ADOLESCENCE
Psychology 342, Fall 2012
UMass Boston
Instructor: Jean Rhodes, Office: Wheatley Hall, Forth Floor 148, 7-6368
Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:00-1:00 PM oba, email Jean.Rhodes@umb.edu
Class Time: Tues. Thurs 9:30-10:45 Class Location: Wheatley W01-0057
Course Description & Objectives
Adolescence is a time of risk and opportunity. It is a fascinating period of development
because of the many biological and psychosocial changes that take place. This course focuses
on such changes, taking a perspective that emphasizes socio-cultural and contextual
influences on developmental processes and outcomes. The course will have three major
units. In the first, students will learn about the major theories regarding adolescence, and
details of the various aspects of development (biological, cognitive, identity, and moral
development). The second unit will focus on adolescents’ relationships with their families,
peers and romantic and sexual partners. Lastly, the third unit will examine the roles of
adolescents in various contexts (school, work, communities), emerging adulthood, as well as
intervention and prevention strategies to address these problems. Cultural issues such as
race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and nationality, will be
incorporated throughout the course.
Course Structure
The course meets two times per week and will be a mix of lecture, multimedia, small group
activities, and discussion. It is important that students come to class on time, participate in
discussions and activities, and prepare by keeping up with the readings.
Required Text
Santrock, J. W. (2012). Adolescence. 13th or 14th Edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.
Course Requirements
Lower Exam Grade (1)
20%
Higher Exam Grades (2)
40%
Paper
30%
Class Participation
10%
Exams: There will be two in-class exams. These exams will each cover roughly half of the
course material, focusing primarily on areas of overlap between lectures and textbook
readings. Some questions, however, will include information only covered in lecture or only
covered in the text. Your lower exam grade will be worth 10% of your final grade, and your
higher exam grades will each be worth 40% of your final grade (50% total). If you will not be
able to be in class on an exam date, please let me know as soon as possible. Make-up exams
are intended for exceptional circumstances only (e.g., illness, family emergency). There is no
cumulative final exam for this course.
Papers: OpEds (20%) This assignment is intended to give you an opportunity to relate the
topics discussed in class to a current issue in the news. In particular, you will be required to
write an oped on a topic related to adolescents or young adults (approximately 500-1000
words) and to submit it to both me and a newspaper for consideration. Take a look at OpEds
in the Herald and Globe and you’ll see the average format and length. If you get it published
in a local newspaper, it’s an automatic A for the assignment. If it get’s published in a national
newspaper you get an automatic A AND a half-grade increase on your final grade for the
class (i.e., B+ becomes A, etc). In writing it, you apply and integrate content from class. It
should take the following format: “Hook”—what is in the news that touches on your issue of
interest. Statement of the problem, statement of the suggested solution. One grade (e.g. A to
B) will be deducted for each day it is late.
Class Participation: It is important that you come to class on time, actively participate in
small and large group activities and discussions, and listen attentively. You do not need to let
me know if you will be missing class. Please keep up with the assigned reading and ask any
questions you have about reading during discussion. Class participation will be worth 10%
of your final grade.
Date
Lecture Topic
Reading Due
Unit 1: Theories of Adolescence; Growth and Development
Sept 4 (Tu)
Introduction
Sept 6 (Thur)
Theories of Adolescence
Sept 11 (Tu)
Research Methods
Sept 13 (Thur)
No class-watch Brain documentary
Sept 18 (Tu)
Biological Development
Sept 20 (Thur)
Adolescent Health
Sept 25 (Tu)
Cognitive Development
Sept 27 (Thur)
Cognitive Development
Oct 2 (Tues)
Self & Identity
Oct 4 (Thurs)
Self & Identity
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Oct 9 (Tue)
Moral Development
Oct 11 (Thurs)
Moral Development
Oct 16 (Tues)
Family Relationships
Oct 18 (Thurs)
Family/Peer Relationships
Oct 23 (Tues)
Peer Relationships
Oct 25 (Thurs)
MIDTERM EXAM
Oct 30 (Tues)
Gender Development
Nov 1 (Thurs)
Gender Development
Nov 6 (Tues)
Sexuality & Romantic Relationships
Nov 8 (Thurs)
Sexuality & Romantic Relationships
Nov 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Withdrawal / Pass-Fail Deadline
Nov 13 (Tues)
Schools & Education
Nov 15 (Thurs)
Schools and Education
Nov 20 (Tues)
Work & Career Development
Nov 22 (Thurs)
Thanksgiving Day – No Class
Nov 27 (Tues)
Work & Career Development
OPED DUE
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Transition to
Adulthood.
