• Program summary
• Program overview
• Professional recognition
• Career opportunities
• Special features
• Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and articulation
• Program structure
• Program requirements and notes 
• Enquiries

Program summary

QTAC code: 011161
OP/Rank for 2009 entry: OP-18 / Rank-64
Award abbreviation: BSocSc(Couns)
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type 2010: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places, international fee-paying places
Total units: 288
Recommended prior study: English
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
USC program code: AR373
CRICOS code: 057240B

Program overview

Graduates of this three-year professional program will have acquired the counselling skills to work as an entry-level professional in the human services field. By providing foundation knowledge and skills in counselling, the program is suitable for school leavers, as well as mature-age students with previous education or experience in human services.

You will focus your learning and knowledge in the area of counselling, while gaining specialised skills that can be used across a variety of human services roles.

Courses in the program present a contemporary orientation to counselling based on foundational knowledge of ethical and professional conduct. You will receive an introduction to a range of counselling theories and approaches, including specialist areas such as trauma, crisis and bereavement counselling.

Understandings of individual, family and community behaviour are provided through specialist studies in gender and Indigenous issues; health and disability; and cultural diversity, and contemporary approaches to counselling—such as solutions-focused, strengths-based and narrative practice—are taught throughout the program.

You will undertake professional placements in human services agencies with qualified counsellors. This field education, to be undertaken in two diverse fields of practice, will give you the opportunity to apply your counselling skills to a range of human services interventions. These may include individual, family and group work in clinical and general support settings.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling) program meets the training requirements of both the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Queensland Counsellors Association (QCA), of which both students and graduates are able to apply for membership.

The Queensland Department of Child Safety, as a significant employment destination for human services students, has authorised the program as a potential entry point for work as a child protection officer with the department.

Career opportunities

The skills and knowledge acquired in the Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling) will enable graduates to pursue careers in:

• aged services
• counselling (families, individuals and groups)
• disability services
• welfare work
• youth work

If you wish to work in support roles with a broader intervention focus you should consider the Bachelor of Human Services, a three-year professional development program, or the Bachelor of Social Work, a four-year program. Both programs prepare you for a broad range of government and non-government roles in the field of social justice and community welfare.

Special features

• well-suited to professionals who wish to upgrade their knowledge and skills in the counselling arena
• meets the training requirements of both the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Queensland Counsellors Association (QCA)
• one of only a few undergraduate programs in the counselling area in Australia

Program structure

Core courses

Select 2 courses from:
COR109 Cell Biology
COR110 Introductory Bioscience
COR111 Communication and Thought

Introductory courses

Advanced courses

9 required courses:
SCS263 Introduction to Indigenous Australia(24 units)
SCS264 Counselling for the Human Services Professional(24 units)
SCS265 Counselling Placement 1
SCS266 Counselling Placement 2
SCS276 Counselling Theory and Practice
SCS278 Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Counselling
SCS281 Group Work
SCS285 Ethics and Professional Practice
Plus select 1 course from:
SCS210 Developmental and Family Counselling
SCS290 Health, Society and Culture

Electives

Select 6 elective courses from any faculty (Arts and Social Sciences, Business or Science, Health and Education). Please note: it is strongly recommended that you choose at least 2 of the following as electives:

SCS210 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS286 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SCS290 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS295 Disability: Culture, Community and Change

Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program

As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.

Program requirements and notes

1. No more than 10 introductory level courses are to be completed, including core courses.
2. Required introductory courses may count towards a major or minor.
3. No course may be counted towards more than one major or minor.
4. If you wish to take the Child Protective Practices Minor you must take the following electives: SCS172 Social Work and Human Service Practice, SCS277 Working with Families, SWK303 Complexity and Social Work: Policy and practice.
5. Electives may be used to complete an additional major or minor to supplement the required major.
6. An introductory level course has a number less than 200 in its course code. An advanced level course has a number greater than 200 and less than 400 in its course code.
7. Refer to the Academic Rules.
8. Refer to explanation of terms.
9. Refer to recommended enrolment patterns. For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
10. Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods, for example, essays, seminar presentations, recorded role plays, practicum reviews, reports, journals, case study analyses, in-class tests, and examinations.
11. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.

Requirements for field education

In order to complete this program, you need to successfully complete field education (ie SCS263 Understanding Cultural Diversity and SCS264 Gender and Culture) for which you are required to obtain a Blue Card (issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian).

Your enrolment in field education will be conditional upon the following:

• your eligibility for a Blue Card at the time of the first enrolment in the program
• maintenance of that eligibility throughout the entire of the program
• acquisition of a Blue Card prior to commencement of field education.

In the event that you become ineligible for a Blue Card, at any time between the date of first enrolment and the date of completion of the program, you will not be able to complete the degree.

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.

Field education includes professional or clinical placements. You may be required to undertake these placements away from the campus at your own expense.

Enquiries

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

Program Leader
Dr Kathryn Geldard
Tel: +61 7 5459 4978
Email: KGeldard@usc.edu.au

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