Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Professional Counselling) | International Student Courses | Swinburne University

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This course has been replaced with a newer course - this course is closed for new enrolments, the information on this page is provided for continuing students.

Please note: this program is only available in Singapore. A comparable and equivalent program for Australian domestic students residing in Melbourne is the Graduate Certificate of Counselling (GC-COU).

The professional counselling programs are designed to provide training in basic and advanced counselling procedures adapted for use in an Asian cultural context. Students are taught a range of practical skills and competencies that can be applied to their work as counsellors as well as assisting them to develop their theoretical understanding of counselling.

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Whether you’re living in Australia or overseas, you’re automatically considered for a scholarship of up to 75% off your course fees. Please check our updated entry requirements.

Duration

6 Month/s

Fees

Contact Executive Counselling & Training Academy*

The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Course information in detail

- Course detail, course structure and units of study.

Course description

Please note: this program is only available in Singapore. A comparable and equivalent program for Australian domestic students residing in Melbourne is the Graduate Certificate of Counselling.

Swinburne University of Technology offers the Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Professional Counselling) and the Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Professional Counselling) programs as a pathway to the Master of Social Science (Professional Counselling). The three programs constitute an accredited nested suite of courses with different exit points.

The Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Professional Counselling) is designed to provide an introduction to main theories of counselling, and training in basic counselling procedures adapted for use in an Asian cultural context. The course aims to assist students in developing awareness of self and in obtaining a well-articulated understanding of the stages of counselling. Students are taught a range of practical skills and competencies that can be applied to their work as counsellors.

Students will receive supervised counselling experience at Mount Elizabeth Hospital as part of the program and participate in research on the impact of cultural factors in counselling.

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Course structure

The graduate certificate is a full-time program comprising four prescribed units and totalling 50 credit points over one semester. In addition to meeting the unit requirements, students are required to complete 20 hours of approved professional development workshops and participate in a minimum of five hours of counselling for professional development purposes.

Units of study

Student must complete the following four units (50 credit points):
PSC60013 Theories and Foundations of Counselling *
PSC60014 Counselling Processes and Interventions *
PSC60012 Specific Skills in Counselling *
PSC60011 Professional Ethics and Supervision*

* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

Careers and graduate outcomes

- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and professional recognition.

Career opportunities

Counselling in mental and/or community health, educational counselling and guidance.

Aims and objectives

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

1. model cognitive skills to illustrate mastery of theoretical knowledge relevant to counselling and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship

2. select technical and creative skills to examine, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to relate established theories to bodies of psychological knowledge or practice
3. synthesise cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts relevant to counselling at an abstract level
4. incorporate communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist counselling and non-specialist audiences
5. devise technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional counselling practice or scholarship
6. apply advanced counselling knowledge and skills, with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional counselling practice and/or for further learning.

Professional recognition

The Singapore Association of Counselling recognises the nested suite of courses as appropriate training in professional counselling. The course has been approved by the Singapore Government Committee for Private Education.

Pathways and scholarships

- Scholarships.

Scholarships

At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. Find out more about scholarships.

Course fees and requirements

- Fees, entry requirements and English language requirements.

Course fees

Contact Executive Counselling & Training Academy*

Entry requirements

This program is only available in Singapore.

The program is taught in English. If necessary, applicants will need to provide evidence of advanced proficiency in written and spoken English.

Applicants must also satisfy the following requirements:

Completion of an approved undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a related discipline from a recognised university or equivalent institution; or
Completion of professional qualifications in related areas such as psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, human resources, or education; or
Completion of a government recognised program in counselling training at a satisfactory standard or completion of a program in a related discipline at professional certificate level, which in the opinion of the Course Director, is suitable preparation for entry into the program; or
Relevant professional experience as deemed by the Course Director

Selection is based on an interview and the applicant’s suitability for the course as determined by personal suitability as well as academic and work experience*. Each applicant will be expected to provide: evidence of a high standard of performance in previous academic studies, two referee reports, evidence of appropriate supervised counselling experience and a written statement of their reasons for wishing to undertake the program.

* Work experience

Documents substantiating work experience need to be provided on company letterhead and clearly detail roles as well as duties and duration of posts held.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65%
minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
TOEFL iBT (internet-based) minimum score of 79 with a reading band no less than 18 and writing band no less than 20
Pearson (PTE) minimum score of 58 (no communicative skills less than 50)
any other equivalent assessment of English language proficiency.

Find out more about English language requirements.

How to apply

This course is closed for new enrolments.

Find out more

Prospective applicants residing in Singapore should contact :

Executive Counselling & Training Academy Pte Ltd
210 Middle Road
#07-02 Singapore Pools Building
Singapore 188994

Tel: (65) 6346 6411