements for Sex Educator certification.

• 12 credits | $936/credit 

Graduate Certificate in Sex Therapy

• Meant to be paired with licensure (LPCC, LP, LICSW, etc.)

• Average Completion Time: 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• AASECT Certification: Up to 30 hrs Sex Therapy training and some Core Knowledge hours

• 12 credits | $936/credit 

Graduate Certificate in Advanced Sexual Health

• No additional licensure needed

• Average Completion Time: 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• AASECT Certification: Up to 60 hrs of Sex Education training and some Core Knowledge Area requirements (depending on course choice)

• 12 credits | $936/credit

Graduate Certificate in Transgender and Gender Diverse Health

• No additional licensure needed

• Average Completion Time: 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• Certifications Earned: May fulfill some Core Knowledge Area requirements

• 12 credits | $936/credit

Not Sure Which Program is Right for You?

• Fill out our Request for Information form, and we’ll help you find your fit! 

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Learn More About Your Program of Interest

Master of Professional Studies | Sexual Health

The Master of Professional Studies in Sexual Health is designed to help current and aspiring sex therapists, educators, and related professionals gain a deeper understanding of the personal, sociocultural, and biological foundations of sexual health. Built on two stackable graduate-level certificates—Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy—as well as six elective credits, this program provides education that is also approved for CE credits toward the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) certification and renewal. Curriculum covers everything from sexual intimacy to relationship therapy to give students up-to-date, evidence-based insights into sexual health.

 

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

• 30 credit hours

• 100% online

• 2 yrs (full-time) / 4 yrs (part-time)

• These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification.

• This degree consists of two stackable graduate-level certificates and six credits of elective coursework

• You can choose to earn the individual certificates and the master’s degree or just the master’s degree.

 

PROGRAM COST

• $936 per credit

• Total Program Cost: $28,080 plus fees

Graduate Certificate | *NEW* Advanced Sexual Health

This new online certificate is designed for students who want to improve their sexual health education skills, pursue a career in sexual health education, or work toward completion of AASECT Sexuality Educator Certification. This customizable certificate allows students to build deep knowledge in delivering sexual health education while also selecting courses that match their area of interest. Students can complete a majority of AASECT’s Sexuality Educator certification requirements. This includes training areas, and if they complete the optional practicum course, some group supervision hours. Students who are also interested in fulfilling AASECT’s Core Knowledge Areas, consider enrolling in the Human Sexuality Certificate or MPS in Sexual Health.

 

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

• 12 credit hours

• 100% online

• 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification

• Stackable credential can be applied toward the MPS in Sexual Health degree

• Courses can cover foundations of human sexuality, policy in human sexuality, perspectives and practices in sexual health education, sexual pleasure and intimacy

 

PROGRAM COST

• $936 per credit

• Total Program Cost: $11,232 plus fees

Graduate Certificate | Human Sexuality

Whether you work in the field of human sexuality or simply in a typical business environment, the Human Sexuality graduate certificate program can help provide a valuable edge for your career prospects. Sexuality is simply part of the human condition. A better understanding of it leads to a better self-awareness as well as a better understanding of how sexuality affects others all around you throughout society.

 

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

• 12 credit hours

• 100% online

• 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• Can be applied to AASECT Sexuality Educator certification requirements

• Stackable credential can be applied to an MPS in Sexual Health

• Courses can cover human sexuality foundations, current policy, sexual health education perspectives, and sexual pleasure & intimacy

 

PROGRAM COST

• $936 per credit

• Total Program Cost: $11,232 plus fees

Graduate Certificate | Sex Therapy

The Sex Therapy graduate certificate program addresses sexuality and sexual health regarding mental health concerns in sexual function, identity, pleasure and intimacy, and romantic relationships. This certificate program is fully online to help licensed and certified mental health practitioners gain deeper insights into this critical element of the human dynamic. Each course counts toward the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Core Knowledge Areas and meets requirements for CE credits. Plus, coursework may be applied as a stackable credential toward the Master of Professional Studies in Sexual Health.

 

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

• 12 credit hours

• 100% online

• 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification.

• Stackable credential can be applied to an MPS in Sexual Health

• Courses can cover foundations of human sexuality, dimensions of sexual functioning, sex and relationship therapy,
sexual trauma and trauma-informed care.

 

PROGRAM COST

• $936 per credit

• Total Program Cost: $11,232 plus fees

Graduate Certificate | Transgender and Gender Diverse Health

Providers who are competent in transgender and gender diverse health and who can deliver gender-affirming care are more in demand than ever. This professionally focused graduate credential will complement your current or future positions in health care, patient advocacy, education, or other health-related fields.

 

Graduate students in related fields such as nursing, social work, family science, psychology, and those pursuing professional degrees in medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry will benefit from adding a layer of knowledge in  transgender health care to their degree.


The Transgender and Gender Diverse Health certificate is a fully online graduate credential developed in partnership with the Institute for Sexual and Gender Health in the University of Minnesota Medical School.

 

It features:
• specialized expertise to complement allied licenses
• faculty who are practitioners working at the cutting edge of transgender and gender diverse health
• projects that apply to real-life considerations in health for transgender and gender diverse populations
• an intersectional and decolonizing lens
• a diverse and inclusive student environment

 

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

• 12 credit hours

• 100% online

• 1 yrs (full-time) / 2 yrs (part-time)

• Focused curriculum was developed with faculty from the National Center for Gender Spectrum Health which seeks to promote the well-being of all people across the gender spectrum

• Stackable credential can be applied to an MPS in Sexual Health

• Course can cover health care for transgender and gender diverse adults,
intersectional and decolonizing approaches to transgender health, gender diversity sexuality and sexual health, considerations in the care of transgender and gender diverse children and adolescents

 

PROGRAM COST

• $936 per credit

• Total Program Cost: $11,232 plus fees

Stack Your Credentials

Our master’s degree in sexuality is unique—it combines three credentials in one: two certificates and a master’s degree, all available online. You can choose to pursue just the master’s degree or earn all three credentials. To complete all three, you’ll need to apply to each program separately.

  • Steve Wicks, Enrollment Advisor

    Steve Wicks, Enrollment Advisor

    Together, we’ll go over your options, answer questions, and help you get off to the right start.

Advance Your Understanding of Human Sexuality

A healthy understanding of human sexuality through one of these graduate programs can help you better relate to others and the human condition.

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