Key Issues in Adolescent Sexual and Repr

This graduate seminar examines key issues in adolescent sexual and reproductive health research. The course emphasizes how research shapes policy, clinical practice, advocacy, and public health programming for adolescents. Using a journal club format, students will critically read, discuss, and debate both classic and emerging research through a combination of student-led presentations, guided deconstruction of scientific papers, and collaborative discussion. Students will learn how to evaluate the quality and relevance of diverse research designs, compare findings across studies, and identify gaps in the evidence. This 7-week course will also introduce students to the thoughtful and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools to support scholarly work, including literature discovery, question development, synthesis, and scientific communication, while emphasizing critical judgment, transparency, and verification of sources. Topics include adolescent sexuality, sexual health communication, abstinence-only programs, STI prevention and testing, sexual violence, abortion, LGBTQ+ health, and other emerging issues in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to interpret evidence, lead informed discussions, and apply research to their future work in public health, clinical care, education, and policy.