Program summary
Program overview
Career opportunities
Advanced standing, recognition of prior learning, credit and articulation
Program structure
Program requirements and notes
Enquiries
Recommended enrolment patterns

Program summary

QTAC code: 011161
OP/Rank for 2006 entry: OP-18 / Rank-59
Award abbreviation: BSocSc(Couns)
Duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type: Commonwealth supported places, domestic fee-paying places, international fee-paying places
Total units: 288
Recommended prior study: English
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
CRICOS code: 057240B

New students: selecting courses for 2006

Program overview

The Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling) is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required of professionals working within the counselling field in the human services industry. It will be particularly valuable for mature aged students with previous education or experience in the human services / community welfare field who wish to focus their learning on obtaining the skills and knowledge required of counsellors.

The program presents students with a contemporary orientation to counselling, based upon foundational knowledge of ethical and professional conduct within the human services. Students are introduced to counselling skills as well as a range of counselling theories and approaches, including specialist areas such as trauma, crisis and bereavement counselling. Understandings of individual, family and community behaviour will be provided through specialist fields of gender and Indigenous issues, health, disability, cultural diversity, and education.

The program includes a practical component incorporating two counselling agency placements in the final year of study. Students will graduate with strong theoretical knowledge and will also have had the opportunity to apply this knowledge and gain experience in the workplace.

The Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling) has been assessed as meeting the training requirements of both the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Queensland Counsellors Association (QCA). The Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia, Inc. is an "umbrella" association comprising affiliated professional associations that represent various modalities within the disciplines of Psychotherapy and Counselling in the Australian community. Queensland Counsellors Association - QCA - is an incorporated professional Association for counsellors and psychotherapists. It is dedicated to enhancing quality counselling services for the community.

Career opportunities

The skills and knowledge acquired in the Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling) will enable graduates to pursue careers in areas where counsellors are employed, such as aged services, child protection, counselling (families, individuals and groups), disability services, welfare work, and youth work. Counsellors are often found in private practice, setting up their own businesses working with individuals, couples and families. Students wishing to work in support roles other than intensive counselling, should consider the Bachelor of Human Services which prepares students for working with individuals and groups, or the Bachelor of Social Science (Community Work), which prepares students for working more broadly in the community field.

Program structure

Core courses

Select 2 courses from:
COR109 Communication and Thought
COR110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
COR111 Environment, Technology and Sustainability

Introductory courses

SCS110 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Social Change
SCS120 Introduction to Psychology
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia

Advanced courses

11 required courses:
SCS221 Social Psychology
SCS260 Community Work
SCS263 Counselling Placement 1 (150 hours/24cp)
SCS264 Counselling Placement 2 (250 hours/24cp)
SCS265 Counselling Theory and Practice
SCS266 Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Counselling
SCS270 Applications in Social and Community Work
SCS276 Groupwork
SCS278 Ethics and Professional Practice
SCS280 Counselling for the Human Services Professional
SCS281 Developmental and Family Counselling

Electives

Choose 6 elective courses from any faculty (Arts and Social Sciences, Business or Science, Health and Education). Please note: it is strongly recommended that students choose at least two of the following as electives:

SCS210 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS285 Health, Society and Culture
SCS286 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SCS295 Gender and Culture

Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program

As part of their USC program, students may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider

Program requirements and notes

1. No more than 10 introductory level courses are to be completed, including core courses.
2. Required introductory courses may count towards a major or minor.
3. No course may be counted towards more than one major or minor.
4. Electives may be used to complete an additional major or minor to supplement the required major.
5. An introductory level course has a number less than 200 in its course code. An advanced level course has a number greater than 200 and less than 400 in its course code.
6. Refer to the Academic Rules.
7. Refer to explanation of terms.
8. Refer to recommended enrolment patterns.
9. SCS262 Counselling Placement 1 and SCS263 Counselling Placement 2 are 24 unit courses equivalent to two standard 12 unit courses.

Enquiries

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259