COURSE INFORMATION

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will provide an overview of the broad field of human sexuality. Topics will be covered from various perspectives – biological, sociological, anthropological, etc., but will focus primarily on the psychological perspective. The goal is for each student to learn factual, scientifically-based information that will provoke thought and contribute to his/her own decision-making on sexual issues outside of the classroom.

• Credit Hours: 3
• Classroom Contact Hours per week: 3

Instructor: Dr Kristina Noriega, EdD, MSIDT, MSCP
                   kristina.noriega@austincc.edu

Course Requirements

Each module in this course is designed to provide students with multiple opportunities to engage with the course content, apply learning, and receive feedback. Weekly assignments include the following components:

• Assigned Readings:
  Each module includes required textbook chapters and supplemental materials that introduce and explore key concepts related to human sexuality.

• Journal Reflections:
  Students will complete a weekly journal entry to reflect on personal insights, analyze course topics, and apply concepts to real-world situations. 

• Chapter Quizzes:
  Each module includes an open-book quiz based on the assigned readings. Quizzes consist of multiple-choice and true/false questions randomly pulled from a question pool. Students may attempt quizzes multiple times, with their highest score recorded to encourage mastery and reinforcement of learning.

• AI-Integrated Scenarios:
  Select journal activities and discussions will incorporate AI-based scenarios to simulate real-life situations, ethical considerations, and decision-making processes in the study of human sexuality.

Grading Scale

Human Sexuality: Making Informed Decisions, 6th Edition

Hard Copy/Pring:  ISBN10: 1517809681/ISBN 13: 9781517809683 
eText: ISBN:9781517809638 

Welcome to Human Sexuality—A Course Designed for Personal Growth and Academic Exploration

Human sexuality is a complex and fascinating area of study that impacts many aspects of our daily lives. In this course, you will explore the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence sexual development, behavior, relationships, and health.

This course is designed to offer flexibility while encouraging personal reflection. Each week, you’ll complete focused readings, apply your learning through interactive AI-generated scenarios, and engage in journal reflections that encourage you to consider the material thoughtfully. Quizzes are open-book with multiple attempts, allowing you to review and strengthen your understanding as you progress.

Whether you’re taking this course for your degree program or for your own personal development, you will gain valuable knowledge that can be applied to many areas of life and work.

Module Topics

1. Perspectives on Sexuality in a Cultural and Historical Context

2. Female Sexual Anatomy

3. Male Sexual Anatomy

4. Gender and Sexuality

5. Communication and Sexuality

6. Love and Sexuality

7. Pregnancy and Childbirth

8. Lifespan View of Sexuality

9. Health and Sexuality

10. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

11. Sexual Dysfunctions

12. Commercialization of Sex/Sexual Coercion

Student Learning Outcomes

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Identify common myths of human sexual functioning.

2. Identify human sexual behaviors and sexual responses.

3. Explain the relationship between sexuality and developmental changes throughout the lifespan.

4. Describe the causes, symptoms, and treatments for sexually transmitted infections and the behaviors that increase and decrease the risk of contracting an STI.

5. Describe the principles of effective communication and the specific barriers to effective communication about sex and sexuality.

6. Use an academic sexual vocabulary.

7. Discuss cultural differences in sexual attitudes and behaviors.

8. Identify the occurrence and causes of sexual variations.

9. Identify contraceptive methods and how these methods prevent conception.

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes:

• Understand psychological concepts and be able to recognize them in real-world contexts.
• Acquire a basic understanding of major perspectives in the field.
• Gain an awareness of the breadth of the academic discipline of psychology.
• Understand the various research methods psychologists use and critically evaluate
• evidence.

Throughout the course, you will complete four major assessments that allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the course content. For each assessment, you will have the flexibility to choose the format that best fits your style and interests. This allows you to apply your knowledge creatively while developing skills you can use in academic and professional settings.

Assessment 1 (Modules 1-3):

• Analyze the biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that influence human sexual development and behavior.

Assessment 2 (Modules 4-6):

• Analyze psychological and sociocultural influences on sexual behavior and sex roles.

Assessment 3 (Modules 7-9):

• Evaluate common misconceptions about sex differences and sexual health through scientific reasoning.

