Course Overview
This course examines gender and sexuality in America from the colonial period to the present, exploring how American views of sex and desire have changed over time. We will study not only sexual behavior through history, but also its changing meaning and attempts to control its expression. Topics will include colonialism, race, religion, class, gender, birth control, law and policy, popular culture, feminism, and LGBTQ+ history.
This course examines gender and sexuality in America from the colonial period to the present, exploring how American views of sex and desire have changed over time. We will study not only sexual behavior through history, but also its changing meaning and attempts to control its expression. Topics will include colonialism, race, religion, class, gender, birth control, law and policy, popular culture, feminism, and LGBTQ+ history.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University credit transcript.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the class, students will be able to:
- Students will critically apply historical methods to evaluate both primary and secondary sources
- Students will engage in academic discussions on a myriad of historical topics
- Students will propose and develop a novel research topic
- Students will develop academic writing skills through assignments in and outside of class, and through peer review
- Students will present original historical works and present them in an academic conference setting.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: HST 222
Format: On Campus
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school junior, or senior status – or a 2025 high school graduate.
Credit: 3 credits
Grading: A-F
Cost:
- Residential: $4,895
- Commuter: $3,919
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session I: Sunday, July 6 – Friday, July 18 2025 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. | 3 Credits |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Course Requirements
Required Supplies
Laptops required, attire for symposium recommended but not required.
Textbook Requirements
- The Methods and Skills of History: A Practical Guide, Conal Furay & Michael J. Salevouris, Fourth Edition.
- American Sexual Histories, Ed. Elizabeth Reis, Second Edition.
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
The first half of the day will be devoted to covering new material through lectures, videos, discussion, and primary source analysis. After break the class will be focused on building skills and developing a novel historical research project to be presented at a symposium at the end of the course.
Faculty Bios
Sarah Stegeman
I am a PhD candidate in U.S. and Women’s History, and I will be completing my degree in May. I hold a Masters in History from Syracuse University, and a Bachelors in History and Women and Gender Studies from the University of Illinois.
I love teaching History of American Sexuality as it provides a new perspective to a survey course, and pushes our understanding of how we view ourselves and our culture. This is a writing intensive course, that I have taught in person and online, usually with a waitlist for the summer session.
In my teaching, I create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment to facilitate learning. My goal is to teach students the essential skills of writing, critical thinking, presentation, and research and, in the process, share my passion for American and global history. As an instructor my aim is to make students confident in their own abilities to critically engage with both historical debates and current events.