Utilizing Service Learning in a College-Level Human Sexuality Course

ABSTRACT

Implementing service learning into college courses has been shown to have positive benefits for both students and community members; however, service learning has not been largely evaluated in the literature on human sexuality courses. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to design, implement, and evaluate a service learning project in a human sexuality class. Students who were enrolled in a human sexuality class designed and delivered two outreach presentations at their university as part of their service learning projects. The presentations were geared toward other college students with specific majors (i.e., future teachers and athletic coaches) and focused on areas related to child and youth sexuality. Overall, the service learning projects garnered positive support from both the students and the attendees at the presentations. Thus, results suggest that service learning is a useful pedagogical tool that college level instructors might consider implementing into their human sexuality courses.

KEYWORDS:

• childhood sexuality
• college teaching
• indirect service learning
• pedagogy
• sexual education
• sexual abuse

Acknowledgment

Grateful acknowledgment is given to the campus community for their support.

Funding

This project received financial support from a service learning grant awarded to the author from the Office of Student Engagement—Leadership and Service at the Stephen F. Austin State University.