Transnational students - Hong Kong
Master of Social Science in Counselling
Welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to the University of South Australia. You are now part of a forward looking and innovative University that provides high quality learning and research programs to educate professionals, apply knowledge and serve the community.
Through our collaborative arrangement with the School of Continuing Education (SCE) of the Hong Kong Baptist University you will be able to study for your award, the Master of Social Science in Counselling in Hong Kong and will receive support from both SCE facilitators and lecturers of the University of South Australia.
The School of Continuing Education is well established in Hong Kong as a provider of quality programs and has considerable experience in working with overseas institutions for the provision of postgraduate awards.
I hope you will find your studies enjoyable and rewarding and wish you every success in this most important endeavour.
Yours sincerely
Mr Greg Ireland,
Program Director,
Master of Social Science in Counselling (Transnational)
Program Details
Program Structure
Course Descriptions
– (Word Format)
General Information
Administrative
Information - (Word Format)
Frequently Asked Questions – (Word Format)
Partners
Staff Profiles
South Australian Links
Program Details
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is one of Australia's major institutions of higher learning and consists of 6 campuses located in the capital city of South Australia, Adelaide and the regional city of Whyalla.
The University has around 23,000 students of whom about 4,200 are postgraduate, and has approximately 2,000 staff. The University has a long and successful experience of co-operation with the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), School of Continuing Education (SCE).
Qualifications from undergraduate to PhD level in some 40 professional disciplines are offered by the University which has established a strong teaching and research reputation in applied science, art and design, engineering, the health sciences, management and commerce, teacher education, and the social sciences.
The School of Psychology
The Counselling Program is part of the School of Psychology in the University of South Australia. The School runs a variety of undergraduate Psychology programs and postgraduate programs at the Masters and Doctoral level. Within the School, there are circa ten academic staff who are directly involved in the Master of Counselling program.
Program Objectives
The Master of Counselling program is designed to provide further academic and professional upgrading to individuals now working, or planning to work in the broad field of human services. The program will enable graduates to achieve a high level of mastery in counselling knowledge and skills through a program which integrates contemporary research, theory and practice.
On completion of the program, students will have:
- developed a sound knowledge of the theoretical underpinning of counselling as a professional helping activity;
- developed high level skills in intervening with people and developing appropriate strategies for problem solving;
- developed and extended their awareness, understanding, expertise and skills in a range of areas of counselling which includes theory, personal development, skill, field practice and research.
Characteristics of the Program
- Face-to-face teaching by UniSA faculty at SCE
- Support in laboratory groups by local facilitators
- Regular support contact possible by fax and e-mail with UniSA faculty
- Access to the SCE Resource Library
Mode of Study
The Masters program is offered part-time on a trimester basis over two years by taking two courses in each semester. Face-to-face classes/workshops will be conducted by UniSA faculty in Hong Kong supported by laboratory groups with local tutors during weekday evenings or Saturday afternoons. Further academic support is provided by means of specially designed learning packages, including textbooks. Students will be able to contact UniSA academic staff through fax and e-mail.
Assessment
Continuous assessment typically in the form of assignment in each course is required. There are no examinations.
Admission Requirement
Applicants for the Master of Social Science in Counselling should hold a recognised undergraduate degree. Applicants are normally expected to be involved in, or familiar with, professional practice related to education, health, human services or related areas.
Graduates from a variety of awards will be eligible to undertake the program, including health care workers, physiotherapists, social workers, teachers, dentists, medical therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, ministers of religion and others. The program is designed to allow students from a broad cross-section of backgrounds to benefit from the program integrating with their particular education, work and professional experience.
Program Structure
The Masters Degree in Social Science - Counselling consists of twelve 4.5 unit courses which are completed in six trimesters over a period of two years.
