COUN 309
PSYCHOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE

INTRODUCTION

This course examines a particular aspect of human growth and development by focusing on the stage commonly referred to as adolescence. While a life-span approach encompasses all the life stages, this course will analyze just one stage, in-depth, and certainly with more detail. Adolescence sometimes is seen as the transitional period between childhood and adulthood, and as such, poses unique challenges and tasks. Lack of success with these tasks could spell problems for the individual later in life.

As a student, you will have the opportunity to study the various features that describe adolescence, to examine the areas of growth particular to this stage: physical, cognitive, social, and moral, and to see where the adolescent fits in the context of other systems, such as the family, school, and peer group. Perhaps one reason why adolescence is so fascinating to study is the fact that no other period is filled with so many changes, all occurring within a relatively short period of time.

As other transitional periods, adolescence can be a time of confusion. One is expected to behave like an adult, yet is often treated as a child. This "in-between" period brings up many questions about identity. "Who am I?" is the question that might best describe the task of the adolescent. Struggling with or perhaps just accepting one's sense of identity are but two ways the adolescent takes to define himself/herself in a variety of arenas--physical, vocational, spiritual, political, sexual, to name a few.

It is hoped that this course will give you a better perspective of the adolescent period by presenting the results of the research that has helped us define this stage of development. If you work with adolescents, the course should increase your understanding of the young people whose lives you touch. For all of us, the course can provide some insight into ourselves, because as adults, we tend to still face some of the tasks that were not quite finished during our own adolescence.

This course offers three (3) hours of academic credit.

MID-COURSE TEST AND FINAL EXAMINATION

The student will take a Mid-Course Test and Final Examination at a physical location in a college or university setting. Detailed instructions and Mid-Course Test and Final Examination applications are included in the online syllabus. Information regarding tests and procedures can be found in General Information.

INSTRUCTOR

Philip G. Cooker obtained his Ph.D. in counselor education at Florida State University and is currently a Professor at The University of Mississippi, where he is the Program Coordinator of the counselor education graduate programs. He has worked in school settings in New York as a teacher and elementary school counselor and at Florida State University teaching, consulting, and counseling. Dr. Cooker has served as an officer in various professional organizations, including president of the Mississippi Counseling Association and Editor of that organization’s journal. As a licensed psychologist, he maintains a private practice, providing services to individuals and families, in addition to conducting workshops on a variety of topics, regionally and nationally. His writing has appeared in recognized national and international journals.

TEXTBOOKS

The Ole Miss Bookstore currently stocks the textbooks needed for Independent Study courses. Click here to order textbooks online. Select the term, department, and course number. Select “I Study” for the section number. To order by phone, call 662-915-7137 and be sure to indicate that you are ordering textbooks for an Independent Study course.

To apply for the course, go here.

If you need assistance or have additional questions please email us at indstudy@olemiss.edu.