Course Form (revised 7-2008)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
APPLIED ARTS & SCIENCES
Course #
Course Title
ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY
PSYX 238
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New COURSE
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
LINDA EAGLEHEARTTHOMAS
Phone/ email :
406 243-7906
Linda.eagleheart@umontana.edu
Program Chair/Director:
Cathy Corr
Other affected programs:
None
Dean:
Date
09/18/09
Barry Good
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into section V or
attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits, repeatability (if
applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
PSYX 238, U, Adolescent Psychology, Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
Prerequisite Skills and Knowledge: Students taking this course should have a working knowledge of the principles of psychology as it
applies to human behavior. Pre-requisites of Developmental Psychology (PSYX 230S) or Introductory Psychology (PSYX 100S) or
consent of instructor.
Course Description: This course is designed to study adolescence as an important stage of human development by providing an
introduction to the developmental changes as well as interpersonal relationships and cultural influences that occur during
adolescence. Individual aspects of development that shape adolescent development as well as the behavioral problems that can
occur during the teen years include: stressors that contribute to low achievement, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, delinquency,
and emotional problems. Those who work with adolescents or anyone interested in how our society can be improved by
fostering the development of its young people will benefit from this course.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
This course is a required course for the proposed addictions studies AA degree and the 2+2 program Pre
professional in Social Work pursuant to an articulated agreement with the UM School of Social Work.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
No,
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment (Reference guidelines:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/gradIncrement.aspx)
Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions determined by the Board of
Regents. Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
From:
YES
NO
XX
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
To:
Repeatability
Cross Listing (primary
program initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
4. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to
guidelines? Please check (X) space provided.
UG. Reference guidelines at:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/committees
/grad_council/procedures/gradIncrement.aspx
(syllabus required in section V)
5. Other programs affected by the change
6. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send digital
copy with form.
College of Technology
ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY PSYX 291 / 238
Supplemented with Black Board
Fall 2009
Instructor:
Class Dates & Location:
It is taught FACE to FACE, using Blackboard
Professor: Dr. Linda Eagleheart-Thomas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
(http://courseware.umt.edu) as a supplement. Login using your ID
and password.
Contact Information:
Phone: 243-7906
Email: mailto:linda.eagleheart@umontana.edu
Website: www.myspace.com/dreagleheart
NOTE: In every email, you will use the following format in the
subject line:
PSYX291.50, Assignment Name & #.
EXAMPLE:
PSYX291.50, JONES, SALLY, Teenage Diary Paper #1
Virtual Office Hours in Bb:
Chat Room TBA
INSTANT Messengers
Dreagleheart @yahoo.com
Course Textbooks/Materials (required):
1. Textbook: Rice & Dolgin: The Adolescent: Development,
Relationships, and Culture, 12th Edition. Pearson Alan,
Bacon Publishers.
2. Required Readings: Garrod, Smulyan, Powers, &
Kilkenny: Adolescent Portraits: Identity, Relationships &
Challenges. 6th Edition. 2008
3. Companion Website for Students
Contains practice exams, flash cards, chapter reviews
Tech Support:
UMOnline: 406.243.6367;
courseware-support@umontana.edu;
or http://umonline.umt.edu (Contact Us tab)
Course Overview:
How modern society and social forces shape the lives of adolescents today is an important topic. The adolescent is discussed within the
context of contemporary society, including both theory and life experiences as well as psychosocial problems of adolescents. A wide variety
of ethnic, racial, and cultural groups are discussed as adolescents are not all alike. Adolescent development and relationships are explored.
Focus of the course extends to group life and culture of adolescents including subcultures, group life in and out of school, dress, the
importance of the automobile, cell phones and music in adolescent lives. Gender issues are raised in relation to a wide range of topics
including: body image, eating disorders, social development and dating, sexual values and behavior, prevention programs, and others.
