As the program's director, I welcome you to Widener University’s Graduate Programs in Human Sexuality! Offered at the University of Pennsylvania from 1974-1999, this is the only nationally accredited doctoral program in human sexuality in the United States. The program transferred to Widener University in 1999, where it has thrived over the past ten years, growing in numbers of students and options for those pursuing a career in human sexuality.

Depending on your interest in a career as a sexuality educator, counselor, or therapist, you can work toward a MEd in Human Sexuality or an EdD in Human Sexuality either alone or as part of a dual degree program offered in collaboration with Widener’s Center for Social Work Education, or Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. These programs are excellent choices for students wishing to do sex therapy or other work in clinical sexology. For those who enroll in one of the dual degree programs (see links at the left) or who already have a clinical Masters’ degree, we offer a clinical track for the MEd or EdD in Human Sexuality.

The curriculum in each program has been approved by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) as meeting part of the requirements for eligibility for certification. See the AASECT website for more information about careers in human sexuality.

Our coursework and field instruction experiences offer students a uniquely designed opportunity to grow in knowledge and skills as well as developing the emotional intelligence and sexual literacy that is critical to being of assistance to others related to sexuality. Graduates are practitioner-scholars who are prepared to educate, consult, provide counseling and therapy, and/or conduct research in a variety of settings on complex issues related to human sexuality.

Human Sexuality classes are offered primarily on weekends to provide access to study for people working during the week. Students may pursue their degrees part-time or full-time. Classes are small, taught in a highly interactive manner by faculty who are committed to excellence in teaching and scholarship, and who are readily available to students outside the classroom. Personal attention and student support are an important part of a Widener education.

Welcome! Please feel free to get in touch by email – bcrane@widener.edu or phone – 610-499-4242, to further explore information about the various program options and get answers to any questions you may have after reviewing the links at the left side of this page.

Betsy Crane, Ph.D.
Director, Human Sexuality Graduate Programs
Center for Education