HD 320 Contemporary Urban Adolescents

Instructor: Laura Fierro, MFTI, Ph.D., ABD

Contact #: (323) 348-8225
Office Hours: As arranged with professor
Email: LFierro@pacificoaks.edu

Course Description:
This course is a survey of adolescent development designed to help you
become familiar with the various physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional
components involved in understanding adolescent development. This also
includes an understanding of the various contexts in which adolescents
develop, such as family, peer groups, school, work, and culture.
This class will focus on several issues that affect the quality of life of
adolescents in urban areas.
Subjects for study will include:

Unemployment/ underemployment

Gangs and other peer pressures;

Early sexuality

Teen pregnancy

AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases

Drugs

We will examine these topics from a developmental perspective and visit

programs that are addressing them.
A final goal of this course is to encourage students to think critically about the
period of adolescence, the information that is known about this developmental
period and how this applies to their own experiences.

POC Institutional Core Competencies

Development: Understanding of developmental theories.

Diversity: Understanding and valuing diversity, including an anti-bias
approach.
Communication: Ability to communicate with others in a connective
way.
Research: Ability to collect, process, and evaluate data through
research.
Praxis: Ability to observe, critically reflect, implement theories and
empower others.

Program Learning Outcomes Addressed

While all competencies are expected to be developed and demonstrated in
every course, this course primarily assesses:

PLO 1: Development: Students comprehend and analyze developmental

theories.
PLO 2: Diversity: Students value diversity, demonstrate commitment to
social justice and are able to analyze the dynamics of institutional and
individual biases and use of power.
PLO 3: Communication: Students communicate clearly and effectively.
They implement and analyze individual, dyad and group communications
for appropriate audience reception, authenticity and experience of
empowerment for self and others.
PLO 5: Students implement a philosophy of education integrating
developmental theories guided by observation and critical reflection, and
analyze these actions according to results and impact on other persons
(ethics, values, principles and empowerment). Students recognize and

apply developmentally and culturally appropriate practice with children and

adults. Praxis experience may involve activities such as practica, fieldwork,
or student teaching.

Student Learning Outcomes

SLO 1: Theory: Students will analyze theories, methods, and findings in

the field of adolescent development through the readings, discussions, and
evaluation of developmental research.
SLO 2: Self: Students will use personal reflections to understand how
the complex interaction of the biological, psychological, cultural and social
influences shaped the course of their development during adolescence.
SLO 3: Others: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the
interrelatedness of theory, research, and application, as they relate to
adolescence.
SLO 4: Praxis: Students will apply theory to practice by critically
examining issues in the field of development, including the consideration of
multiple causes, alternative courses of action, and the potential outcomes
for the adolescents.
SLO 5: Growth: Student demonstrates growth in the class, indicated by
an improvement in writing or critical thinking skills, a willingness to take
risks and authentically engage with course material and classmates, or an
openness to new information and perspectives.