Assessment 4 (Modules 10-12):

• Demonstrate knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), their prevention, and societal impact.

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the
rolls should they decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve
the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to
withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is recorded before the Final
Withdrawal Date.  The Final Withdrawal Date for this semester is [insert date here].
 The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may
have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status.  Per state
law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or
university may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their
undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student
to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly
encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection,
course loads, and course withdrawals.

Health & Safety Protocols
Operational areas of ACC campuses and centers are fully open and accessible through
all public entrances.  The college encourages its staff, faculty, and students to be
mindful of the well-being of all individuals on campus.  If you feel sick, feverish, or
unwell, please do not come to campus.
Some important things to remember:

 If you have not done so, ACC encourages all students, faculty, and staff to get
vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available throughout the
community. Visit Vaccines.gov to find a vaccine location near you.

 Campuses are open to faculty, staff, and students.  The college and its
departments and offices may invite internal and external guests to their events
and activities, though access is still restricted for external parties seeking to host
activities at ACC.  The college’s Appian Health Screening App remains available
to everyone who visits campus. This continues to be a good way to check your
own health before coming to class or work. 
 If you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, please get a COVID-19
test as soon as possible before returning to an ACC facility.  Testing is now
widely available.  To find testing locations near you, click this link.

 If you test positive, please report it on the ACC self-reporting tool located here.

 ACC continues to welcome face masks on campus.  Per CDC guidelines, face
masks remain a good way to protect yourself from COVID-19. 
 The college asks that we all continue to respect the personal space of others. We
are encouraging 3 feet of social distancing.

 Please be sure to carry your student, faculty, or staff ID badge at all times while
on campus.

Because of the ever changing situation, please go to ACC’s Covid website at for the
latest updates and guidance.
Statement on Academic Integrity
Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process.  Acts
of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a
disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission
of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional
concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of
higher learning to certify students' academic achievements and expect to benefit from
the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all
instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking

examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions
constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating,
fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s
information technology resources.  Further information is available at  the Academic
Integrity website.   
 
Any course specific policies, expectations, or procedures could be included here.
Student Rights & Responsibilities
Students at ACC have the same rights and protections under the Constitution of the
United States. These rights include freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition and
association. As members of the community, students have the right to express their own
views, but must also take responsibility for according the same rights to others and not
interfere or disrupt the learning environment. Students are entitled to fair treatment, are
expected to act consistently with the values of the college, and obey local, state, and
federal laws.  Student Rights & Responsibilities
 
As a student of Austin Community College you are expected to abide by the Student
Standards of Conduct. 
Senate Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements 
Under Senate Bill 212 (SB 212), the faculty and all College employees are required to
report any information concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault,
dating violence, and stalking committed by or against an ACC student or employee.
Federal Title IX law and College policy also require reporting incidents of sex- and
gender-based discrimination and sexual misconduct. This means faculty and
non-clinical counseling staff cannot keep confidential information about any such
incidents that you share with them.
 
If you would like to talk with someone confidentiality, please contact the District Clinical
Counseling Team who can connect you with a clinical counselor on any ACC campus: 
(512) 223-2616, or to schedule online, go to the Counseling website.
While students are not required to report, they are encouraged to contact the
Compliance Office for resources and options:  Charlene Buckley, District Title IX Officer,
(512) 223-7964;  compliance@austincc.edu .
 
If a student makes a report to a faculty member, the faculty member will contact the
District Title IX Officer for follow-up.
Student Complaints
A defined process applies to complaints about an instructor or other college employee.
You are encouraged to discuss concerns and complaints with college personnel and
should expect a timely and appropriate response. When possible, students should first

address their concerns through informal conferences with those immediately involved;
formal due process is available when informal resolution cannot be achieved.
 
Student complaints may include (but are not limited to) issues regarding classroom
instruction, college services and offices on the basis of actual or perceived race, color,
national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political
affiliation, or disability.
 
Further information about the complaints process, including the form used to submit
complaints, is available at the Student Complaint Procedures website.  
Statement on Privacy
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of
students’ educational records. Grades cannot be provided by faculty over the phone, by
e-mail, or to a fellow student.
 
