Health

Canada's first sex-ed grad school opens at U of T

by Rob Peters | August 28, 2008 at 02:12 pm

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The University of Toronto will offer Canada's first grad program in sexual diversity studies this fall. Up until now, Canadian universities have only offered undergraduate programs in the discipline, but U of T will offer master's and PhD programs.

Those involved with the school say it will eventually go beyond traditional queer studies, branching out to include interdisciplinary areas such as sex law and pornography, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, health care, parenting, and research into the existence of "gay genes."

That's all fine and good, but the obvious question is who will become Canada's first Master of Sexual Diversity? That's quite a title to live up to.

The University of Toronto will launch Canada's first graduate program in sexual diversity studies this fall, allowing students to pursue master's and PhD programs focused on the sexual aspect of everything from pulp fiction to public health.

"It's really an emergent field and the university has been quick to recognize that," said Scott Rayter, acting director of the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies.

Several Canadian universities, including Queen's, McGill, Université du Québec à Montréal, York and UBC, already offer undergraduate degrees in sexuality studies, most of which allow students to explore academic issues of sexual orientation.

But U of T is the first Canadian institution to recognize the advanced study of sexuality, following the lead of U.S. schools such as University of Chicago, Yale, Cornell, New York University and the City University of New York.