Course Syllabus
Athabasca University
Revision 3 closed May 9, 2007, replaced by current version.
View previous syllabus
Delivery mode: Individualized study or grouped study. Online-enhanced.
Credits: 3 - Social Science
Prerequisite: PSYC 289, PSYC 290, PSYC 228, or an equivalent course recommended.
Centre: Centre for Psychology
PSYC 350 has a Challenge for Credit option.
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Psychology 350: Adolescent Psychology examines the physical, cognitive, social, and moral development of adolescents in the contexts of family, peers, school, work, and the media. Major theories, methods of studying, development, and contemporary adolescent issues and concerns (e.g., sexuality and suicide) are discussed.
This course should be useful to parents, teachers, or any individuals who deal with adolescents in their work.
Unit 1: The Fundamentals
o Lesson 1: Introduction
o Lesson 2: Biological Foundations
o Lesson 3: Cognitive Functions
Unit 2: Expanding the Essentials
o Lesson 4: Cultural Beliefs
o Lesson 5: Gender
o Lesson 6: The Self
Unit 3: The Intimate Contexts
o Lesson 7: Family Relationships
o Lesson 8: Friends and Peers
o Lesson 9: Dating, Love, and Sexuality
Unit 4: The Larger Contexts
o Lesson 10: School
o Lesson 11: Work
o Lesson 12: Media
Unit 5: Problems and Prospects
o Lesson 13: Problems
o Lesson 14: Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood in the Twenty-first Century
To receive credit for PSYC 350, you must complete the course quizzes, an assignment, and an examination. You must achieve a course composite grade of at least �D� (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Unit Quizzes (5 quizzes) | Written Assignment | Final Exam | Total |
| 30% | 30% | 40% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Arnett, J. J. (2004). Adolescence and emerging adulthood: A cultural approach (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, a reading file, and an assignment manual.