The courses are offered on a quarterly academic calendar and generally last 11-12 weeks, with weekly assignments, or assignments based on multi-week course units.
These online courses are self-paced, although there are specific due dates for completing assignments and posting contributions to interactive discussion boards.
All of the courses are offered online – there is no in-person component.
Yes, they will be offered on a quarterly academic calendar. Human Sexuality: Overview (Course I) is offered in the fall, and subsequent courses will be through the academic year.
The feedback from our participants is that the workload ranges from 6-10 hours/week, including reading, writing and responding to assignments. The range of time may depend on reading speed, computer access, and relative familiarity with the material.
Three credit hours are granted for each course by the Continuing Education department of Centralia College. The certificates in Sexuality Education and Patient Education each include 3 courses and a practicum quarter (for a total of 12 credit hours). These certificates are granted jointly by PPU and Centralia College.
Students matriculating in undergraduate or graduate degree programs can petition to use these continuing education course credits to satisfy elective or independent study requirements, as permitted by their institution. Transcripts and program descriptions can be provided for students as needed.
Undergraduate credit hours are earned through Centralia College. No additional steps are required and information will be supplied upon request.
Standard grading (A-F) will apply. The Practicum course is graded as Pass/Fail. Students can access the course grade book online.Students who do not complete all required work by the end of the academic quarter will receive a grade of Incomplete and are asked to submit outstanding assignments before the close of the following quarter. At that time, the grade will default to whatever grade the completed work merits.
Beginning in 2012, the tuition for each 3-credit course will be $450 for Planned Parenthood staff and $600 for those from outside Planned Parenthood. Tuition may be higher in subsequent years. Additional costs include all required texts.
Not at this time. The tuition for Planned Parenthood staff has been set as low as possible, to support affiliates with limited training budgets to access these programs. More than half of the tuition goes to the host college for the student’s enrollment in their continuing education credit program. Some affiliates are exploring finding local grants to support staff attendance.
Yes, to make sure students are registered through the host institution (Centralia College) and have timely access to the online course materials, registration must be completed several weeks prior to the beginning of each course.
There is no registration limit for these courses, but where registration is greater than15 students for an online course, students will be grouped in virtual learning teams with separate instructor contacts.
The first course is open to anyone and can be taken as a stand-alone; it is the prerequisite to the subsequent courses of both programs. Since these certificate programs are working toward national standards (so that the understanding of what constitutes competencies in these areas are truly portable between Planned Parenthood affiliates and related family planning agencies) we hope participants will decide to complete the entire sequence.
How do I register?
Downloadable registration forms are available online. Select the Registration link on the menu to the left of this page
Technical Requirements and Orientation
What kind of computer equipment do I need?
You will need a computer that gives you access to the Internet. In order to complete and submit assignments, you will need word-processing capability – MS-Word is preferred, but other programs can work as well. You will probably want to print out many of the online resource materials.
How will I learn to use the online program?
When you are first registered for these courses, you will receive a login and password for the online course management program and access to an online tutorial. Orientation sessions for new students are scheduled by telephone conference. Ongoing technical support with the program is available throughout the course through instructor and PPGNW support staff.
Program Content, Instructors, Outcomes
What level of sexuality educator is the Human Sexuality: Overview for?
Our students have included educators ranging from relatively new PP community education staff to extremely experienced Education Directors, and clinic staff with a range of experience. While the content was freshest for the more recent hires, there were a number of people with more experience who found that they received substantial new or in-depth information and material. The course may be very appropriate for someone whose training was generally on-the-job. If an educator has extensive academic training in human sexuality, it is possible for this prerequisite to be waived – faculty will review the applicant’s background and determine whether this is possible.
How can clinic staff use the Patient Education certificate (i.e., pregnancy counseling)?
We use the term Patient Education rather than counseling, to be consistent with PPFA’s preference for language that describes front-line patient support provided by staff who do not necessarily have professional counseling credentials. Our intention is that those who complete the Patient Education certificate will demonstrate
• substantive knowledge about human sexuality, birth control methods, pregnancy options, STDs and other topics relating to clinical services, and the ability to articulate this knowledge.
• understanding of and practical skills in approaches such as Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing and other communication and problem-solving models. It is the goal of Planned Parenthood University that a person who has completed this program would have competencies recognized nationally as those necessary and appropriate for providing excellent one-on-one client-centered patient education.
Who are the instructors?
Courses are taught by experienced professional master teachers from the education and training departments of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and other affiliates nationwide.
What other organizations recognize these certificates?
We have received formal endorsements from PPFA, AASECT and SIECUS.
AASECT accepts the Sexuality Educator certificate in partial completion of their credential in the area of sexuality education.
Updated 6/2010