Class grades should be posted in Blackboard, and this could be mentioned here.
Recording Policy
To ensure compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),
student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the
explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in
the class section.  Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the
Americans with Disabilities Act. 
 
Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate
instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through BlackBoard or another
platform.  Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded
during the instructional activity.  Such recordings are intended for educational and
academic purposes only.
Safety Statement
Health and safety are of paramount importance in classrooms, laboratories, and field
activities. Students are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health
and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies.  Emergency Procedures
posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each classroom and should be
reviewed at the beginning of each semester.  All incidents (injuries/illness/fire/property
damage/near miss) should be immediately reported to the course instructor. Additional
information about safety procedures and how to sign up to be notified in case of an
emergency can be found at  the Emergency Management website.  
Everyone is expected to conduct themselves professionally with respect and courtesy to
all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another
individual may be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity and will be referred to
the Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action.
 

In the event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an emergency situation
or an outbreak of illness, the format for this course may be modified to enable
completion of the course. In that event, students will be provided an addendum to the
class syllabus that will supersede the original version.
Smoke, Vaping, & Tobacco-Free Environment
ACC provides a smoke/vape- and tobacco-free environment for all College vehicles,
facilities and all campuses. The College prohibits the use, distribution, and/or sale of
tobacco, smoke, and nicotine vapor products and devices by any person on all
premises owned, rented, leased or supervised by the College, including all College
facilities, buildings, grounds, and vehicles. This prohibition applies to property owned by
others that the College uses by agreement, and further applies to all College and
personal vehicles on ACC District property.  Campus Managers and Campus
Coordinators are required to inform anyone on their campus or in their center who are
violating this rule that they are doing so and, if the violator is a student, the Dean of
Student Affairs must initiate disciplinary procedures.
Campus Carry
The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance
with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus
Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its
students, faculty, staff, and visitors.  Beginning August 1, 2017, individuals who are
licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at
activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. 
   
It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times.  Persons
who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by
dialing 512-223-1231.   Please refer to the concealed handgun policy online at the
Campus Carry website.
Discrimination Prohibited
The College seeks to maintain an educational environment free from any form of
discrimination or harassment including but not limited to discrimination or harassment
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity, or disability.
 
Faculty at the College are required to report concerns regarding sexual misconduct
(including all forms of sexual harassment and sex and gender-based discrimination) to
the Manager of Title IX/Title VI/ADA Compliance.  Licensed clinical counselors are
available across the District and serve as confidential resources for students.
Additional information about Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance can be found in the
ACC Compliance Resource Guide.
Use of ACC email

All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s
ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a
timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify students of any
college- related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive
email communication from their instructor using this account.  Likewise, students should
use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.  Information
about ACC email accounts, including instructions for accessing it, are available at the
ACC Email Q&A website.
Use of the Testing Center
The Testing Centers will allow only limited in person testing and testing time will be
limited to the standard class time, typically one and one-half hours.  Specifically, only
the following will be allowed in the Testing Centers:
 Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Testing: All approved SAS testing
 Assessments Tests: Institutionally approved assessment tests (e.g., TSIA or
TABE)
 Placement Tests: Placement tests (e.g., ALEKS)
 Make-Up Exams (for students who missed the original test): Make-up testing is
available for all lecture courses but will be limited to no more than 25% of
students enrolled in each section for each of four tests
 Programs incorporating industry certification exams: Such programs (e.g.,
Microsoft, Adobe, etc.) may utilize the ACC Business Assessment Center for the
industry certification exams (BACT) at HLC or RRC
The instructor should provide additional information about how they will conduct
examinations and other assessments here.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
The success of our students is paramount, and ACC offers a variety of support services
to help, as well as providing numerous opportunities for community engagement and
personal growth.
Student Support
ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of
opportunities and services.  Information on these campus services and resources is
available at the Student Resources website.  A comprehensive array of student support
services is available online at the Student Support website.
Student Accessibility Services
Austin Community College (ACC) is committed to providing a supportive, accessible,
and inclusive learning environment for all students.  Each campus offers support
services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need

classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through Student
Accessibility Services (SAS).
Students are encouraged to request accommodations prior to the beginning of the
semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.  Students who
have received accommodations from SAS for this course will provide the instructor with
the legal document titled “Faculty Notification Letter” (FNL) through the
Accessible Information Management (AIM) portal.
Until the instructor receives the FNL, accommodations should not be provided.  Once
the FNL is received, accommodations must be provided.  Accommodations are not
retroactive, so it is in the student’s best interest to request their accommodations as
soon as possible prior to the beginning of the semester.
Please contact SAS@austincc.edu for more information.
Academic Support
ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. These services, which
include online tutoring, academic coaching, and supplemental instruction, are free to
enrolled ACC students. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects ranging from
accounting to pharmacology. Students may receive these services on both a drop-in
and referral basis. 
 
An online tutor request can be made here: Online Tutoring Request
 
Additional tutoring information can be found here: Online Tutoring
Library Services
ACC Library Services offers both in-person and extensive online services, with research
and assignment assistance available in-person during limited hours of service. Although
all college services are subject to change, plans include ACC students signing up for
study space and use of computers at open libraries, extensive online instruction in
classes, online reference assistance 24/7 and reference with ACC faculty librarians.
In addition, currently enrolled students, faculty and staff can access Library Services
online (also 24/7) via the ACC Library website and by using their ACCeID to access all
online materials (ebooks, articles from library databases, and streaming videos). ACC
Libraries offer these services in numerous ways such as: "Get Help from a Faculty
Librarian: the 24/7 Ask a Librarian chat service," an online form for in-depth research Q
and A sessions, one-on-one video appointments, email, and phone (voicemail is
monitored regularly).
 
 Library Website
 Library Information & Services during COVID-19 
 Ask a Librarian 24/7 chat and form 
 Library Hours of Operation by Location 

 Email: library@austincc.edu
Parent and Family Engagement Services
ACC understands how important parent and family support is to every student's college
journey. From parents and siblings to stepparents, grandparents, partners, and loved
ones, the Parent and Family Engagement Office at ACC is committed to empowering
families to support student success. The office provides a family orientation to ACC, free
workshops explaining the world of higher education (financial aid, student resources,
career and transfer services, etc.), a monthly newsletter full of student success tips, and
a website designed to answer family members' frequently asked questions. All students,
especially first-generation students, are encouraged to share these resources with their
families and invite them to be part of the Riverbat experience. Contact
familyengagement@austincc.edu or visit the Parent & Family Engagement website for
more information.
Student Organizations
ACC has over seventy student organizations, offering a variety of cultural, academic,
vocational, and social opportunities.  They provide a chance to meet with other students
who have the same interests, engage in service-learning, participate in intramural
sports, gain valuable field experience related to career goals, and much else.  Student
Life coordinates many of these activities, and additional information is available at  at
the Student Life website.
Personal Support
Resources to support students are available at every campus. To learn more, ask your
professor or visit the campus Support Center. All resources and services are free and
confidential. Some examples include, among others:
  
 Food resources including community pantries and bank drives can be found here
at the Central Texas Food Bank website.
 Assistance with childcare or utility bills is available at any campus Support
Center 
 The Student Emergency Fund can help with unexpected expenses that may
cause you to withdraw from one or more classes
 Help with budgeting for college and family life is available through the Student
Money Management Office.  
 A full listing of services for student parents is available at the Child Care website. 
 
Mental health counseling services are available throughout the ACC Student Services
District to address personal and or mental health concerns at the Counseling website.
 
If you are struggling with a mental health or personal crisis, call one of the following
numbers to connect with resources for help.  However, if you are afraid that you might
hurt yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.
Free Crisis Hotline Numbers:

 Austin / Travis County 24-hour Crisis & Suicide hotline: 512-472-HELP (4357)
 The Williamson County 24-hour Crisis hotline: 1-800-841-1255
 Bastrop County Family Crisis Center hotline: 1-888-311-7755
 Hays County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660
 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
 Crisis Text Line: Text “home” to 741741
 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
National Helpline:   1-800-662-HELP (4357)
 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:1-800-950-NAMI (6264)