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BLACK HAWK COLLEGE
PSYCHOLOGY 260
Adolescent Psychology
Black Hawk College (http://www.bhc.edu)
Spring Semester, 2008
INSTRUCTOR: William Hampes, Professor
Department of Social, Behavioral, and Educational Studies
OFFICE: 1-474
OFFICE PHONE: 796-5420
E-MAIL:
OFFICE HOURS: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Mondays and Wednesdays: 2:15-2:45 and 4:45–5:15 p.m.
Thursdays: 1:45 – 3:15 p.m.
Other office hours may be arranged by appointment
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Adolescence, 8th edition, Steinberg, Lawrence, (2005), McGraw-Hill: Boston, MA
Website: There is a website for the textbook (www.mhhe.com/steinberg7) at which you can access practice quizzes and other helpful activities.
COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT: Black Hawk College provides the environment and resources for individuals to become life-long learners.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prerequisite, Psychology 101.
Integrates theory and empirical research as related to adolescent, biological, cognitive, and social development (such as family relationships, friendships, and peer relations); and such related issues as school experience, career choice, the college experience, self-identity, adjustment, and the development of intimacy and sexuality. 3 credit hours.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Apply developmental theories and research to compare and contrast physical,
social, emotional, cognitive, and moral development during early, middle, and
late adolescence.
2. Describe research methodologies as applied to the study of adolescence.
3. Appraise differences among cultural groups’ beliefs and customs that affect adolescence.
4. Analyze differences of family, peers, and society on adolescence, including such issues as school and college experiences, vocational development and career choice, intimacy, sexuality, identity, and personal adjustment.
5. Assess such adolescent problems as delinquency, psychological disturbances, and drug use.
6. Describe ways in which the APA code of ethics applies to the study of adolescence.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken and is crucial for success in the course. If a student comes in after roll is called, it is his or her responsibility to see the instructor after class to correct the roll. Any student missing more than half a class will be marked absent.
TESTS: There will be five examinations, each worth 60 points, consisting of 50 multiple choice questions and a take-home essay question.
MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS: No students will receive make-ups for tests they have taken. There will be two make-up times chosen by the instructor during the semester.
POSITION PAPER: Also required is a paper two full pages, double spaced, at least 50 lines, outlining a position on an issue in the area of Adolescent Psychology, worth 25 points. For example, you might take a position for (or against) the legalization of marijuana, for (or against) lowering the drinking age to 18, for (or against) sex education in high school, for (or against) handing out condoms in high school, for (or against) dress codes in high school, for (or against) day care in high schools for the children of students, etc. Note that on each of these issues you could take an extreme for or against position, or a more moderate one in the middle. For example, you could take the position that everyone in high school should have access to condoms, no one in high school should have access to condoms, or a more moderate position that only seniors should have access to condoms. In the body of the paper you should have five scholarly references supporting your position, and these references should be listed alphabetically and in the format of the American Psychological Association in the back of the paper. If you do not get the full 25 points, you have the option of redoing the paper to try to get the maximum points. The topic for the position paper is due February 2. Two copies of the paper are due March 16, one to be kept by the instructor, one to be handed back graded to the student. Two points will be taken off of the grade for every school day the paper is overdue. A school day is any day Monday through Saturday BHC is open.
INTERVIEW: Students in the class will be required to do an interview to acquaint them with that method and to help them learn from firsthand experience about a topic in the course. For example, you might interview an adolescent about his or her relationship with his or her parents or about his or her vocational plans. You should hand in a verbatim word-for-word typed (size 12 font) transcript of the interview at least three double-spaced pages long, which should come to at least 75 lines. As an introduction to the interview, the student should put down any relevant information he or she knew about the subject before the interview (e.g. “the subject is a 17 year old female high school junior”). The subject should be anonymous, which means that the subject’s name and relationship to the interviewer should not be given. You will receive 25 points for the interview. If your project is not long enough or done properly, it will be handed back to you to be extended or redone. What I mainly want is the student to stay on track in his or her interview with relevant questions. The name of the topic area should be given verbally to the instructor by February 2. Two copies of the written portion of the project are due by April 22, one to be kept by the instructor, and one to be given back to the student graded. Two points will be taken off the grade of the project for every school day it is overdue. (A school day is any day Monday through Saturday that BHC is open.)
EXTRA CREDIT: For 10 extra credit points the student will read their position paper to the class as a way of stimulating discussion of the issue involved.
SCORING STANDARDS: There is a maximum of 350 points in the course with the following grading scale.
A = 315 and above
B = 280 - 314
C = 245 - 279
D = 210 - 244
F = 209 and below
STUDENT HANDBOOK: Check your current BHC Student Handbook for important information about college processes, policies, and procedures.
ADA ACCOMMODATION: If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, please contact your instructor and the Office of Student Accommodations, at 796-5949/796-5903 (TTY) (Quad-Cities Campus) or at (309)
852-6222.
COURSE OUTLINE
The Study of Adolescent Development Introduction
Biological Transitions Chapter 1
Cognitive Transitions Chapter 2
FIRST EXAMINATION
Social Transitions Chapter 3
Families Chapter 4
SECOND EXAMINATION
Peer Groups Chapter 5
Schools Chapter 6
Work, Leisure, and the Mass Media Chapter 7
THIRD EXAMINATION
Identity Chapter 8
Autonomy Chapter 9
Intimacy Chapter 10
FOURTH EXAMINATION
Sexuality Chapter 11
Achievement Chapter 12
Psychosocial Problems in Adolescence Chapter 13
FINAL EXAMINATION