Human Sexualities

Dear Students,

Welcome to PSYCH-110: Human Sexualities! I'm Dr. Ross Avilla, your instructor for this course. This syllabus will help you get started and answer many of the questions you'll have along the way — please refer to it often, and don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of help. I would love to hear from you.

This is a subject that is not only fascinating but also deeply relevant to your everyday life. Approach it with curiosity, an open mind, and respect for one another, and you'll get a great deal out of our time together.

Let's begin our journey into the study of human sexuality!

— Dr. Avilla

Here is a fun sex fact just for you! We'll be discussing this sex fact and many others in our class.

Course Description. PSYCH-110 explores many different aspects of sex: biologically, psychologically, socially, emotionally, and ethically. This subject is not only fascinating but also highly relevant to our everyday lives. In this class we'll explore questions such as: What is the psychology behind sex and romance? How does sexual identity form and how can it be expressed? What role does communication play in healthy sexual relationships? How do you take care of yourself and your partner(s) physically and emotionally? How does a person's psychology and culture affect their sex life? And how do controversial aspects of sex — such as fetishes, porn, and sex work — affect everyday people and society as a whole?

Required Materials. This class features a free and open-source textbook written by Dr. Avilla, available on Canvas. Feel free to download the chapters. I strongly recommend keeping up with the readings: 50% of exam questions come directly from the textbook, and many of your weekly homework assignments draw on it too.

Grading. Your final grade is based on three weighted categories:

Grading Scale. Final grades are rounded up from .5 or above (e.g., 89.5% → 90% → A−).

To contest a grade, you must meet with Dr. Avilla during office hours or a scheduled appointment within 2 weeks of the assignment or exam being returned.

Late Work Policy. If you need extra time on an assignment, please contact Dr. Avilla before the due date to discuss an extension. Requests made after a deadline has passed are much less likely to be approved. Life happens — just communicate early.

Attendance & Participation. Attendance to every class is expected — this is an interactive, highly participatory course, and 30% of your final grade depends on class participation. Participation means being fully engaged, not just present — your involvement in class discussions and activities, as well as your demeanor (being polite and engaged), all count. You may miss up to 3 class days without penalty.

Academic Integrity. All instances of cheating — including suspicion of cheating — may result in a grade deduction or being dropped from the course, and will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. This includes obtaining participation or activity points when not in class, and using unauthorized materials during exams (notes, phones, smart watches, etc.). You can find the MJC Student Conduct code on the college website.

AI Policy. You may use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to help brainstorm or generate ideas. However, AI-generated material may be inaccurate or incomplete, and over-reliance can stifle your own thinking. You may not submit AI-generated work as your own. Any AI-generated content must be cited, with appropriate consideration for the quality of that source. Violations are subject to the academic integrity policy above.

Classroom Conduct. I strive to create an engaging, inclusive space where students feel comfortable sharing ideas and questions. Students are expected to maintain dignity and mutual respect at all times. Disruptive behavior — including talking over others, arriving late repeatedly, using phones inappropriately, or displaying disrespect — may result in being asked to leave and/or disciplinary action. Children under 18 who are not enrolled may not attend class without prior written permission from Dr. Avilla.

Accessibility & Accommodations. Students with disabilities who require academic accommodations should contact MJC's Disability Support Programs & Services (DSPS) office. Once accommodations are established, please provide Dr. Avilla with your accommodation letter as early in the semester as possible so we can work together effectively. Visit mjc.edu/dsp for more information.

• Check Canvas at the start of each week to view upcoming assignments and due dates; then, plan your study schedule for the week.
• Plan to log in to our Canvas course 3–4 times during the week.
• Read every page of each Canvas module rather than simply jumping to assignments via the "To Do" list. Otherwise, you will miss important information that will help you succeed.
• Check your MJC email daily for course announcements and updates.
• Ask questions. Reach out for help. Take advantage of resources (e.g., tutoring). Be an advocate for your own learning journey.
• Stay in touch with me and your classmates. Research indicates that connection is a key to success in college courses.

What you can expect from me:

• I will be an active participant in our course through discussions, grading comments, announcements, videos and emails.
• I will provide constructive, supportive assignment feedback in a timely manner.
• I will be available to help individual students via email responses and weekly Zoom office hours.
• I understand that you are busy and that you have many competing priorities. Under extenuating circumstances, I will be flexible to support your successful completion of this course, when possible.
• I will show respect for your individual learning style, experiences and needs and will create a positive and supportive learning environment.

What I will expect of you:

• You will devote an average of 10 hours per week to complete the reading and assignments in this course.
• You will reach out via Inbox at Canvas or come to Zoom office hours if you have questions or need support in the course. I'm here to help!
• You will uphold academic integrity by only submitting your own, authentic work.
• You will challenge yourself to try new things and recognize that mistakes are a vital part of the learning process for all of us.

Before we dive in, let's get to know each other! Below are several statements about your professor — some are true, some are false. Select True or False for each one to find out!

To Contact Me

You can always email me at AvillaR@yosemite.edu or message me through Canvas. When emailing me, make sure to…

• Include your full name (especially if emailing me from a non-MJC account)
• Include what class you're in (I teach multiple classes!)
• Use full sentences and clear language.

I will typically respond to you within a single business day (note, this doesn't include weekends). If you don't hear back from me within that time, please reach out again. I'm here to help!

To Contact a Classmate

It's 11:00 p.m. on Sunday and you need an answer to an important course question now, but your instructor is sound asleep. What to do? Head to the discussion forum in our Canvas course and reach out to your classmates. Let's help one another!

College is about more than coursework. If you ever need help — academic, technical, financial, or personal — these MJC resources are here for you.