Course Description: This course is designed to provide an introduction to the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive developmental
changes that occur during adolescence, as well as their relationships and cultural influences. A particular emphasis will be placed on
individual aspects of development, the contexts and social spheres that shape that development and behavioral problems of adolescence that
result from bio-psychosocial interactions in development. Patterns of continuity and transitions of adolescence in both group and individual
patterns of development will also be addressed.
Course Relevance: This course is designed to study adolescence as an important stage of human development. Adolescents in our society
today are in need of a protected status and place in order to form a personal, integrated identity. This theme is explored in relation to many
topics such as physical growth and emerging sexuality, cognitive changes and the school environment, family influences and parental support,
the role of the peer group in providing a transition from the family to individual autonomy, moral development and the values and goals that
evolves over the course of adolescence. Stresses that contribute to low achievement, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, delinquency, and
emotional problems are also considered.
Who is this course designed for? This course is for a broad range of students. Young people just emerging from adolescence can relate the
material to their own recent experience. Parents and teachers can develop a framework for understanding adolescent development which will
help them to interact with teenagers more effectively. Those who work with adolescents in other capacities will find themselves applying
what they learn to their relationships with young people. Anyone interested in how our society can be improved by fostering the development
of its young people will benefit from this course.
Prerequisite Skills and Knowledge: Students taking this course should have a working knowledge of the principles of psychology as it
applies to human behavior. Pre-requisites or co-requisites of Introductory Psychology (PSYX 100) or Developmental Psychology PSYX230
or equivalent are encouraged.
Expected Student Learning Outcomes:
Learning Outcomes:
To become familiar with developmental theories and apply
them in an analytical way to the world of adolescents.
Assessments:
Structured discussions
Exam that are applied/conceptual
Critically Analyze major theories which attempt to explain
adolescent behavior
Substantive postings to structured discussion with class members
To be able to critically write about themes in the lives of
adolescents
Teenage Diary Paper
Essay Exam Applied & Conceptual Questions
Describe the relevance of racism, sexism, and other
prejudices on adolescent development.
Exams
Case Studies in Portraits readings
Structured Discussion board
Applied essay questions Exam Participation in learning activity
Develop the skills to analyze the impact of an individual’s
unique culture on adolescent development
Communicate an understanding of research techniques
used to address the validity of theoretical approaches to
adolescence
Analyze social factors influencing the interpersonal
attraction and sexual behavior in adolescence
Apply concepts on the relationships between social settings
and adolescent behavior
Exam
Learning activity
Scenario- applied learning activity
Autobiographical Paper
Teen Diaries
Discussion
Internet Exploration on Parenting
Adolescence Through the Decades
Adolescent Images in Advertising
Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of cognitive
development on adolescent behavior
Essay questions
Adolescent music activity
Communicate the understanding of how psychological
principles can be applied to practical issues faced during
adolescence
Essay questions
Adolescent music activity
Adolescent Images in Advertising
Internet Exploration on Parenting
Adolescence Through the Decades
Extra Credit Movie Review of Adolescence [i.e., Girl
Interrupted, Mean Girls, The Secret Life of Bees]
Participation Expectations:
The Adolescent Psychology course is 15 weeks long and will move at a pace designed to assist you in learning the material. Your course
syllabus contains a timeline for completion of reading and as well as Learning Modules, under Week1, Week 2, etc. It includes assignments,
discussions, and other activities for the course.
You will be spending approximately 9 hours in course work tasks. Please plan your time accordingly to be successful in the course. You may
review the materials and navigation of the course before the “official first day.” Also become familiar with the tabs at the top of the
blackboard page [Bb].
By the end of the First Week 09/05, please go to the START HERE of your Bb site and select the “READ & RESPOND tab.”Submit a post
that says “I have read the all the announcements and course materials and expectations. “ This lets us know you are ready to get started and
understand course requirements.
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING: Your grade in this class is weighted on the following scale:

