Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

~091 Master of Arts in Counselling
Psychology
This course is offered as a four year, part-time evening
program. It is designed for students who have completed a
first degree and have completed a four year sequence of
studies in psychology. The course is intended to prepare
graduates for professional practice as counselling
psychologists.
The course has been granted full accreditation as a fifth and
sixth year course in psychology by the Course Development
and Accreditation Committee of the Australian Psychological
Society.
Course objectives
Graduates of the course will be able to:
(a) assess the current level of psychosocial functioning of
individuals, groups, couples and families and formulate
appropriate helping interventions;
(b) provide counselling help to individuals, groups, couples
and families experiencing difficulties connected with
relationships, education, careers, work, marriage,
parenting, crises, and life-transitions;
(c) evaluate and monitor the quality of helping services
provided by a counselling services unit;
(d) provide consulting help to individuals, organisations and
community groups in relation to psychosocial
development and adaptation.
Entrance requirements
There is an intake of twenty students into the course every
even numbered year. In the event of course vacancies
occurring, it may be possible for individual students to be
admitted to the program before a scheduled intake.
Applicants with good results in their fourth year studies and1
or relevant human services work experience will be
interviewed by a selection panel and an order-of-merit for
entry will be prepared taking into account (a) academic
preparation, (b) previous work and training experience, (c)
academic and professional referees' reports.
In order to be accepted into the course, an applicant must (a)
be qualified for the award of a degree from an Australian
university, and (b) have completed a four-year sequence of
studies in psychology in a course, or courses, approved by the
Australian Psychological Society's Course Development and
Accreditation Committee OR hold overseas qualifications
recognised as equivalent for the purpose of Associate
Membership by the Australian Psychological Society's
Membership Committee.
Satisfactory progress
Students' progress will be monitored by the School's
Graduate Studies Committee. A student who is given an N or
NA grade for a subject twice may not be permitted to reenrol
in the course. Students will be required to complete the
course in not more than six years.
Course structure
Counselling psychology is very diverse, with many particular
applications. The course has been organised in such a way as
to (a) teach generic skills and areas of knowledge which
a ~ ~ across l v the various areas of counselling psychology
practice, and (b) examine selected areas of practice which
exemolifv the deliverv of counsellinq-related services to
pers&s kith particuiar needs. ~ he6 are three course
components: coursework (50%), supervised practical work
(25%), and an empirical research project (25%).
The overall structure of the course will be as follows:
Year 1
Semester 1
AY510 Human Services Research and Evaluation
AY511 Group Counselling Skills
Semester 2
AY512 Counsellina Theorv and Skills
AY513 Research ~illo~ui;m
Year 2
Semester 1
AY514 Development and Adaptation
AY515 Psychological Assessment
Semester 2
AY516 Counselling Applications
AY517 Supervised Practicum lnternship A
Year 3
Semester 1
AY517 Supervised Practicum lnternship A
AY610 Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues
Semester 2
AY611 Counselling Psychology B: Psychology of
Marriage and the Family
AY612 Supervised Practicum lnternship B
Year 4
Semester 1
AY612 Supervised Practicum lnternship B
AY613 Counselling Psychology A: Psychology of Work,
Health Psychology
Semester 2
AY614 Aspects of Professional Practice
AY615 Research Project and Report
Three of the coursework subjects comprise advanced study in
areas central to the practice of counselling psychology;
Development and Adaptation
~s~cholo~~ of Work and Health Psychology
Psychology of Marriage and the Fam~ly
Five of the coursework subjects comprise professional skill
development training:
Human Services Research and Evaluation
Psychological Assessment
Counselling Theory and Skills
counselling ~pplications
Group Counselling Skills
There is a coursework subject examining professional and
ethical issues in Counselling Psychology Practice.