Study of Sexualities


Career potential

The University of North Texas' study of sexualities minor will be an asset if you are pursuing a career in health sciences, psychology, law, public administration and many other fields that require an understanding of world diversity. Completion of this minor will prepare you for application to the growing number of graduate programs in lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-intersexed studies, women's studies and cultural studies, or for graduate studies in another discipline.

Sexual practices and attitudes have had an impact on politics, social arrangements, artistic creation and conceptions of the self. Human sexuality, in turn, has been shaped by medical and scientific discourse, economic imperatives, philosophy, religion, law, politics, art, visual culture, and literature. Although most people consider sexuality a basic aspect of human life, much disagreement exists regarding its nature.

Attitudes toward and perceptions of sexuality have varied historically and geographically, and the study of sexualities itself has a turbulent history. During the greater part of the twentieth century, attempts to study sexuality were met with repression. The civil rights and feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s launched an effort against the subjugation of racial minorities and women. The confrontation against entrenched prejudices challenged sexual oppression, as well.

The Stonewall Riot of 1969 set in motion a national gay rights movement. The political activism allowed sexuality to emerge as a field of academic inquiry that continues to enhance our understanding of human diversity.


The study of sexualities minor

The interdisciplinary study of sexualities minor will give you the opportunity to investigate the multifaceted history of sexuality and its relation to economics, politics, society, belief systems, historical interpretation, literature, art and culture. Faculty members from departments across UNT offer courses that present a wide range of methodologies for examining this controversial element of the human condition.

You will explore questions of gender and sexuality with a high degree of sophistication by conducting inquiries across disciplines. This program's intellectually rigorous courses will help build analytical and writing skills as you engage with an array of theories and models.

All students, regardless of their existing major or area of study, are eligible to minor in the study of sexualities. A minor in the study of sexualities requires completion of 18 hours, including at least 6 advanced hours, of the following courses:

  • AGER 4750: Aging and Sexuality
  • AEAH 4801: Sex and the Renaissance City
  • AEAH 4801: The American Feminist Art Movement of the 1970s
  • AEAH 4801: Gender and Sexuality in Histories of Art
  • AEAH 4814: Theory of Contemporary Art: Cybernetics, Cyborgs and Visual Culture
  • ART 5190: Fashion and Self Fashioning
  • DFST 2033: Parenting in Diverse Families
  • DFST 2313: Marriage and Family Living
  • DFST 3323: Advanced Marriage and Family Living
  • DFST 4343: Romantic Relationships: Theories, Research and Application
  • DFST 4413: Family Life Education
  • ENGL 3360: Survey of Classical Literature
  • ENGL 3430: Weapons, Dress, and Sex in Medieval English
  • ENGL 3430: Studies in British Literature to 1780
  • ENGL 3910: Eighteenth-Century Masculinities
  • ENGL 3911: Sex, Gender and Literature
  • ENGL 4800: Sex and Gender in Eighteenth-Century Literature
  • HIST 3770: Ancient and Medieval Women, Gender and Sexuality
  • HIST 4260: History of Modern Sexualities
  • HIST 4261: Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 1877
  • HIST 4310: Gender and Sexuality in Early Modern Europe
  • HLTH 2200: Family Life and Human Sexuality
  • JOUR 4250: Race, Gender and the Media: A Methods Approach
  • PSCI 4330: Eros and Politics
  • PSYC 4300: Psychosocial Issues in HIV/AIDS
  • PSYC 4470: Psychology and Sexual Behavior
  • RHAB 4800 Sex and Addiction
  • RTVF 4530: Gender and Sexuality in the Horror Film
  • RTVF 4540: Lesbian, Gay and Queer Film and Video
  • SOCI 4240: Sociology of Sexuality
  • SOWK 4890: The Politics of the Abortion Debate
  • SPAN 4900: Sexualities in Contemporary Spanish Cinema
  • THEA 4500: Gay/Lesbian Plays and Performance Since Stonewall

The study of sexualities steering committee meets annually to evaluate course offerings to be included in the minor. For an up-to-date list of approved courses, visit www.hist.unt.edu/sos.


Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

  • English … 4 years
  • Math … 4 years
  • Social science - economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
  • Science … 3 years
  • Foreign language … 3 years
  • Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.


Charting your path with academic advising

To register for the minor, check on the availability of classes or plan your course of study, visit Marilyn Morris, professor in the Department of History, Wooten Hall, Room 265.