The mission of the Department of Human Sexuality Studies is to " advance multidisciplinary teaching, research, and advocacy in sexuality studies, sexual literacy, well being and social justice." We provide students with knowledge about processes and variations in sexual cultures, sexual identity and gender role formation, and the social, cultural, historical, and ethical foundations of sexuality, intimate relationships, and sexual health. Research training in the field of human sexuality studies is occurring slowly in the United States therefore our Department strives to:

- Educate the next generation of leaders in research and dissemination of knowledge
- Excel in teaching graduate and undergraduate students
- Advance quality research on sexuality, gender, and social justice
- Integrate analyses of race, racism, heterosexism, homophobia, abelism, poverty,and cultural into all aspects of our program
- Advocate for social policy on sexuality, sexual health, sexual education and human rights, shaped by social justice and diversity and through these effort shape the first of sexuality studies in 21st century

SFSU's broad-based multidisciplinary program in sexuality study is uniquely suited to provide leadership in sexuality research training in California, with a history of 35 years of undergraduate teaching, strong general education representation in the university curriculum, and knowledge that spans the arts, sciences, and humanities.

In 2001, the program officially initiated a new "Master of Arts Department of Human Sexuality Studies," the first of its kind in the state, and perhaps the only MA specifically dedicated to "sexuality studies" in a public accredited university in the US.

The program boasts a core faculty of 5 with numerous interdisciplinary faculty. The program has a long commitment to community building and focuses on issues of social justice and sexuality, including the impact of factors of social inequality - such as poverty, racism,marriage equality and homophobia - upon sexual well-being and sexual health across the course of life. This theme is emphasized in the Institute on Sexuality, Social Inequality and Health which houses our National Sexuality Resource Center(NSRC) and the Center for Research on Gender and Sexuality(CRGS).