Nov 29 (Thurs)
Work & Career Development
What is it
about 20
somethings?
Dec 4 (Tues)
Digital Media
Chapter 12
Dec 6(W)
Emerging Adulthood
emerging
adulthood.
Dec 11 (F)
Review and Wrap Up
Dec 13 (M)
IN CLASS TEST
Course Policies & Additional Information
Special services: If you have a disability and feel you will need accommodations in order to
complete course requirements, please contact the Ross Center for Disability Services (Campus Center
UL Rm 211; 617-287-7430.
Academic Support Services (Campus Center 1st floor 1700, 617-287-6550) provides for students in
need of tutoring, including in subject matter, math, reading and writing.
Academic Honesty: The University strictly adheres to a Code of Student Conduct regarding issues of
cheating, plagiarism, or other inappropriate behavior that interferes with the educational
environment. Please review the sections on Academic Standards, Cheating, and Plagiarism, sections II
and IV, and V of the Code of Student Conduct in the University Undergraduate Catalog or : Please see
UMB code. I
Student Contact Information: If you have not already done so, it is important that you forward your
University email to an email address that you check regularly. WISER allows professors to contact
you via your University email account and that address will be used for any needed communications.
Policy on Incompletes: Incomplete grades can only be given if a student is in good standing and is
prevented from completing the course by circumstances that have been documented and are beyond
her/his control. Incompletes are given only in special circumstances when the majority of work has
been completed with a passing grade.
Incompletes: Incompletes are meant to be used only in cases of extreme medical or personal
emergency. If a situation of this type should arise I would need to be contacted as soon as possible so
that a contract could be negotiated to outline what work would need to be finished and in what time
frame. I reserve the right to ask for documentation of the emergency should the need arise.
Academic Honesty: Please see UMB code. I require all students to do their own work, to cite
references appropriately, and to maintain academic integrity and honesty. Any violations will be
reported to the administration of the University of Massachusetts Boston. In addition, you will
receive a failing grade for that assignment/test and in most cases a failing grade for the course.
Please review the sections on Academic Standards, Cheating, and Plagiarism (p 358-359) in the
University Undergraduate Catalog. If you still have questions about Academic Honesty or
expectations in this course, see me well prior to the due date of the assignment.
Special Assistance: The University of Massachusetts Boston provides academic support for students
who are in need of advising and/or tutoring. I can help direct you to these services or Academic
Support (Campus Center 1-1300, 617-287-6550, www.academicsupport.umb.edu) can assist you. In
accordance with Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, the university attempts to accommodate all students with a documented
disability. Through the Ross Center for Disability Services, various aids such as sign language
interpreting, readers, testing accommodations, etc., are available to students. If you believe you
require such services, you should contact the Ross Center (Campus Center, Upper Level Room 211,
617-287-7430, www.rosscenter.umb.edu) as soon as possible.
The Counseling Center: I would like to make sure students are aware of the University Health
Services Counseling Center (Quinn Administration Building, Second Floor, 617-287-5690,
http://www.healthservices.umb.edu/departments/counseling-center/). The Counseling Center
offers a variety of services, including crisis intervention, focused therapy and referrals.