Bachelor of Counselling

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.

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Study locations: Sunshine Coast

Moreton Bay

Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code: 074094K
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Program length (full-time): 3 years
Annual tuition fee 2022: A$24,400
Estimated total tuition fee *: A$73,200

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 2022 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.
^First year of the program will be delivered at Moreton bay in 2021, with subsequent years rolled out incrementally.

Study locations QTAC code: Sunshine Coast 011161

Moreton Bay ^ 014361

Refer to the program footnotes
Minimum selection threshold: ATAR - 51.00 Rank - 51
USC program code: AR375
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Duration: 3 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode: Blended Learning
Recommended prior study: English
Fee type 2022: Commonwealth supported places
Total courses: 24
Total units: 288

Footnotes

^First year of the program will be delivered at Moreton bay in 2021, with subsequent years rolled out incrementally.

Student profile: Explore the likely peer cohort in the student profile data
Inherent Academic Requirements: Prospective students must consider the Inherent Academic Requirements before applying to study this program.
Program coordinator: Dr Katrina Andrews

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

Australian Counselling Association logo

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.

USC ranked 101-200th out of 871 institutions worldwide*

*2021 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, Good Health and Wellbeing.

What will I study?

Select your location, starting year and starting semester below to display your program structure and study sequence.

The study sequence ONLY represents the CURRENT program structure. Students MUST follow their commencing structure and use this study sequence to guide enrolment.

Download PDF Enrol via USC Central

Program structure

Total units:

Study sequence

Program structure

Introductory courses (7) 84 units

CRM101 Introduction to Criminology
COU101 Theories of Counselling: From Freud to Integrative Practice
COU176 Group Processes and Practice
COU180 Therapeutic Communication Skills
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology B
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia

Developing and Graduate courses (13) 156 units

COU200 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications
COU265 Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches
COU300 Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss
COU301 Positive Psychology for Counselling
COU361 Counselling Development and Supervision 1
COU362 Counselling Development and Supervision 2
COU363 Counselling Placement 1
COU364 Counselling Placement 2
COU381 Developmental and Family Counselling
PSY203 Introduction to Human Development
SCS225 Social Research
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.

Submit an enquiry

Questions? Ask us anything about studying this program. Alternatively, contact Student Central with any student-related enquiries.

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Bachelor of Counselling - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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