Dual Degree Program Gives Graduates the Skills to be Policy and Sexuality Leaders

Widener’s deep commitment to student success is demonstrated every day by preparing students to be leaders in the most in-demand fields. 

Widener’s dual degree program for a Master of Education (MEd) in human sexuality studies and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) has been preparing graduates at a time when sexual health and education issues are in the spotlight across the United States. 

The program, spearheaded by James Vike, associate dean of social sciences, and Justin Sitron, associate professor of human sexuality studies, prepares students to work at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and sexuality in a one-of-a-kind program.

Students pursuing the dual degree gain greater understanding of the dynamic and complex non-profit and policy sectors and build skills to manage organizations providing health and education services and effectively advocate for policies that promote people’s sexual and relational health. 

“Many students studying human sexuality hope to go into the non-profit sector, but once there, they aren’t necessarily adept to undertake the numerous administrative roles such as economic development, fundraising, strategic communications,” said Vike. 

He continues by emphasizing that the same applies to the policy and regulation aspects of non-profits and non-governmental organizations.

“Students need to understand who they’re dealing with—whether federal, state, or local governments—and learn the nuances of each,” he said. 

This was true for Jada Wittow ’22. Having worked in non-profit and government areas prior to attending graduate school, Wittow was interested in pursuing a sexuality degree. Her research led her to Widener.   

“I knew I wanted to pursue a career in sexuality but thought the dual degree would help because an MPA is a broadly useful degree for the non-profit and public sector, which is where I knew I’d likely work in the future,” she said. 

“Providing our graduates with a road to becoming leading sexologists via Widener’s MEd program is already a major benefit. With the dual degree, our students going into the fields of education, reproductive rights and sexuality, will have a full comprehension of how policies set at the local, state, and federal levels impact the scope of individual rights, as well,” said Sitron. 

Wittow currently works as a health educator at a community health organization in Seattle. Working at the organization’s school-based health centers, her primary focus is to provide education on sexual and reproductive health including on-on-one counseling with students about contraceptives and working with teachers to give guest lessons on sex education in classes. 

“My degree has helped me further by career goals because it gave me the background I need to be qualified for a position as a sexuality educator. The classes I took in the MEd program gave me tools that have helped me create lessons and be a good educator for youth,” said Wittow. 

The dual degree MEd/MPA program has continued to grow since its start in 2019, and widespread national debate about issues rooted in sexuality – particularly in recent years – makes this program more relevant than ever. 

“I think the human sexuality field is so important! The current legislation that has been happening regarding LGBTQIA+ rights, trans rights, and abortion makes it clear the policy importance,” said Wittow. 

“We know that our students have the desire to go forth and to do good. The challenge for us became, ‘how do we really show them how to pursue this—how to go from limited to limitless?’” said Vike. “This dual-degree program is working to do just that.”