Help people with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The program is designed to give you the skills to become a professionally accredited counsellor. You will be equipped with a range of counselling knowledge and skills to work ethically with clients who seek help.
- 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.
- Campus note: 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.
- Only first-year courses are offered at Fraser Coast. The remainder of the program must be completed at Sippy Downs campus.
- ^Semester 2 commencement not available at Gympie
- Campus note: 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.
- Only first-year courses are offered at Fraser Coast. The remainder of the program must be completed at Sippy Downs campus.
- ^Semester 2 commencement not available at Gympie
The program is designed to give you the skills to become a professionally accredited counsellor. You will be equipped with a range of counselling knowledge and skills to work ethically with clients who seek help.
Explore counselling theories and skills, positive psychology, communication and relationships, family counselling and crisis intervention, grief and loss and cultural diversity. Choose electives to link with areas that will expand your career options.
Our counselling staff are registered counsellors and qualified clinical supervisors. You will have hands-on experience within the community in two placements approved by the University, working a total of 500 hours. A Blue Card (CCYPCG) is required — refer to Program requirements.
Career opportunities
Counselling individuals, families and groups, mental health, aged services, child protection, disability services and a range of human services.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Counselling has been accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Following successful completion of the degree you can apply for membership to ACA and or PACFA.
Program structure
Introductory courses (7) 84 units
COR109 Teacher as Researcher
COU101 Professional Experience: The Professional Teacher
COU176 Teaching Reading and Writing
COU180 Communication and Thought
PSY100 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
PSY101 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
SCS130 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
Developing and Graduate courses (13) 156 units
COU200 Social Research
COU265 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
COU300 Communication and Thought
COU301 Theories of Counselling: From Freud to Integrative Practice
COU361 Group Processes and Practice
COU362 Introductory Counselling Skills
COU363 Introduction to Psychology A
COU364 Introduction to Psychology B
COU381 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
PSY203 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications
SCS225 Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK278 Ethics, Law and the Helping Professions
Elective courses (4) 48 units
Select 4 elective courses (48 units) from the undergraduate elective course options. Of these electives 1 course(12 units) must be developing or graduate level (200/300 coded).
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses
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) and following the recommended study sequence
- Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.