Conceptual bases of sexual and gender diversity

Conceptual bases of sexual and gender diversity

Overview

This micro-credential aims to establish a common terminological foundation, precisely defining and differentiating key concepts such as sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, in order to ensure rigorous and unbiased language use. It also addresses the main theoretical models that explain the psychological and social construction of sexual and gender diversity, promoting a critical understanding of heteronormativity as a social structure. Finally, it seeks to standardize students' knowledge levels, ensuring a cross-cutting theoretical foundation that allows them to progress gradually toward more complex and applied content.

Goals

  • Establish the terminological basis: accurately define and differentiate the fundamental concepts of sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, ensuring that students use a unified and unbiased vocabulary for the development of subsequent content.
  • Understanding social construction: analyzing the theoretical models that explain the psychological and social construction of affective-sexual and gender diversity, laying the foundations for a critical understanding of heteronormativity as a social structure.
  • Homogenize the level of knowledge: ensure that all students acquire the essential and transversal level of theoretical knowledge about diversity before tackling specialized pathways, allowing effective progression towards more complex and applied content.

Access requirements

Students must be between 25 and 64 years old on the date the training begins.

A university degree is not required to access this micro-credential. However, students wishing to access it must meet the following access requirements:

  • Baccalaureate.
  • Higher vocational training cycle (senior technician).

Academic program

Contents

Basic terminology: LGBTQIA+, biological sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

History and evolution of sexual and gender diversity movements.

Intersectionality and sexual diversity.

Heteronormativity and cisnormativity as systems of oppression.

Methodology and activities

  • Theoretical classes: expository, explanatory or demonstration sessions of the contents and knowledge.
  • Independent work: independent and self-regulated activity of the student based on the documentation and guidelines proposed in the subject, preparation of classes and exams, preparation of final reports, internship reports…
  • Tutoring (individual, group…): activity in which the teaching staff attends to, facilitates and guides one or more students in the training process.
  • Assessment: continuous assessment tests and final exams. Tests may be in person or online, and may be written, oral, or consist of practical exercises.

The methodology to be followed will be as follows:

  • Lectures/expository method: presentation or explanation by the
  • faculty.
  • Assessment: written tests, oral tests, practical tests, …
  • Tutoring: instruction period in which teachers and students interact with the aim of reviewing and discussing materials and topics presented in class.
  • Active methodologies: cooperative learning, project-based learning, flipped classroom, service learning, game-based learning, case studies, problem solving… These are aimed at making learning a participatory process and are based on student agency.

Evaluation criteria

  • Objective tests (true/false, multiple choice, test-type, fill-in-the-blank, ordering, etc.): These are measurement instruments that allow for the evaluation of knowledge, skills, performance, aptitudes, etc. The answers are closed-ended, thus promoting objectivity during the scoring process.
  • Case studies, exercises and problems: tests in which students must solve, in a reasoned manner, within a certain time, and according to the established criteria, the cases, exercises or problems posed by the teaching staff, with the aim of applying the knowledge acquired.

General information

Credits: 5 ECTS

Duration: 16/03/26 – 29/05/2026

Teaching modality: Virtual

Location: Virtual classroom

Registration fee: €108.75

Registration
More info and registration help

The cost of tuition for this Microcredential will be subsidized by the 'Plan for the development of university microcredentials', investment 6 of component 21 of the Addendum to the 'Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan', financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU, year 2025.

Flexibility

Short courses available in various formats (in-person, online, or hybrid). Ideal for learning without interrupting your professional life.

Employability

Content created and delivered by professionals and experts in the field, designed for immediate application.

Certification

Endorsed by the University of La Laguna. You will receive an official ECTS certificate, valid in the European Higher Education Area.

Teaching staff

Jesus Manuel Garcia Acosta

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