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).

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

As international students on a student visa can only study internally, School Guidance and Counselling, which is only offered externally, is not available to them.

Entry requirements

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.

Scholarships and financial support

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

View all scholarships