APSY-GE 2527: Development of Immigrant Origin Youth

This course is designed to introduce students to research on the adaptation of immigrant origin youth. The course will concentrate on psychological, anthropological, sociological, and educational contributions to the study of immigrant children and adolescents. We will review the growing presence of immigrant youth in public schools in the United States and other postindustrial societies. We will consider a variety of stressors involved in the process of immigration along with the concomitant repercussions on the marital dyad, family relationships, and on the children themselves. We will explore the relevant literature on community forces, marginality, and minority status. We will consider the new research efforts to describe the various pathways immigrant children take in forming or transforming their developing identities. Lastly, we will examine the critical role of the educational experience on the adaptation of immigrant youth.