Overview
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. It discusses major theories, methods of studying adolescents, adolescent development, and contemporary adolescent issues and concerns (e.g., work, school, media, sexuality, and suicide).
This course should be useful to parents, teachers, students, and any individuals who deal with adolescents in their life and work.
Outline
Unit 1: Fundamentals of Adolescent Psychology
- Lesson 1: Introduction
- Lesson 2: Biological Foundations
- Lesson 3: Cognitive Foundations
Unit 2: The Roles of Culture, Gender, and the Self in Adolescent Development
- Lesson 4: Cultural Beliefs
- Lesson 5: Gender
- Lesson 6: The Self
Unit 3: Intimate Contexts for Adolescents
- Lesson 7: Family Relationships
- Lesson 8: Friends and Peers
- Lesson 9: Love and Sexuality
Unit 4: Adolescents in Their Larger Contexts
- Lesson 10: School
- Lesson 11: Work
- Lesson 12: Media
Unit 5: Problems and Resilience
- Lesson 13: Problems and Resilience
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 350, you must complete two discussion Q&As, five unit quizzes, a written assignment, and the final exam. 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:
| Activity | Weight |
| Unit Quizzes (5 quizzes) | 30% |
| Discussion Q&A (2 assignments) | 10% |
| Written Assignment | 30% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Arnett, J. J. (2018). Adolescence and emerging adulthood: A cultural approach (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Other Resources
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PSYC 350 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least 50 percent on the exam and obtain a composite mark of at least D (50 percent) to pass.
| Activity | Weight |
| Research Paper | 40% |
| Exam | 60% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form