PSYCHOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE
DEP 3305 – Section B51
FALL 2008
College of Arts & Sciences – Department of Psychology
Instructor:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office & Office Hours:
Arlene Garcia
305-348-2868
agarc076@fiu.edu (this is the BEST way to reach me)
By appointment only, please contact me through email to
make an appointment.
Course Days, Time & Room:
Tuesdays and Thursday s, 6:25pm – 7:40pm, A1 194
_________________________________________________________________________
REQUIRED TEXT: Steinberg, L. (2008). Adolescence, (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is intended to provide a basic introduction to psychology of adolescence.
Consideration will be given to:
(1) fundamental changes of adolescence such as biological, cognitive, and social processes,
(2) contexts of adolescence such as families, peer groups, schools, and work/leisure, and
(3) psychosocial development during adolescence such as identity, autonomy, intimacy,
sexuality, achievement, and psychological adversities.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
A. At the end of the course the student should be familiar with the content of each of these
major themes of adolescent development.
B. The student should be able to identify clinical implications in adolescent development.
C. The student should be able to link course concepts with current adolescent controversial
issues.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
EXAMS
There will be three exams, which include the final exam. All exams will consist of
multiple-choice format and will cover material presented in lectures and text readings. The
final exam will not be cumulative. The first two exams will account for 30% of your final
grade and the final exam will account for 40%. Students are expected to be on time for
every exam. Students that arrive more than 15 minutes late to the exam WILL NOT be
allowed to take the exam and WILL NOT receive a make up or any adjustments under
ANY circumstances.
MAKE-UPS
Please note that, THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. If you miss an exam you will
receive 0 points for that particular exam. If an extreme emergency arises, you must contact
the instructor PRIOR to the exam and provide adequate documentation. A make up exam
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WILL NOT be provided. However, alternate arrangements may be made in cases where
the student contacted the instructor prior to the exam and can provide adequate
documentation for their extreme emergency.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Participation is welcome and encouraged. Participation includes contributing
knowledgeably to discussions.
A few group rules are helpful, especially if the class is large.
(1) Everyone has a chance to participate. Feel free to ask questions or join in.
(2) No “side talk,” it is very distracting to people trying to listen or talk.
(3) No “put-downs,” everyone is entitled to their opinion and deserves respect.
TEACHING METHODS
The teaching methods will consist of lectures and assigned text readings.
ATTENDANCE AND SCHOLARLY CONDUCT
Formal attendance in class is required, but it will not be policed. It is your responsibility to come
to class, or to otherwise obtain information presented in class from another class member. To do
well in this class, you will need to attend class lectures, as some of the material presented in class
will not be found in your textbook.
Students will be treated with respect and courtesy and I expect the same. In order to create
an environment that is conducive to learning in a large lecture hall, it is critical that your in-class
behavior contributes to a positive learning environment. Thus, behaviors that are disruptive will
not be tolerated.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Any student caught cheating on an exam will receive a grade of “F” for the course. Please refer
to the university’s Code of Academic Integrity found in your student handbook for the
disciplinary sanctions and procedures.
OTHER CLASS POLICIES
The university is committed to the principle that there shall be no differences in the treatment of
persons because of race, creed, national origin, age, sex, or disability, and that equal opportunity
and access to all facilities shall be available to all. Any student that may require special
accommodations for this course should make this known to the instructor during the first week of
class.
COURSE GRADE
The final grade for this course will be based on the average of three computer scored objective
examinations, each covering approximately one third of the course content and the discussion
presentation grade. The computer will calculate the total number of points each student receives
for each exam as well as a frequency distribution for the entire class. The letter grade equivalent
of a student's score on each exam will be based on the percentage of questions correctly
answered using the following ranges:
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A = 94% to 100%
A- = 90% to 93%
B+ = 87% to 89%
B = 84% to 86%
B- = 80% to 83%
C+ = 77% to 79%
C = 74% to 76%
C- = 70% to 73%
D+ = 67% to 69%
D = 64% to 66%
D- = 60% to 63%
F = 0% to 59%
*** UNIVERSITY DROP DATES ***
SPRING 2008 SEMESTER: August 25th – December 13th
Final Exam Week: December 8th – 13th
September 2nd
Drop/Add Period ends.
Last day to complete late registration.
Last day to drop courses or withdraw from the University without incurring a financial liability.
October 17th
Last day to drop a course with a DR grade.
Last day to withdraw from the University with a WI grade.
COURSE OUTLINE
Disclaimer: This is a tentative course outline/schedule that is subject to change. Your
understanding and flexibility are greatly appreciated.
DATE
08/26/08
08/28/08
09/02/08
09/04/08
09/09/08
09/11/08
09/16/08
09/18/08
09/23/08
09/25/08
09/30/08
10/02/08
10/07/08
10/09/08
10/14/08
10/16/08
10/21/08
10/23/08
10/28/08
10/30/08
11/04/08
11/06/08
READINGS & TOPICS
Introductions & Overview of Course
Chapter 1: Biological Transitions (only pgs. 34-58)
Chapter 2: Cognitive Transitions
Chapter 3: Social Transitions
Chapter 4: Families
Chapter 5: Peer Groups
Exam # 1: Chpts. 1, 2, 3, & 4 (Chapter 5 will not be on this exam)
Chapter 6: Schools
Chapter 7: Work & Leisure
Chapter 8: Identity
Exam # 2: Chpts. 5, 6, 7, & 8
Chapter 9: Autonomy
Chapter 9: Autonomy
Chapter 10: Intimacy
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11/11/08
11/13/08
11/18/08
11/20/08
11/25/08
11/27/08
12/02/08
12/04/08
Week of
12/08/06
Chapter 10: Intimacy
Chapter 11: Sexuality
Chapter 11: Sexuality
Chapter 12: Achievement
Chapter 12: Achievement
UNIVERSITY CLOSED: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!
Chapter 13: Psychosocial Problems in Adolescence
Exam 3:FINAL EXAM Chpts. 9, 10, 11, & 12
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