Master of Counselling specialisation in Counselling - Taught 240

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Our programmes develop students’ understanding and practice of counselling to enable them to develop careers as counsellors or integrate effective counselling skills into their existing roles. The theory of counselling and an overview of different approaches to counselling are the core of our programmes.

We also emphasise practical skills with practicum work where students are supervised by counselling professionals. Students are introduced to research that underpins counselling practice, and are given the opportunity to study research methods to take their study further.

You can complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Theory or a Master of Counselling in areas such as:
- Theory of counselling
- Professional counselling
- The counselling process
- Family counselling
- Group counselling
- Pastoral care and counselling in schools
- Professional issues in counselling
- Cultural issues in counselling
- Specialist counselling skills
- Counselling laboratory
- Research and counselling

With a counselling qualification, you can work as a counselling professional or use your skills in other roles such as teaching, social work or health services.
Employment opportunities may include:
- Counsellor in private practice
- Counsellor in schools or tertiary institutions
- Counsellor in government agencies (such as Corrections or ACC)
- Human resource counsellor
- Health and welfare services counsellor

You must have completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Theory, or the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Counselling) with a GPA of 5.0 in at least 90 points of the most advanced courses taken.
You also must have at least three years’ practical experience in teaching, counselling, nursing, social work or a similar profession.
Admission is subject to a satisfactory interview, police check/s, previous employment and referees’ report and safety checks

Note: If you already hold a Master of Education - Counselling specialisation (or substantially similar field of study), you may not be admitted to this programme.

Complete 240 points comprising:

75 points for all Compulsory Courses, and
One of the following:
15 points for all Counselling Practicum - 1 Semester, or
15 points for all Counselling Practicum - 2 Semesters, and
30 points from Research Elective Courses, and
One of the following:
30 points for all Advanced Counselling Practicum - 1 Semester, or
30 points for all Advanced Counselling Practicum - 2 Semesters, and
One of the following:
30 points for all Professional Counselling Capstone Project - 1 Semester, or
30 points for all Professional Counselling Capstone Project - 2 Semesters, and
60 points from Additional Elective Courses

Compulsory Courses

Complete 75 points for ALL of the following:

PROFCOUN 701A - Counselling Laboratory (7.5 points)

PROFCOUN 701B - Counselling Laboratory (7.5 points)

PROFCOUN 705A - The Counselling Process (15 points)

PROFCOUN 705B - The Counselling Process (15 points)

PROFCOUN 706 - Cultural Issues in Counselling (15 points)

PROFCOUN 708 - Professional Issues in Counselling (15 points)

Counselling Practicum - 1 Semester

Complete 15 points for ALL of the following:

PROFCOUN 711 - Counselling Practicum (15 points)

Counselling Practicum - 2 Semesters

Complete 15 points for ALL of the following:

PROFCOUN 711A - Counselling Practicum (7.5 points)

PROFCOUN 711B - Counselling Practicum (7.5 points)

Research Elective Courses

Complete exactly 30 points from the following:

EDUC 787 - Māori and Indigenous Research (30 points)

EDUC 787A - Māori and Indigenous Research (15 points)

EDUC 787B - Māori and Indigenous Research (15 points)

EDUCSW 700 - Research Methodologies (30 points)

Advanced Counselling Practicum - 1 Semester

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

PROFCOUN 730 - Advanced Counselling Practicum (30 points)

Advanced Counselling Practicum - 2 Semesters

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

PROFCOUN 730A - Advanced Counselling Practicum (15 points)

PROFCOUN 730B - Advanced Counselling Practicum (15 points)

Professional Counselling Capstone Project - 1 Semester

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

PROFCOUN 732 - Professional Counselling Capstone Project (30 points)

Professional Counselling Capstone Project - 2 Semesters

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

PROFCOUN 732A - Professional Counselling Capstone Project (15 points)

PROFCOUN 732B - Professional Counselling Capstone Project (15 points)

Additional Elective Courses

Complete exactly 60 points from the following:

EDPROFST 743 - Family Counselling (15 points)

EDPROFST 744 - Pastoral Care and Counselling in Schools (15 points)

EDPROFST 745 - Group Counselling (15 points)

EDPROFST 760 - Christian Religious Education in Integrated Schools (30 points)

EDPROFST 762 - Mentoring Professionals (30 points)

EDPROFST 764 - Disability Policy and Practice (30 points)

EDPROFST 765 - Development in Early Years (30 points)

EDPROFST 769 - Developing Mentoring Expertise (30 points)

EDPROFST 774 - Education and Empowerment (30 points)

EDUC 732 - Culturally Sustaining Leadership (30 points)

EDUC 733 - Teaching in Bilingual/Immersion Settings (30 points)

EDUC 734 - Māori/Indigenous Language Revitalisation (30 points)

EDUC 735 - Researching Educational Settings (30 points)

EDUC 737 - Special Topic: Arts in Communities (30 points)

EDUC 738 - Gifted Learners: Meeting their Needs (30 points)

EDUC 741 - Educational Psychology (30 points)

EDUC 742 - Child Developmental Psychology (30 points)

EDUC 747 - Leadership in Youth Development (30 points)

EDUC 755 - Social Psychology of the Classroom (30 points)

EDUC 756 - Applied Theatre: Performance of Hope (30 points)

EDUC 758 - Winners and Losers? Social Theories of Education (30 points)

EDUC 759 - Inclusive Practices for Neurodiversity (30 points)

EDUC 767 - Childhood Studies (30 points)

PROFCOUN 700 - Counselling In Youth Mentoring (15 points)

PROFCOUN 702 - Special Topic (15 points)

PROFCOUN 703 - Special Study (15 points)

PROFCOUN 707 - Specialist Counselling Skills and Approaches (15 points)

PROFSUPV 700 - The Practice of Professional Supervision (30 points)

PROFSUPV 701 - Advanced Approaches in Professional Supervision (30 points)

PROFSUPV 710 - Stress and Trauma in Health and Human Services (30 points)

PROFSUPV 712 - Critical Approaches in Reflective Supervision (30 points)

PROFSUPV 714 - Managing and Developing People in Human Services (30 points)

PROFSUPV 715 - Practice Teaching and Learning (30 points)

PROFSUPV 716 - Group Supervision (30 points)

SOCCHFAM 700 - Domestic Violence: Challenges and Responses (30 points)

SOCCHFAM 731 - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues (15 points)

SOCCHFAM 734 - Issues in Child Welfare and Protection (30 points)

SOCCHFAM 735 - Intimate Partner Violence (15 points)

SOCHLTH 732 - Working with Grief and Loss (15 points)

Up to 60 points may be substituted from other 700 level courses approved by the Programme Director.