311204 v.1 Master of Counselling - Health Sciences

MCouns(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 062559C
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas: 2 Years

Introduction

The Master of Counselling provides students with the theoretical principles of counselling, sociocultural contexts, advanced counselling practice, and supervised practicum experience in external agencies. This is a counselling course designed for professionals such as health professionals, pastors, educationists and other human service workers who wish to advance their careers in the field of counselling. There are three streams in the course; Counselling, Addictions or Rehabilitation Counselling.The Counselling Stream aims to enhance existing counselling and group work skills. The Addictions Stream aims to enhance understanding with regard to addictive behaviours and develop skills in management and prevention of problems related to substance abuse. The Rehabilitation Counselling Stream aims to enhance understanding with regard to rehabilitation, disability and vocational counselling. This course is suitable for practitioners aiming to work in a variety of private or public domains. A feature of the program is flexibility, enabling focus on specific streams and areas of interest with didactic and experiential units.

Course Entry Requirements/Prerequisites

A four-year degree or equivalent, or a three-year undergraduate degree and a postgraduate diploma with recent relevant work experience. Applicants without this requirement but holding a three-year degree in a related area undertaking counselling, management and policy-related activities at a senior level are considered. All applicants will need to complete a Curtin application for admission and enrolment form and provide a recent curriculum vitae including relevant work experience. Applicants should also include two referee reports, a certified copy of previous tertiary or other relevant qualifications, a written statement regarding why you wish to enrol in the course (no more than 500 words) and attend an interview. Non standard applications will be considered on merit.

Specific Requirements

Applicants for this course should refer to the Communicable Diseases and Criminal Record Screening and Clearance Section of this publication.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applications for recognition of prior learning are assessed on an individual basis.

Duration and Availability

This fee-paying course is two years full-time or equivalent part-time study. International onshore students on student visas are not permitted to study part-time. Entry into this course is available at the commencement of the year. Applicants should consult the Course Coordinator to determine availability of units. Counselling Practicum 668 may commence four weeks prior to semester. Other units follow the standard semester format.

Intermediate Awards 1

A student who has successfully completed the requirements of an approved intermediate award may apply for graduation in that award subject to approval of Head of School/Department. Fees apply. Intermediate award(s) approved for this course are:

Intermediate Awards II

Graduate Diploma in Counselling.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible for membership to the State Peak Body Psychotherapists and Counsellors Association of Western Australia (PACAWA) aligned to the National Peak Body Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other essential study materials.

Special Note

The School of Psychology currently offers a Graduate Diploma in Counselling with two streams (Addictions and Health Counselling), a Graduate Diploma in Coaching which shares some units with the Graduate Diploma in Counselling, and a Master of Counselling(which has no common units with either of the Graduate Diploma courses). Proposed course changes for the Master of Counselling fully articulate the current Graduate Diploma in Counselling and the Master of Counselling courses such that the Graduate Diploma in Counselling constitutes the first year of Master of Counselling. The changes also offer three streams (Counselling, Addictions and Rehabilitation Counselling). This course is expected to be offered in 2008. The restructure of the programs requires a transition period for those students enrolled in current programs. Please make an appointment with Josephine Hudson, Program Coordinator to discuss your individual program regarding re-enrolment for 2008.

Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.

Course Structure			Hrs/Wk	Credit
Year 1
311212	v.1 *	Counselling Stream		200.0
		OR
311210	v.1 *	Addictions Stream		200.0
		OR
311211	v.1 *	Rehabilitation Counselling Stream		200.0
				200.0
Year 2 Semester 1
13637	v.2	Theories and Applications of Counselling 661	3.0	25.0
311207	v.1	Counselling Assessment and Evaluation 662	3.0	25.0
311208	v.1	Counselling and Mediation 665	3.0	25.0
				75.0
Year 2 Semester 2
13644	v.3	Counselling Practicum 668	16.0	50.0
311205	v.1	Loss and Grief 662	16.0	25.0
				75.0

The Counselling, Addictions & Rehabilitation Counselling Streams, commence in Semester One and conclude in Semester Two. There is no mid year intake.

Availability

Year	Location	Period	All*	Internal	Partially Online Internal^	External	Fully Online#
2008	Bentley Campus	Semester 1		Y
2008	Bentley Campus	Semester 2		Y

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

*The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

#Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.