Bachelor of Counselling | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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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.

Study location
  • Sippy Downs
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
074094K
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2^
Program length (full-time)
3 years
Annual tuition fee 2019
A$23,200
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$69,600
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 2025 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.
  • Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie.
  • Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
  • Only first-year courses are offered at Fraser Coast. The remainder of the program must be completed at Sippy Downs campus.
  • ^Semester 2 commencement not available at Gympie
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 011161
  • Fraser Coast 019171
  • Gympie 016161
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 18 Rank - 64
UniSC program code
AR375
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2^
Duration
3 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
on campus
Recommended prior study
English
Fee type 2019
  • Commonwealth supported places
Total courses
24
Total units
288
Footnotes
  • Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie.
  • Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
  • Only first-year courses are offered at Fraser Coast. The remainder of the program must be completed at Sippy Downs campus.
  • ^Semester 2 commencement not available at Gympie

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.

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

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.

Program structure

Introductory courses (7) 84 units

COR109 Communication and Thought
COU101 Earth's Surface Processes, Materials and Soils
COU176 Introduction to Environmental Management
COU180 Biodiversity and Ecology
PSY100 Science Research Methods
PSY101 Plant Diversity and Ecology
SCS130 Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology

Developing and Graduate courses (13) 156 units

COU200 Environmental Management Systems and Processes
COU265 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology
COU300 Environmental and Resource Economics
COU301 Integrated Environmental Management
COU361 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
COU362 Measuring Sustainability
COU363 Communicating Sustainability
COU364 Planning and Environmental Law
COU381 Professional Practice: Legal Frameworks and Issues
PSY203 Special Research Project
SCS225 Workplace Learning I
SCS290 Simulation in Practice Education
SWK278 Community and Primary Health Care

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

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.