Each course contains material about the knowledge/theory base of counselling, practice strategies and skills, and materials to strengthen the identity, confidence and competence of the student in becoming a practising counsellor. The particular focus or emphasis of each course is identified in the table below. This indicates the 'balance' of the program in respect to the following five major educational emphases:
- A focus on developing counselling skills
- A focus on theory perspectives in counselling
- A focus on the development of the counsellor as a person
- A focus on research in counselling
- A focus on field practice
The following is an indication of how the program is presented over the six terms.
| TERM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | UNITS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOCUS | |||||||
| 1. Skills | CP | CFC | TS | CATC | 18.0 | ||
| 2. Theory | CT | EI | CIC | 13.5 | |||
| 3. Personal Development | DTIC | IS | 9.0 | ||||
| 4. Research | RIC | CPRO | 9.0 | ||||
| 5. Field Practice | CFE | 4.5 | |||||
| Total | 54.0 |
Link to: Course Descriptions
General Information
Program Outlines
Counselling programs have been operated by the University and its precursors for some 20 years and there is now a very substantial number of graduates occupying important practitioner positions and counselling management roles in South Australia and other states of Australia.
The Master of Social Science in Counselling is a program taking an eclectic theoretical position. It is a program, which seeks to integrate practice components into the courses, which make up the program linking practice to a thorough study of the course's research and theory.
The program is intended for mature adults from a wide range of backgrounds who have work or professional experience that is directly involved with counselling or where counselling is an important but tangential part of their role. The program is not for those who come straight from a psychology or social science degree with no work experience.
Mode of Study
The Masters program is offered part-time on a trimester basis over two years by taking two courses in each semester. Face-to-face classes/workshops will be conducted by University of South Australia staff in Hong Kong supported by laboratory groups with local tutors during weekday evenings or Saturday afternoons. Further academic support is provided by means of specially designed learning packages, including textbooks. Students will be able to contact University of South Australia academic staff via email or fax.
Aims and Objectives
The program is designed to provide further academic and professional upgrading to individuals now working, or planning to work in the broad field of human services. The program will enable graduates to achieve a high level of mastery in counselling knowledge and skills through a program which integrates contemporary research, theory and practice.
On completion of the program, students will have:
- developed a sound knowledge of the theoretical underpinning of counselling as a professional helping activity;
- developed high level skills in intervening with people and developing appropriate strategies for problem solving;
- developed and extended their understanding, expertise and skills in a chosen area of counselling through the design and completion of a research project.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the Master of Social Science in Counselling should hold a recognised undergraduate degree. Applicants are normally expected to be involved in, or familiar with professional practice related to education, health, human services or related areas.
Potential candidates for the Master of Social Science in Counselling program must demonstrate a high motivation to undertake an intensive program. They should also be able to show success in their careers to date and be able to envisage how this program fits into their career plans for the future.
It will be an advantage to have access to email and the internet as the program has its own website.
Application Procedures
Applications for the Master of Social Science in Counselling program must be lodged with HKBU, SCE around 1-30 November for the February intake, 1-30 March for the June intake, and 1-31 July for the October intake.
At the time of application, applicants will need to provide the SCE office:
- completed University of South Australia and SCE application forms
- two full sets of photocopies of academic credentials including transcripts and certificates of awards
- application fee
Application forms may be obtained in person from HKBU, SCE Centres or at the Information Seminar, via post, or by downloading from the HKBU, SCE website.
Enquiries should be directed to
Email: cynthiaw@hkbu.edu.hk
Telephone: 3411 5512 / 3411 5559
Fax: 3411 2797 / 3411 5502
Partners
The Master of Social Science in Counselling has a partnership with:
University of South Australia
Hong Kong Baptist University
Staff Profiles
Mark Cescato
John Court
Greg Ireland
Giuseppa (Josie) Luscri
Kurt Lushington
Marilyn McCarthy
Melanie Parry-Jones
Nadine Pelling
Ilona Reid
M.R. (Vicky) Sanders
Denise Skinner
Paul Whetham
Links to South Australia