1996 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

Applicants admitted to the Master of Information
Technology course may be granted advanced standing for
previous studies at master level at Swinburne or elsewhere.
Such advanced standing would be granted on a case-by-case
basis.
Course Convener
Jim Sykes
Telephone: 9214 8431
~091 Master of Arts in Counselling
Psychology
This course is offered as a four year, part-time evening
program. It is designed for students who have completed a
first degree and have completed a four year sequence of
studies in psychology. The course is intended to prepare
graduates for professional practice as counselling
psychologists.
The course has been granted full accreditation as a fifth and
sixth year course in psychology by the Course
Development and Accreditation Committee of the
Australian Psychological Society.
Course objectives
Graduates of the course will be able to:
assess the current level of psychosocial functioning of
individuals, groups, couples and families and formulate
appropriate helping intkentions;
provide counselling help to individuals, groups,
couples and families experiencing difficulties connected
with relationships, education, careers, work, marriage,
parenting;, ". crises, and life-transitions;
evaluate and monitor the quality of helping services
provided bv a counselling; services unit;
provide consulting help to individuals, organisations
and community groups in relation to psychosocial
development and adaptation.
Entrance requirements
There is an intake of twenty students into the course every
even numbered year. In the event of course vacancies
occurring, it may be possible for individual students to be
admitted to the program before a scheduled intake.
Applicants with good results in their fourth year studies
and/or relevant human services work experience will be
interviewed by a selection panel and an order-of-merit for
entry will be prepared taking into account (a) academic
preparation, (b) previous work and training experience, (c)
academic and professional referees' reports.
In order to be accepted into the course, an applicant must
(a) be qualified for the award of a degree from an
Australian university, and (b) have completed a four-year
sequence of studies in psychology in a course, or courses,
approved by the Australian Psychological Society's Course
Development and Accreditation Committee OR hold
overseas qualifications recognised as equivalent for the
purpose of Associate Membership by the Australian
Psychological Society's Membership Committee.
Satisfactory progress
Students' progress will be monitored by the School's
Graduate Studies Committee. A student who is given an N
or NA grade for a subject twice may not be permitted to
re-enrol in the course. Students will be required to
complete the course in not more than six years.
Course structure
Counselling psychology is very diverse, with many
particular applications. The course has been organised in
such a way as to (a) teach generic skills and areas of
knowledge which apply across the various areas of
counselling psychology practice, and (b) examine selected
areas of practice which exemplify the delivery of
counselling-related services to persons with particular
needs. There are three course components: coursework
(500/0), supervised practical work (25%/0), and an empirical
research project (25%).
The overall structure of the course will be as follows:
Year 1
Semester 1
AY510 Human Services Research and Evaluation
AY5 11 Group Counselling Skills
Semester 2
AY5 12
AY513
Counselling Theory and Skills
Research Colloquium
Year 2
Semester I
AY514 Development and Adaptation
AY515 Psychological Assessment
Semester 2
AY5 16 Counselling Applications
AY517 Supervised Practicum Internship A
Year 3
Semester I
AY517 Supervised Practicum Internship A
AY610 Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues
Semester 2
AY611 Counselling Psychology B: Psychology of
Marriage and the Family
AY612 Supervised Practicum Internship B
Year 4
Semester I
AY612
AY613
Supervised Practicum Internship B
Counselling Psychology A: Psychology of
Work, Health Psychology
Semester 2
AY614 Aspects of Professional Practice
AY615 Research Project and Report
Three of the coursework subjects comprise advanced study
in areas central to the practice of counselling psychology:
Development and Adaptation
Psychology of Work and Health Psychology
Psychology of Marriage and the Family