Bachelor of Counselling | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Counselling

Learn to help people improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing

Our program is taught by registered counsellors and psychologists, and qualified clinical supervisors. It is designed to give you the skills to become a professionally accredited counsellor in human services.

Study location
  • Sippy Downs
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
074094K
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Program length (full-time)
3 years
Semester tuition fee 2016
A$10,200
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$61,200
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
  • * In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie. Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 011161
  • Gympie * 016161
Refer to the program footnotes
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 18 Rank - 62
UniSC program code
AR375
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Duration
3 years full time or equivalent part time
Recommended prior study
English
Fee type 2016
  • What will I pay?
Total units
288
Footnotes
  • * In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie. Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.

Our program is taught by registered counsellors and psychologists, and qualified clinical supervisors. It is designed to give you the skills to become a professionally accredited counsellor in human services.

This program equips you with a range of counselling knowledge and skills to work ethically and professionally with clients who seek help. You’ll also develop knowledge in psychology, counselling theories and skills, cultural diversity and specialist areas such as family therapy, and trauma and crisis counselling.

The program is accredited with the Australian Counselling Association, Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, and Australian Community Workers Association. In your final year of study you’ll undertake two placements in a human services agency. Your placements total 500 hours (combined) and are organised by our staff.

Our students have completed placements in agencies such as the Department of Communities, Relationships Australia, Child Safety and Autism QLD and many have also lead to graduate employment. As well as being employed as counsellors, our recent graduates are now working as case managers, child safety officers, court support workers and probation and parole officers.

Post-admission requirements

Students must complete two internship placements at approved agencies. A Blue Card (CCYPCG) is required — refer to Program requirements.

Career opportunities

Mental health, welfare work, aged services, child protection, disability services, counselling individuals, families and groups, youth.

Membership

Australian Counselling Association logoAustralian Counselling Association; Australian Community Workers Association; any counselling membership association approved by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.EPAC LOGO WEB

Accreditation

Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia; Australian Community Workers Association; Australian Counselling Association

Program structure

Introductory courses (6)

COR109
COU101
COU180
PSY100
PSY101
SCS130

Advanced courses (14)

COU200
COU261
COU262
COU263
COU264
COU265
COU276
COU281
COU300
COU301
PSY203
SCS225
SCS278
SCS290

Elective courses (4)

Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).

Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 288

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Complete 6 required introductory level (100 coded) courses.
  • Complete 14 required advanced level (200/300 coded) courses.
  • Complete 4 elective courses.
  • Successfully complete 2 field education placements (COU263 and COU264 ).
  • Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses, including the core course.
  • Complete no more than 6 courses from the School of Business or Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
  • Register any selected Majors or Minors with your Faculty.

In order to commence field education placement you must:

  • Hold a valid Blue Card, throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
  • Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority).
  • Travel to attend field education placements.
  • Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester.
Program notes
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
  • Electives may be used to complete and additional major or minor to supplement the required major.
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
  • As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Faculty Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues.
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
  • Refer to the English language requirements.
  • When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan.