Master of Professional Studies in Sexual Health

Sexual health refers to a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It includes a variety of different topics, such as sexual activity, reproductive health, intimacy and pleasure, gender identity, and sexual orientation and expression. Maintaining good sexual health requires knowledge and understanding of these topics.

Sexual health is an important part of overall physical and mental health. It’s a measure of our well-being and how we feel about our bodies, relationships, identities, and sexual experiences. Good sexual health means being able to enjoy our sexuality in a safe, positive, and healthy way. Our sexual health is affected by a variety of factors, including our physical and emotional health, relationships, and access to sexual health care. It’s important to have health care professionals, counselors, and educators who we can trust and who have solid sexual health training and knowledge.

Practitioners interested in AASECT certification or new sexual health professionals would be great candidates for the UMN CCAPS master’s degree in sexual health. The program consists of two certificates (one core and one elective) plus six elective credits. If you’re interested in earning all three credentials (the core certificate, elective certificate, and the master’s), apply to each one separately. Or you can just apply to the master’s degree by itself. To learn more about how this works, watch this short video on stackable credentials.

No. This degree is designed to be useful for professionals and aspiring professionals in many different roles and fields, including counseling, psychology, nursing, public health, and more. If you do not plan to pursue therapy as a career, we recommend choosing a track other than the Sex Therapy track for your required courses. The Sex Therapy certificate is geared toward licensed practitioners (or those currently pursuing licensure); the certificate or MPSSH on their own do not confer licensure.

A degree in sexual health can prepare students for a variety of careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The skills learned in a sexual health program can be used to work in clinical settings, conduct research, develop education and prevention programs, or advocate for policy change. Sexual health experts may also work as consultants to businesses or organizations, providing advice on how to create a safe and healthy workplace for employees. Additionally, many sexual health educators work in schools or community centers, teaching people of all ages about consent, communication, and other key aspects of healthy relationships.

Possible job titles include:

• Sex Educator
• Sexual Health Advocate
• Sexual Health Practitioners
• Allied Health Professional
• Sex Therapist or Counselor
• Social Worker

Read more about what you can do with a degree in sexual health in the general FAQ.

A sexual health course can provide invaluable information that covers a broad range of topics, including cultural, historical, and social aspects of sexuality; transgender health; sexual relationships; sexual trauma; and policies related to sexual health, gender, and sexuality. You could also study sexuality throughout the lifespan and issues related to sex education.

Current and aspiring professionals such as sexual health educators, social workers, and allied health professionals would especially benefit from courses in sexual health. Each course in the UMN CCAPS program is approved by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) for 35 continuing education hours. If you would be able to better help those you serve in your career, these courses would be an excellent fit for you.

Read more about the who might benefit from sexual courses in the general FAQ.

Yes, Sexual Health is a master’s degree program, and therefore admitted students may be eligible for federal financial aid. However, financial aid will only apply to standard program costs (tuition and associated student fees, etc.). Students pursuing AASECT certification beyond the coursework offered in the program should plan to finance additional AASECT requirements on their own.

You can take any HSEX course that isn’t required for your degree track. With prior approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, you may also be able to take online courses in other programs at the University.

Students in the MPS in Sexual Health must take all the courses in the Human Sexuality Certificate. You will also choose a track in sex therapy or transgender health, or a self-designed track. Earning the actual certificate that corresponds to these courses is optional and requires a separate application. You may want to apply for a certificate in addition to the MPS for some of the following reasons:

• A professional credential will be useful to you currently in your career.
• You want a certificate on your resume before you finish the MPS.
• A certificate may be required in your field.

A certificate cannot be conferred retroactively, after you’ve finished the courses that belong to the certificate. If you think you will want a certificate, you should apply before you begin taking courses for that certificate.

CCAPS Graduate Education programs do not provide living stipends, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships as might be expected in a typical PhD program.

• US based students: CCAPS offers modest financial need-based scholarships to eligible students, and a limited number of merit-based scholarships. However, in most cases students work while going to school in order to cover living expenses and pay tuition out of pocket, including health insurance. 
• International students: Are not eligible for federal financial aid or CCAPS scholarships and must show financial evidence showing that they can cover tuition, living expenses, and the Student Health Benefit plan health insurance during their period of study. To learn more about planning for these expenses, visit Plan Your Expenses or make an appointment with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).