Master of Counselling

At St Cyril’s, the Master of Counselling integrates contemporary evidence-based counselling education and professional training with engagement in Orthodox theological perspectives relevant to counselling, human wellbeing, ethics, and pastoral understanding.

Course Specifications

MASTER OF counselling

Award Level: AQF Level 9

Admission to Candidature:

1.An applicant for admission to candidature for the Master of Counselling will:

• Hold a three-year AQF 7 Bachelor Degree in any discipline; OR
• Hold a postgraduate qualification (AQF 8 or above) in Counselling; OR
• Hold an undergraduate qualification (AQF 7) in Counselling; OR
• Qualify for professional entry on the basis of their work, life and ministry experience, AND
• Demonstrate a suitable degree of mature life experience, including self- awareness, a capacity to relate to others and an understanding of ethical behaviour. Admission also requires a selection interview with a designated coursework coordinator. At the interview the applicant will be required to demonstrate a suitable degree of mature life experience.

2.Notwithstanding the provisions of this regulation the Student Support and Administration Committee may require an applicant to demonstrate fitness for admission as a candidate for this degree by carrying out such work and/or sitting for such examinations as the Student Support and Administration Committee may advise to recommend.

3.In exceptional cases an applicant may be admitted as a candidate for a Master of Counselling if the applicant submits evidence of other academic and professional attainments to the Student Support and Administration Committee.

4.No candidate for the award may be concurrently enrolled in any other undergraduate or postgraduate course within the Australian University College of Divinity or any other tertiary institution, unless approval has been granted by the Academic Board.

English Proficiency:

Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction require a minimum IELTS (or equivalent) overall score of 7.0 and no subtest below 6.5 in all bands of the test.

Fees:

See our Tuition Fees.

Enrolment:

Students must be enrolled in order to undertake a unit of study. Applications for admission should be made by contacting the Registrar.

Course Outcomes:

Knowledge

Graduates will possess:

• advanced understanding of the theories, processes, and strategies of counselling;
• an integrated level of theoretical and experiential knowledge of supervisory leadership and management structures;
• an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to counselling studies and its practice.

Skills

Graduates will demonstrate advanced, specialised cognitive and technical skills in counselling, so that they are able independently to:

• demonstrate expert counselling skills and practices across a range of clients;
• analyse critically, reflect on and synthesise counselling knowledge to identify, reflect and act on complex client contexts;
• interpret and transmit counselling knowledge, skills and ideas through coherent and sustained counselling practice to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Applications of Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will possess the ability to:

• apply knowledge and skills to initiate and plan counselling interventions;
• apply critical self-evaluation and theological reflection to their practice of counselling;
• apply professional practice in counselling with a range of people in a wide variety of contexts including multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environments.

Course Structure:

The Master of Counselling at St Cyril’s requires the completion of 108 credit points from 12 counselling units and 18 credit points from 2 compulsory theology units:

• An Introduction to Orthodox Anthropology
• Theological Foundations for Pastoral Counselling

1). Where an applicant is admitted on the basis of a completed AQF7 Bachelor of Counselling award OR a postgraduate qualification (AQF 8 or above) in counselling such as the Graduate Certificate in Counselling, the twelve counselling units shall include:

Six compulsory units (54 credit points):

• C8101 Human Development and Counselling
• C8145 Grief, Loss and Trauma
• C9222 Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Positive Psychology (PP)
• C9223 Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
• C9229 Ethical and Professional Issues in Pastoral Counselling
• C9242 Advanced Counselling Practicum

Six units selected from an approved list of units (see the Director of Counselling for more information).

Where a student wishes to pursue further higher degree research, then it is recommended that 27 credit points of these units include C8190 Research Methodology (9 credit points) and C9298 Research Essay (18 credit points).

2.Where an applicant is admitted on the basis of an AQF7 Bachelor degree in any discipline other than counselling, the twelve counselling units shall include:

Twelve compulsory units (108 credit points):

1. C8100 Introduction to Counselling
2. C8101 Human Development and Counselling
3. C8105 Counselling Theory and Practice
4. C8106 Fundamentals of Psychology
5. C8143 Addictions Counselling
6. C8145 Grief, Loss and Trauma
7. C8154 Relationship Counselling
8. C9222 Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Positive Psychology (PP)
9. C9223 Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
10. C9225 Counselling for Mental Health and Wellness
11. C9229 Ethical and Professional Issues in Pastoral Counselling
12. C9242 Advanced Counselling Practicum

Work-Integrated Learning Requirements

Important: Unit C9242 Advanced Counselling Practicum involves students undertaking supervised counselling experience in a professional setting. Students are required to complete 200 hours for this practicum, including at least 40 hours of direct client interaction and 10 hours of supervision. This practicum can be taken over 1 or 2 semesters. Students must complete at least 54 credit points in postgraduate counselling units (i.e. 6 units), including C9229 Ethical and Professional Issues in Pastoral Counselling, before they can commence the practicum.

Further information about course structure can be obtained from the Director of Counselling.

Delivery of Units:

Mode of delivery will vary between units. Some units may be delivered via weekly lectures (with possible online options), while other units will be delivered in an intensive format over 1-2 weeks/weekends. Some units may require a compulsory on-campus component. Candidates are expected to check the mode of delivery and attendance requirements for each unit with the Director of Counselling and the lecturers responsible for individual units.

Period of Candidature:

Up to 4 years part-time (8 semesters). Candidates will be expected to enrol in 2 units per semester in order to complete the degree within this period.

Leave of Absence:

1. The Student Administration Committee of the AUCD, at the recommendation of St. Cyril‘s, may grant leave of absence from the Master of Counselling. The period of leave shall not be counted as part of the period of candidature for the degree.
2. The period of leave shall normally be one semester after which a candidate may apply for a further period of one semester or will be required to complete candidature.

Assessment:

1. The assessment of course units shall be in the manner approved by the Academic Board in line with the University College’s established guidelines for assessment packages.
2. Students may be required by the Academic Board to present themselves for oral examination.
3. Academic and non-academic misconduct will be penalised in accordance with the regulations of the University College, whose stipulations are rigorous.

Credit and Recognised Prior Learning:

1. A candidate may seek credit up to a maximum of 54 credit points in the Master of Counselling.
2. Candidates entering the Master of Counselling with a Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling (or equivalent) will receive a maximum of 54 credit points of credit.
3. Specified Credit may be granted for units deemed to be equivalent by the Student Support and Administration Committee. Application for Unspecified Credit may be considered for elective (non-compulsory) units only.
4. Credit for Recognised Prior Learning may be granted subject to a successful application.

Exit Points:

Students enrolled in the Master of Counselling may exit with the Graduate Certificate of Counselling or the Graduate Diploma of Counselling provided they have met the requirements of the relevant award.

For more information, please contact the Director of Counselling: counselling@stcyrils.edu.au

Sample Program (Full-Time)

Please contact our Director of Learning & Teaching to discuss a possible program, given the varied options.