Main Content
Syllabus
PSYCH 412 Adolescence (3) Physical, cognitive, and personality development during adolescence. Prerequisite: PSYCH 100
"When I was fourteen, my parents were so ignorant I could hardly stand to have them around.
But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much they had learned in seven years.”
Course Description
What is adolescence and when does it begin? When does it end? Is this period really a time of storm and stress and are fights with parents normative and healthy? Do you think having a job during high school is beneficial for growth or is there not enough time for truly just “being a teenager” and developing our identity? Is peer pressure necessarily a bad influence and does this mean they no longer listen to their parents’ advice? In this course we will examine and challenge such questions related to the study of adolescence, primarily through three main trajectories: the biological, cognitive, and social transitions that take place during this unique developmental time period.
Prerequisites: Please note that PSYCH100 (Introductory Psychology) is a prerequisite for taking this course. Additionally, while a link will be provided outlining the APA style for writing papers, it is highly suggested that you are familiar with this approach before taking this course.
Objectives
After taking this course, students should have acquired the following skills and/or met the following goals:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major biological, social, and cognitive changes associated with adolescence and emerging adulthood
- Gained insight into the significant misperceptions often portrayed about the time period of adolescence
- Critically evaluate and integrate information from empirical research within the field of adolescence
- Apply their knowledge of adolescence to real-life experiences and reflect on their own personal growth and development during this time period
- Enhance understanding of adolescent behaviors, needs, motives, and feelings to be more effective in dealing with this population in the future
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Expectations
Students are expected to manage their time wisely in order to maintain an appropriate pace to complete all of the requirements before listed deadlines. This is especially true in regards to the interview paper as this assignment has multiple components that often take students a significant portion of the semester to complete. Additionally, students are expected to have read and outlined articles, the lesson and the textbook prior to completing discussion boards. These discussions are designed specifically to integrate and reflect on the knowledge you’ve gained from these resources. By going over the required readings ahead of time, you’ll be more informed and have more that you can contribute to posts and responses.
Late Policy
This is a semester-based course with deadlines. Students are expected to complete work by posted deadlines. Please check the course schedule for the times and dates that assignments are due in this course (times are listed in Eastern Time in North America). Please contact your instructor to discuss legitimate and unavoidable situations that may cause lateness (such as illness, injury or family emergency). If you know that you are going to miss a deadline, please contact your instructor in advance of that deadline to discuss an extension (or if you are not able to contact the instructor before the deadline, as soon as you are able). Decisions regarding extensions will be made at the discretion of the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
In the absence of a legitimate and unavoidable situation, late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and will be penalized up to 10% of the total assignment points for each day of lateness. Unless there is a legitimate and unavoidable situation that causes prolonged lateness, work more than 1 week late will not be accepted.
Grading
- Lesson Quizzes: Just about every week an open-book/open-note quiz (but not open-friend) will be posted on ANGEL. These quizzes are designed to test your knowledge of the material presented in the lesson and text readings that week. Availability to complete each quiz lasts from the morning of the first day of the lesson until 11:59 pm Eastern Time the last day of the lesson (see the course schedule for dates). You will have 20 minutes to complete the 10 questions for each quiz. The format of these questions will be in multiple-choice. Each quiz will be worth 15 points and there will be a total of 12 quizzes across the semester. Thus together, your quizzes equal 180 points or roughly 37.5% of your grade.
Please note: once you’ve logged in and started the quiz the timer continues to run. Thus for example, you cannot save your responses one night and decide to return later to complete the remaining items. Also, while you have up until late the last night of the lesson to complete the quiz, I would highly suggest taking it earlier, just in case you run into computer issues such as internet access complications or computer crashes.
- Article Reflections: Students will also be required to complete a series of 6 article reflections from a contemporary journal. These articles will be provided to you via the ANGEL website under the “resources” tab. The goal of these articles is to expose the student to empirical application of concepts and theories presented in the lessons. Each article reflection will require the student to respond to a series of questions related to issues raised in the reading. Each article reflection will be worth a total of 20 points. Thus, article reflections equal a total of 120 points and 25% of your total grade. Article reflections are due by 11:59 p.m. the last day of the lesson they are assigned.
- Discussion Boards: Over the semester, I will post a series of 5 discussion questions on the message board related to the materials to be covered in the corresponding lesson. These questions are designed to allow students to reflect on their own personal experiences and integrate them with what has been found in research. Students are expected to post an initial response to these questions (roughly 2-3 paragraphs usually) as well as at least 1 additional substantive response either to my own remarks or other students’ posts in the class. Again, simply agreeing or disagreeing with another student isn’t substantive, you’ll need to rationally explain why you agree or disagree. Your original post is due by 11:59 p.m. the fourth day of the lesson (Thursdays if all lessons of the semester start on a Monday, Saturdays if all lesson of the semester start on Wednesday) while your reply must be completed by 11:59 p.m. the last day of the assigned week’s lesson. See the course schedule for dates. You will be graded on the thoughtfulness of your responses and your effort in getting involved in an appropriate manner in discussions.
- Time Management Assignments: Two time management assignments (5 points each) will also be required during the semester to help keep students on track with completing the Interview Paper, which is a comprehensive assignment.
