Build on your professional knowledge and expertise, and gain real world experience applying your knowledge through professional placement opportunities.

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Flexible delivery

Make study work for you

Make a difference

Conduct an individual research project

Online

Available to off-shore students with some on-campus attendance required

Online: February, July

$36,000.00⁺

⁺estimated annual tuition fee
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible

1.5 years full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF level 7 bachelor in cognate discipline

34704

What to expect

Learn from world-class lecturers to understand how to design solutions for complex issues of professional guidance. You will study core subjects and select from a range of electives, plus undertake a research project to deepen your knowledge in a speciality area.

This flexible course is offered in mixed delivery modes – online and block. It can be studied full time or part time.

View the handbook for a detailed overview of subjects.

Career Opportunities

Diversify your teaching and human resource management skills with a JCU Master of Guidance and Counselling.

You could provide specialist human resource management skills across the public or private sector for business or government, as well working in schools as a guidance counsellor.

This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association and the Singapore Association for Counselling, giving you the ability to pursue a career internationally.

Handbook

Master of Guidance and Counselling

Handbook year	2021
Course code	34704
Course type	Masters Degree (Coursework) (AQF Level 9)
Professional accreditation status	This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and by the Singapore Association of Counselling (SAC). Graduates are eligible for professional membership of the ACA or the SAC.
Owner	Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
College	Arts, Society and Education

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a cognate discipline. Cognate disciplines include education, psychology, social work, law, health or career development.
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.
Special admission requirements	In exceptional cases applicants may be admitted to the course if they submit other evidence of academic and professional attainments and their candidature is approved by the Division.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

36 credit points as per course structure

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Master of Guidance and Counselling, graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced and integrated understanding of theoretical and professional knowledge, research methods, ethical reasoning principles and recent developments in guidance and counselling, with depth in the Professional Standards of the Australian Counselling Association and their Code of Ethics and Practice, and / or the Singapore Association for Counselling and their Code of Ethics
Reflect on deep and critical approaches to learning in issues relating to the tropics, sustainability, and Indigenous, regional and rural wellbeing, and their application in the guidance and counselling field, including career development
Critically review, analyse and synthesise theoretical propositions, professional practice and research principles and methodologies in guidance and counselling, including intercultural and career development applications
Interpret, evaluate, generate and justify complex ideas, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist stakeholders, using advanced speaking, reading, writing, listening, numeracy and advocacy skills
Identify, theorise and design solutions for complex issues in a range of professional guidance and counselling practice contexts including career development, exercising expert judgement, adaptability and collaboration
Design, plan and ethically execute a substantial research-based project with creativity and initiative and a high level of autonomy and accountability.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

ED5859:03 Atypical Development

ED5862:03 Foundations of Counselling Theory or ED5910:03 Career Counselling

ED5863:03 Foundations of Counselling Practice

ED5864:03 Advanced Counselling

ED5310:03 Practicum in Guidance and Counselling

ED5311:03 Reflective Practice Research in Guidance and Counselling

ED5853:03 Career and Leisure Guidance and Counselling or ED5907:03 Career Development Theories and Tools

ED5857:03 Assessment

OPTIONS

Select 12 credit points of subjects from List 1

List 1

ED5190:03 Introduction to Educational Research

ED5855:03 Behaviour Management

ED5880:03 Educational Leadership

ED5881:03 Leading for Change in Curriculum and Pedagogy

ED5911:03 Education for Sustainability

ED5912:03 Social Learning Perspectives for a Sustainable Future

ED5913:03 Communicating Sustainability and Climate Change

ED5914:03 Individual Researched Action Project

LB5514:03 Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution

LB5525:03 Conflict Analysis

LB5536:03 Ethics and Reflective Practice in Conflict Management and Resolution

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Singapore
Townsville	Some subjects are only available via mixed or intensive attendance mode.

Candidature

Expected time to complete	1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Maximum time to complete	5 years
Maximum leave of absence	2 years

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	Yes Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure. Students may be required to undertake placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled at their own expense.
Special assessment requirements	Refer to Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement policy.
Professional accreditation requirements	Graduates are eligible for professional membership of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Singapore Association of Counselling (SAC).
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure
Maximum allowed	18 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 15 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree.
Other restrictions	Credit will not be granted for ED5311. Students who have accrued two years of full-time (or equivalent) professional experience in a cognate discipline area or have an AQF Level 8 cognate qualification may be granted advanced standing of up to 12 credit points for non-core subjects. Students seeking admission without a cognate degree must first complete the Graduate Certificate of Career Development. Then, within the Master of Guidance and Counselling, they must complete 6 credit points of ED level 5 subjects instead of ED5853 and ED5862.

Award Details

Award title	MASTER OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
Approved abbreviation	MGuidCouns
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 12 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate of Education.
Course articulation	Not applicable

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD36,000.00

Course fees are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.

A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependents accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.

Student

Garrett McKenzie

Master of Guidance and Counselling

Working within a wellbeing role already, I am now able to better understand students and their behaviour to support them more effectively in the classroom. Some of the best school leaders I’ve worked with have a Masters of Guidance and Counselling and are some of the greatest and most inspiring leaders in their fields.
Alumni

Irna Spigariol

Master of Guidance and Counselling

The course prepared me fully for my new career and I have gained my first position as a Guidance Officer in The Torres Strait Islands. As a first generation Australian from a minority background, I hope to assist other students who have had adversity in their lives, to stretch their success and lead fulfilling lives.
Lecturer

Dr Judi Reardon

Course Coordinator, Master of Guidance and Counselling

I bring to my lecturing and work with students my experience as a qualified children’s counsellor and teacher. If you are thinking about working in this field, do your homework about the job you want and the course you will take — list your goals for study and your professional aspirations and make them happen.