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Psychology 430: Adolescent Psychology

Monday & Wednesday, 9:00-1:00

Summer 2006

 

Professor: Moin Syed, MA                                         Email: msyed@ucsc.edu         

Office: EP 504                                                            Web: http://psych.ucsc.edu/grads/msyed/         

Office hours: Mon & Wed, immediately after class

                                                                                             

Required Text

Arnett, J. J. (2001). Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach, 2nd Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. (A copy is available in the Reserve Room in the library.)

 

Other Requirements

Some information will be available through the class website only (see URL above). It is the student’s responsibility to check the website frequently for updates and announcements. Additionally, all handouts given in class will be posted on the site.

 

Course Description

This class is intended to be an introduction to the psychology of individuals in the second and third decades of life, the periods often referred to as adolescence and emerging adulthood, respectively. Adolescence is considered a period of transition in which biological, cognitive, and social characteristics change from being child-like in nature to adult-like. This course will emphasize that adolescence is a dynamic developmental period marked by diverse changes for different youth. Class sessions will include a mix of lecture, activities, and videos.

 

Quizzes

There will be four quizzes this semester in lieu of full exams. The quizzes will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and will cover material from lecture and the text, as well as any activities, videos, or supplemental readings. Your lowest quiz grade will not be counted towards your final grade in the class. Accordingly, there will be absolutely no make-up quizzes. If you miss a quiz, for whatever reason, it will count as your dropped quiz.

 

Papers

To supplement classroom learning you will be required to write two short papers (3 pages each) on topics pertaining to adolescence. The first paper will be due Wednesday, July 19th and the second paper will be due Monday, August 7th. More details will be given in class and will be available on the class web site.

 

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory and will be counted toward your final grade. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class, at the end, or both; so come to class and please stay! If you do miss class, you are responsible for getting the notes from another student.

 

Extra Credit

Students may receive extra credit for participating in a research study that was approved by the instructor. If there is a lack of opportunities, or if a student does not wish to participate in research, an alternate opportunity will be provided. The maximum extra credit available is 5 points. No exceptions.

 

Grading                             Points            Percent                   93-100%   A                    77-79%    C+

Quizzes (3 best of 4)           180              (45%)                    90-92%     A-                  73-76%    C

Papers (2)                          160              (40%)                    87-89%     B+                  70-72%    C-

Attendance                           60              (15%)                    83-86%     B                    60-69%    D

Total                                  400            (100%)                    80-82%     B-                   00-59%    F

 

Students with Disabilities

If you have any type of learning or physical disabilities please notify the instructor before the second class so that we can accommodate you.

 

General Education (Segment III)

This course is part of the Segment III cluster (Human Development) of the GE program. Students must have completed 60 units by the end of the semester in which they take this course in order for it to count in the Segment III cluster. This course fulfills the Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD) requirement for GE Segment III.

 

Computers

If you don't have a computer, there are computers available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except for holiday periods at the Computer Lab on the main floor of the J. Paul Leonard Library.  Other computer labs and hours are listed in the Student Bulletin.

 

Course Schedule:

 

Date                                          Topic                                                              Chapters

 

Mon July 10                                Introduction                                                     1 (pp. 1-18)

 

Wed July 12                               Methods, Theories, and Biology                        1 (pp. 18-31), 2

 

Mon July 17           Quiz              Cognitive Foundations                                      3

 

Wed July 19          Paper 1 Due Cultural Beliefs                                                4

 

Mon July 24           Quiz              Gender                                                            5

 

Wed July 26                               Self and Identity                                               6

 

Mon July 31           Quiz              Family Relationships                                         7

 

Wed August 2                            Friends, Peers & Dating                                   8

 

Mon August 7        Paper 2 Due Media and Problems                                        12

 

Wed August 9       Quiz              Enjoy the rest of summer!                               

 

Please note that the schedule will be followed as closely as possible, but may vary depending on the pace of the class. All changes will be announced in class and it is your responsibility to keep up with those changes.