Master of Education (School Guidance and Counselling)

Overview

• Ideal for teachers who want a qualification in school guidance and counselling.
• Choose between two options. Option A is designed to provide eligibility for employment in a school setting from Prep to Year 12. Option B is suited for guidance and counselling in a secondary school as it also meets the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) professional standards.
• Study basic counselling techniques, learn how to assess student problems and provide effective counselling of students.
• Includes block units and a 200-hours practicum in school guidance and counselling.
• Commonwealth Supported Places available for Australian citizens and permanent visa holders, and New Zealand citizens (subject to change).

QUT course code	ED79
Attendance	Part-time or Full-time Note: There is no full-time mid-year entry for School Guidance and Counselling. Only part-time study is available for students applying to begin in Semester 2.
Course duration	1 year full-time 2 years part-time
Start month	2013 February, July Note: School Guidance and Counselling students may have 'Block' units scheduled before the beginning of semester. Please see the School Guidance and Counselling course structure.
Delivery	On campus Kelvin Grove
Faculty	Faculty of Education
Course contact	Student Business Services (SBS) Admissions: Email: askqut@qut.edu.au Telephone: +61 7 3138 2000
Careers	Guidance Officer

Details

If you are a teacher seeking a career change, Master of Education (School Guidance and Counselling) offers the opportunity to become a qualified and accredited school guidance counsellor. At QUT you can choose School Guidance and Counselling Option A or B. If you choose Option A, you will be eligible for employment in a school setting from Prep to Year 12. Option B is suited for guidance and counselling in a secondary school as it also meets the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) professional standards.

This study area will introduce you to basic counselling techniques and provide opportunities for you to learn how to assess student problems, effective counselling of students, and career development theory and its application on career development programs.

Option A offers the study unit Understanding Reading and Writing Difficulties, which will assist you to deepen your knowledge of the reading and writing processes and to develop your skills in identifying and supporting struggling readers and writers in inclusive educational settings as classroom teacher, special education support teacher, counsellor, or guidance officer.

Option B enables you to study Career Counselling where you will have the opportunity to gain experience in the application of traditional and emerging career counselling processes, and to contribute to innovation in supporting the role of career counselling in a new career guidance context of career self-management.

Practicum and block units

This program includes block units and a 200-hour school guidance and counselling practicum. The block units are usually held before semester begins and require your compulsory attendance on campus for one-week blocks of intensive study, during Queensland’s school holidays. The practicum will provide you with professional knowledge and skills in the practice of school guidance and counselling and an awareness of ethical guidelines. One hundred hours of the practicum must be undertaken within a school setting, usually in a primary school, high school or special education facilities. The remaining 100 hours may be undertaken in any approved setting. This could be in a school or community agency such as Lifeline or refugee homework centres.

Career outcomes

You will be prepared for careers such as school guidance and counsellor in a school setting.

Professional recognition

The study area is recognised by Education Queensland, Catholic Education, and Independent Schools as a guidance officer qualification in Queensland schools. Please consult other states’ registering authorities if you are seeking employment outside of Queensland. Option B enables School Guidance and Counselling graduates to meet Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) professional standards (valid until 2014).

Units

In the School Guidance and Counselling study area you are required to complete eight (8) School Guidance and Counselling study area core units (96 credit points). Please be advised that there are a number of one week BLOCK units that are held at the QUT Kelvin Grove Campus during the QLD school holidays:

OPTION A:

• EDN610 Professional Dialogues in Education
• SPN610 Advanced Educational Counselling
• SPN611 Educational Guidance and Counselling: Professional Practice
• SPN612 Psychoeducational Assessment
• SPN618 Career Development and Professional Practice
• SPN647 Understanding Reading and Writing Difficulties
• SPN648 School Guidance and Counselling Practicum
• SPN651 Introductory Educational Counselling.

OPTION B:

• SPN610 Advanced Educational Counselling
• SPN611 Educational Guidance and Counselling: Professional Practice
• SPN612 Psychoeducational Assessment
• SPN618 Career Development and Professional Practice
• SPN620 Career Counselling
• SPN648 School Guidance and Counselling Practicum
• SPN651 Introductory Educational Counselling
• SPN654 Career Development: Policy and Process Context.

There is a recommended plan for your progression through the course (below). As there are prerequisites and concurrent requisites involved, you will need to take great care when selecting your units.

You are permitted to enrol in a minimum of one (1) unit per semester.

Please find important information about the study area and unit availabilities in the 'All course structures' link below.

Entry requirements

An appropriate four (4) year Bachelor degree or equivalent at a standard acceptable to the Executive Dean or a three (3) year Bachelor degree or equivalent at a standard acceptable to the Executive Dean PLUS at least one year of appropriate professional or industrial experience.  (Applicants who have completed a three (3) year Bachelor degree or equivalent are asked to supply an original copy of a letter from their employer outlining details of their employment history)

Students undertaking the School Guidance and Counselling study area must be registered teachers and supply original evidence of their teacher registration.

If you want to study School Guidance and Counselling full-time, please be aware that applications for 2013 close early due to compulsory block units that are held before semester commencement. Applications must be submitted by close of business on Friday 16th November 2012. (There is no mid-year entry for School Guidance and Counselling full-time. Only part-time study is available.)

This qualification is only recognised by education employing authorities in Queensland.

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

View all scholarships

You may also be eligible for Centrelink payments