Undergraduate Certificate Program

The SXL Program allows students the flexibility to tailor their curriculum in relation to their major or interests.

BEGINNING THE SXL CERTIFICATE

1. Students interested in pursuing the certificate should contact the director to plan their curriculum.

2. If they have not yet done so, should plan to take the introductory course, SXL 115, as early as their schedules permit.

3. Add the SXL certificate to your program by visiting the Student Service Center, Room 101 Allen Building, or at the Registrar’s Office, 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Smith Warehouse, Bay 9, Room A289.

4. Certificate students should also sign up for the SXL email list either by visiting the list’s home page or by sending an email to sympa@duke.edu with SUBSCRIBE sxl-students in the subject line or body.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS – 6 Courses

The SXL curriculum requires six courses: three from SXL and three approved electives.

  • THREE FROM SXL
    • SXL 115 Introduction to the Study of Sexualities
    • SXL 120 – Special Topics
    • SXL 195 The Capstone /Senior Seminar
  • THREE approved elective courses (may include additional SXL 120 courses)

ELECTIVE COURSES

The following criteria allow a course to be cross-listed, recommended, or approved:

  • A significant portion of course materials and discussion focus directly on sexuality.
  • Sexuality is one of the main analytic categories in the course.

Examples of approved electives from previous years are listed in Course Archives and include:

  • Sexualities in Film & Video
  • Perspectives in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Studies
  • American Culture and Sexuality
  • Love, Marriage and Adultery in the Nineteenth Century
  • Gender and Sexuality in Latin America
  • Primate Sexuality

Each semester at Duke, there are at least four courses that count towards the certificate – usually more. Two courses can work for both the Certificate and the student’s major or minor. Each semester the Program will offer a list of approved electives. Students may also petition the SXL director to have a course count towards the certificate by submitting a request with a copy of the syllabus (including independent study, study abroad, transfer credits, or sexuality studies courses at UNC).

Faculty interested in having their course approved or cross-listed in the SXL certificate curriculum should first contact the Program Administrator, Lillian Spiller.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM RULES

  • Two courses may count towards a major/minor and the SXL certificate.
  • No more than three courses can originate in one department.
  • At least four courses must be at or above the 100-level.

STUDY ABROAD

Please consult with the director about applying study abroad credits towards the certificate program.

One program with a sexuality studies focus is World Learning’s program in Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender.

PROGRAM II MAJOR

There currently is no major in Sexuality Studies. Students interested in studying sexuality beyond the offerings of the certificate program can consider applying for a Program II curriculum, in dialogue with their advisors and the Program II staff. The Program II application must make clear why the subject cannot be realized in an already established major.

There is currently one student pursuing a Program II major in sexuality studies.