Exams
(4 non-cumulative)
50%

Teen Diary paper
10%

Autobiographical Paper
15%

Module Guided-Learning Activities
20%
o Songs of Adolescents
o Letters to a Son and Daughter
o Adolescent Images in Advertising
o Internet Exploration on Parenting
o Adolescence Through the Decades

Guided Discussion Forums (5)
5%
Grades are based on weighted % of total points available: example 94-100% = A, 90-93.44 = A-, etc… Remember Grades
are weighted, so your grade is not merely total points received divided by possible.
Course Policies and Procedures:
Disabilities and Special Learning Needs:_ Please inform me as soon as possible if you have any disabilities or circumstances that may
require special considerations. It is your responsibility to inform me, at the outset of this course, of any disability and the ways that you and
the DSS have determined are necessary to accommodate
Naming and Submitting Assignments Please name your assignments, your name, assignment, and .docx, .rtf, pdf extension. Please submit
within Bb assignment link. Do NOT email to my UM email account, etc., and please do not use the digital drop box). If I cannot find your
assignments, it will not be graded.
Contacting me via email: Please use the following format when sending me any email correspondence. I will return email within 24 hours,
including weekends. Use the “Ask the professor” for technical questions relating to the structure of the course, or clarification of assignments
or due dates. Please do not refer to your grades or someone else’s in the public forums. Please see the netiquette “Golden Rules” for
participating in an online course.
PSYX100S, Last name, First Name, Assignment Name & #.
EXAMPLE: PSYX100 S, JONES, SALLY, Research Question?
Written work: All written work will be formal college level writing and you will be expected to use appropriate grammar, sentence structure,
follow APA format [See link in course information], 12 point font, double space, 1 inch margins. If you are unsure of your writing ability,
contact the online writing tutor/ or go to the Student ASC. Place your name on the top left corner, and name of assignment under your name,
and finally, date. Please use page numbers.
Module Guided-learning activities:
1. Briefly describe what you did or found as part of the activity.
2. Reflect on what you found or did in the activity.
3. Make connections to the readings for that week. Readings include the Rice text AND the Portraits reader. Be sure to
include citations to the readings. Refer to the source by author’s last name and the year of publication. This style for identifying
source material is used in the textbook (e.g., Rice & Dolgin, 2008).
4. Activities should be typed, double-spaced but brief (~1-2 pages).
5. To save paper (think Green), you will be submitting electronically. You do not need to include a separate title page for these
assignments but be sure to include your name and ID. Also, be sure to list any references that you cite at the end of the paper APA
format for citations and references.
When are assignments graded? Assignments will be graded and posted by the 3rd day of the week following their due date.
Technical Requirements Because this has an online supplement, it is assumed that you have some proficiency with your computer. I am not a
computer technician and so am not a lot of help if you have hard ware or software issues. So if you are having trouble with your internet or
your computers please contact the technical support at the University of Montana. There is a select button in the Menu at the right of the
course shell. http://umonline.umt.edu/StudentInfo/plugins.htm
Course Time Line
Week 1, 2, 3 MODULE #1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Discussion Board 1-Biography
Read & Respond to Netiquette
Learning Activity 1-SONGS OF ADOLESCENTS
APPLIED ASSIGNMENT #1-Teen Diaries
Portraits #1
Exam #1
Week 4, 5, 6 MODULE #2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Discussion Board 2-TO BE ANNOUNCED
Learning Activity 2 -ADOLESCENT IMAGES IN ADVERTISING
APPLIED ASSIGNMENT #2 Adolescents through the decades
Portraits #2
Exam #2
Week 7, 8, 9 MODULE #3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Discussion Board 3-TO BE ANNOUNCED
Learning Activity 3 LETTERS TO A SON AND DAUGHTER
Topic Paper Begin week 7, and DUE by Week 12
Portraits #3
Exam #3
Week 10, 11, 12 MODULE #4
1.
2.
Discussion Board 4-TO BE ANNOUNCED
Learning Activity 4
ACTIVITY 4A INTERNET ASSIGNMENT
ACTIVITY 4B INTERNET ASSIGNMENT
1.
2.
3.
Applied Project PERSONAL REFLECTION PAPER
Portraits #4
Exam #4
Week 13, 14, 15 MODULE #5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Discussion Board 5-TO BE ANNOUNCED
Learning Activity 5
Applied Project -ADOLESCENCE THROUGH THE MOVIES
Portraits #5
Exam #5
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of proposals
and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.