Fast Facts
Commencing
- Online: February, July
- Singapore: February, May, September
Fees
$32,040.00+
+estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible
Duration
1.5 years full-time
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor in cognate discipline
English language requirements
Band 2
If your native language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language requirements for this course.
Course Code
34704
Course detail
Ready to take on a career that supports others to live confidently and healthily as they find the path that’s best for them? Studying JCU’s Master of Guidance and Counselling will equip you to provide information and support to future clients in the ways they need most. Whether you go on to work as a school guidance officer or professional counsellor, you’ll have an array of guidance and counselling techniques and skills, allowing you to compassionately and sensitively educate and empower your future clients.
Over the course of this 1.5-year degree, you will gain a deep and critical understanding of the theoretical origins and concepts underpinning current approaches to counselling and their application to the field, including career development. You will explore the intercultural applications of guidance and counselling to the tropical context, including Indigenous, rural and regional wellbeing. You will develop strong micro and macro skills in counselling and have opportunities for intentional practice of micro skills in simulated counselling sessions.
This Master of Guidance and Counselling degree has eight core subjects that cover topics such as the foundations of counselling theory and practice, advanced counselling techniques, reflective practice, career and leisure guidance, and atypical development. You can tailor the degree to suit your interests and career goals by choosing four elective subjects, with options including educational research, behaviour management, social learning perspectives, conflict analysis and resolution, plus many others.
In this degree, you will undertake an individual, small-scale research project that encourages informed, action-oriented leadership approaches to building social and/or ecological capacity in the guidance and counselling field. You will be supported in your research by expert academics who will give you advice and guidance relevant to your chosen topic and your future goals. The research knowledge and skills you gain in this project will prepare you for pursuing a Higher Degree by Research.
Upon completion of JCU’s Master of Guidance and Counselling, you will be ready to be a guidance officer, counsellor, or career development advisor with the ability to identify complex issues, develop creative solutions, give informed guidance and provide compassionate counselling in a range of professional guidance and counselling practice contexts.
View the handbook for a detailed overview of subjects.
Additional information
Study a Master of Guidance and Counselling at JCU
If you already work in a well-being capacity and want to deepen your knowledge to help others, JCU’s Master of Guidance and Counselling may be the next step toward a more fulfilled career. This course covers 8 core topics that will take practitioners from foundational to advanced level skills. The purpose of JCU’s Master's degree in Guidance and Counselling is for graduates to be able to offer skilled support for people’s social and emotional lives in different cultural contexts.
Australia is home to many different cultural contexts including Indigenous, migrant and refugee communities. In addition, there are rural and regional aspects to take into consideration when planning how to provide guidance to communities. Through studying this specialised counselling master’s degree, graduates will gain a deeper insight into how to sensitively and compassionately empower individuals and communities to provide lasting outcomes. The course will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to provide guidance to clients and also to devise ethically delivered community guidance programs.
Core Subjects for JCU Master of Guidance and Counselling
The JCU Master of Guidance and Counselling aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of counselling guidance and practice. Eight core subjects must be studied including:
- Foundations of counselling theory and practice
- Advanced counselling techniques
- Reflective practice
- Career and leisure guidance
- Atypical development
To further tailor study to suit the individual participant’s interests, it is possible to choose four electives from subjects such as:
- Educational research
- Behaviour Management
- Social learning perspectives
- Conflict analysis and resolution
Master's degree in Guidance and Counselling students will also need to complete an individual small-scale project. More information can be found on the main course page. The whole course can be completed within an 18-month timeframe if all deadlines are met. Postgraduate students will be supported by leading industry experts to gain a first-class understanding of counselling theory and practice.
Career Options for JCU Master Degree in Guidance and Counselling Graduates
JCU graduates work in a range of different fields such as guidance, counselling, and career development. Some sectors that need graduates with an information, advice and guidance masters include private and public sector organisations where specialist human resource management is required, schools and charities. The JCU Master's degree in Guidance and Counselling is also accredited within Australia and Singapore, allowing graduates to work internationally.
JCU is pleased to welcome students from Australia and internationally. Please view the general admission requirements section in the course handbook for eligibility criteria and pathways to this course. If you are considering doing a Masters of Guidance and Counselling in Queensland, there is a choice of flexible study options. students can choose between in-person attendance at the JCU Townsville campus and online delivery. Online students will have to attend some on-campus classes to qualify.
If you are ready to take the next step to become an accredited professional counsellor, visit the JCU main course page for further information on entry requirements and fees. Read the current student and alumni testimonials to see where this pathway could take you.
Hide additional information
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Master of Guidance and Counselling .
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 year | Information valid for students commencing in 2024 |
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 | Academy |
College | Arts, Society and Education |
Award Requirements
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. |
Post admission requirements | Suitability to Work with Children Card (Blue Card): This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age or vulnerable people. Students admitted to JCU Australia are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) or interstate equivalent before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card or interstate equivalent for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course For more information, refer to the following, as relevant to your state or territory: ACT – Access Canberra WWVP Registration NSW – Service NSW WWCC Registration NT – Ochre Card Services QLD - Blue Card Services SA – Screening Check |
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:
|
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Master of Guidance and Counselling. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
ED5859:03 Atypical Development
ED5862:03 Foundations of Counselling Theory
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
ED5857:03 Assessment
OPTIONS
Select 12 credit points of subjects from List 1
List 1
ED5190:03 Introduction to Educational Research
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
ED5914:03 Individual Researched Action Project
LB5514:03 Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution
LB5525:03 Conflict Analysis
LB5536:03 Ethical Decision Making and Reflective Practice
WS3027:03 Working with Children and Families
WS5103:03 Community Development
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Singapore | |
JCU Townsville | Mixed attendance mode: some subjects are only available via external attendance mode Students must undertake their professional placement in Australia |
External | Students must undertake their professional placement in Australia |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 18 months full-time or part-time equivalent |
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). |
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 five 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, students will receive advanced standing for ED5853 plus 3 credit points of elective subjects. |
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 | Not applicable |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD32,040.00
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.
JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, consider exploring our available Pathways options.
Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.
Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.
Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.
Real stories
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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.
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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.
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Course Coordinator
Dr Margaret-Anne Carter
Master of Guidance and Counselling
Our Master of Guidance and Counselling course takes an integrative approach to counselling theory and practice, combining industry-relevant skills with practice-based experiences.
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Employer
Colette Wasson
Director, Human Resources Business Partnering, Education Queensland
The Department of Education finds JCU students to be equipped with the knowledge, skill set and willingness to make a difference in Queensland State Schools. Graduates leave JCU with a well-rounded ability to succeed in the classroom, while also stepping outside their comfort zone to begin their professional careers.