- Interview Paper: Finally, you will be required to complete one major project over the course of the semester, which will be worth 120 points. This interview paper is a gathering of three interviews from individuals representing various age cohorts. The purpose of the project is to expose the student to multiple individual experiences to adolescence based on age as well as compare and contrast these perspectives with their knowledge of adolescence and personal experiences. See the course schedule for the due date. A detailed outline of the assignment will be posted on ANGEL along with a narrated power point presentation on the requirements.
Grade Distribution:
| Assignment | Points Possible | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Quizzes (x12) | 180 points | (approximately 37.5%) |
| Article Reflections (x6) | 120 points | (approximately 25%) |
| Discussion Boards (x5) | 50 points | (approximately 10.5%) |
| Time Management Assignments (x2) | 10 points | (approximately 2%) |
| Interview Paper (x1) | 120 points | (approximately 25%) |
| Total | 480 Total Points | 100% |
Grading Scale:
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range | Point Range |
|---|---|---|
| A | = 93-100% | 446-480 pts. |
| A- | = 90-92.9% | 432-435 pts |
| B+ | = 86-89.9% | 412-431 pts. |
| B | = 83-85.9% | 398-411 pts. |
| B- | = 80-82.9% | 384-397 pts. |
| C+ | = 76-79.9% | 364-383 pts. |
| C | = 70-75.9% | 336-363 pts. |
| D | = 60-69.9% | 288-335 pts. |
| F | = 0-59.9% | less than 288 points total |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Course Schedule
- Course length: 16 Weeks
| Lesson 1: Introduction to Adolescence | |
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| Lesson 2: Biological Transitions: Part I | |
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| Lesson 3: Biological Transitions Part II | |
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| Lesson 4: Cognitive Transitions Part I | |
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| Lesson 5: Cognitive Transitions Part II | |
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| Lesson 6: Social Transitions | |
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*While much of the material from Social Transitions can be found in Chapter 1, there is no "best fit" chapter for this content and some of the concepts may be located in other chapters of the textbook. |
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| Lesson 8: Peer Groups | |
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| Spring Break | |
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| Lesson 9: Schools Part I | |
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| Lesson 10: Schools Part II | |
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| Lesson 11: Adolescence Work | |
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| Lesson 12: Leisure | |
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| Lesson 13: Intimacy | |
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| Lesson 14: Sexuality | |
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| Lesson 15: Psychosocial Problems | |
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Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity—scholarship free of fraud and deception—is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade or referral to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to
- cheating,
- plagiarism,
- fabrication of information or citations,
- facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others,
- unauthorized prior possession of examinations,
- submitting the work of another person or work previously used without, informing the instructor and securing written approval, and
- tampering with the academic work of other students.
Students are responsible for maintaining academic integrity. Violations include cheating on exams or quizzes, talking to others during an exam or quiz, getting help from others on exams or quizzes, having notes accessible during exams or quizzes, looking at another student's answers during an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and dishonesty in any aspect of course participation. Also, you may not share any information from this course (including assignments and papers) with others, nor post such information electronically without the permission of the instructor. Violations of academic integrity including charges of plagiarism) and may result in a grade of F for the course as well as other penalties (see Faculty Senate Policy 49-20).
Heads up – several note-taking/note-sharing companies approach students about “jobs” (including Nittany Notes and those that appear to be connected to PSU). If this is something that you want to do, you MUST talk with your instructor first. Unless you have permission, you risk academic sanctions related to charges of plagiarism and disciplinary sanctions.
How to avoid plagiarism in this course
- Always place copied information within quotation marks, cite the source, and include information about the source in a bibliography.
- Always cite paraphrased information and include information about the source in a bibliography.
- When in doubt, cite and include the source in a bibliography.
Please make sure you submit the correct version of your paper. Whatever you hand in will be considered your final version and will be graded, even if you submit a blank document. Please note, claiming that you submitted the wrong file is NOT an acceptable excuse for work containing plagiarism.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedure requires an instructor to notify a student of suspected dishonesty before filing a charge and recommended sanction with the college. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us.
Additionally, World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.
For More Information on Academic Integrity at Penn State
Please see the Academic Integrity Chart for specific college contact information or visit one of the following URLs:
- Penn State Senate Policy on Academic Integrity
- Turnitin (a web-based plagiarism detection and prevention system)
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
The purpose of course communication tools is to provide students with a quick method for contacting faculty, teaching assistants, and other students of the class, in regards to course related questions, comments, and concerns. Please note that, according to University policy AD95/AD96, course communication tools may not be used as a method for emailing unauthorized content including but not limited to: solicitation for businesses, advertisements, selling or distributing personal or class materials, transmitting offensive, obscene, or harassing materials, chain letters, news posts, or other forms of “spam” email. Doing so will be considered a violation of course and/or University policies, and might also violate the student code of conduct and the expectations expressed in the Penn State Principles. Resulting penalties might include the suspension or termination of system access, as well as disciplinary or academic sanctions. When appropriate, information about violators will be passed on to University Police Services. If you have any questions in regards to whether or not a particular email you wish to send would violate University policies, please check with your instructor before sending messages to others through the University system.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.