A proposed course in human sexuality for freshmen at a private liberal arts college for women in New England
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, Doctoral Dissertation, (1984)Abstract
The purposes of this study were: (a) to determine the knowledge level of the target population about human sexuality; (b) to determine their perceived needs; (c) to determine the course content needs as reflected in the literature and textbooks; (d) to develop the human sexuality course. The subjects for the study were 128 female freshmen students enrolled in General Biology at Colby-Sawyer College. A questionnaire obtained information relative to student attitudes and knowledge level with respect to human sexuality as well as their social, economic, and educational background. Data from the questionnaire, literature, and textbook review lead to the following conclusions: (1) There is a consensus by educators on the need for sex education with a growing support at the college level. (2) The target population is liberal in its thinking and misinformed with regard to basic facts of conception and birth control. (3) This population feels strongly that the most important single topic in a human sexuality course is birth control, and they are very concerned with their limited knowledge level in regard to basic biological topics. (4) The students view knowledge content as a process for reaching very people-centered course objectives. (5) Understanding the needs, attitudes, and behaviors of themselves and their fellow human beings is viewed as a major desired outcome of a human sexuality course. (6) There is a common core of topics found in sexuality textbooks and these are the same topics that were being taught in colleges according to a 1973 survey. (7) There is very little in published literature upon which to base the content of a college course.