(01) UC/12 MCouns/1
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
CUAP Proposal-New Qualification/Subject 2012
Section A
Proposal Description
Purpose of the proposal
To introduce a 240 point Master of Counselling degree(MCouns).
Justification
This proposal will advance the University of Canterbury’s strategic and planning goals by increasing student numbers
into postgraduate programmes, increasing research outputs and providing strong collaborative links with the community
and professional bodies.
University-based counselling programmes were initially established to meet the needs of secondary school and vocational
personnel who sought training as school and vocational guidance counsellors. The structure of the MEd (with Certificate
in Counselling) therefore included considerable focus on educational guidance and has provided counsellor training to
more than 350 counsellors. In the late 1990s, however, universities began to address the needs of a broader range of
students and, to date; the Universities of Auckland, Massey and Waikato have replaced their Master of Education
qualifications with a Master of Counselling. Consistent with this broader focus, the proposed degree will address the
needs of students whose interest is in gaining a postgraduate degree for employment as counsellors in schools, community
and health agencies or private practice.
Included in the proposed degree is a 90 point (.75EFTS) research portfolio. This repositions the masters’ degree in
counselling as a research masters programme and will help meet the University of Canterbury’s planning goal of
increasing student research outputs. The proposed degree is also consistent with international developments in counsellor
education (e.g. in the UK where all counsellor education now involves research evaluation and production, and in the
USA where all practising counsellors hold a Masters qualification of the kind proposed). This national and international
consistency improves opportunities for student recruitment and admission.
The current (MEd) programme is the only postgraduate counselling degree available to students in the South Island, and
is only available to campus-based students. The proposed degree incorporates restructuring that enables students to
complete some courses by distance. This not only improves opportunities for increased student recruitment but also
enables students to combine their academic studies with field-based supervised practice in their local community. The
proposal therefore advances the University of Canterbury’s strategic and planning goals by providing strong collaborative
links with the community. Consistent with Health Sciences Centre’s Strategic Plan to foster a more coherent,
collaborative and integrated approach to Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury, some courses in the degree will
be open for enrolment by students in Education, Health and Counselling.
The proposal is timely in an environment in which the therapeutic professions are becoming registered under legislation.
The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003) came into effect on 18 September 2004, with the principal
purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public by ensuring that health practitioners are fit and competent to
practice. Psychotherapy has already become a registered profession under this Act, and the New Zealand Association of
Counsellors is well advanced in the process of seeking statutory registration for counsellors. Currently, membership of
the Association is regarded as significant acknowledgement of fitness to practice by referral bodies such as ACC and the
Family Court, as well as by employers and clients. The likely outcome of registration will be the requirement that
counsellors have a postgraduate qualification that is clearly identifiable, credible and represents the nature of their
profession. The proposed degree which requires students to complete more counselling courses and incorporates an
increased focus on Maori wellbeing throughout all courses is well positioned for registration. In this way, this proposal to
introduce a specialist Masters is consistent with the University’s desire to maintain strong collaborative links with the
community and professional bodies.
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Acceptability
An early consultation questionnaire has been sent to some current students, graduates, placement providers and members
of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors /Te Roopu Kaiwhiriwhiri a Aotearoa. All respondents have supported the
proposal and have affirmed the importance of a clearly understood, named counselling qualification.
A consultation document is being made available to current students in the MEd (Certificate in Counselling) programme
to establish clear procedures for transition from the MEd (Certificate in Counselling) to the Master of Counselling.
Internal consultation with Heads of Departments throughout UC is in place.
An advisory committee comprising academics from relevant programmes, local members of the New Zealand Association
of Counsellors and placement providers will be established to oversee the programme development.
The summary of responses is available on request.
Goals of the programme
This qualification is primarily designed for mature students with existing tertiary qualifications and professional
experience in a field related to counselling, who are intending to work in a professional counselling practice, in counsellor
education and/or research. A primary goal of the MCouns programme is to provide a professional qualification in which
advanced theory and research are integrated with clinical practice. A further goal of the programme is to enable students
to tailor their learning for their intended professional practice setting.
Graduate profile
Graduates of the Master of Counselling degree will practice in a variety of settings, and will be committed to their
ongoing professional development throughout their careers. They will contribute to the counselling profession and the
wider community through effective, highly skilled, ethical practice, through engaging in and publishing relevant research
and through their leadership roles within the profession. Graduates will demonstrate the following attributes:
 Skills to synthesise and integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical experiences.
 Ability to access, understand, assess, synthesise and critically evaluate literature, research and current critical
trends in counselling.
 A capacity to apply knowledge, skills and understandings in the practice of a range of counselling activities.
 A capacity for critical, conceptual and reflective thinking.
 A commitment to ongoing academic and professional development.
 Ability to demonstrate self-awareness, bicultural sensitivity, cultural awareness and competence.
 Ability to communicate ideas effectively to a range of audiences associated with the practice of counselling.
 Ability to critically analyse and produce case-study research in counselling.
 Demonstrated ability to engage in and critically reflect on supervised, therapeutic counselling relationships in
accordance with ethical principles.
Outcome statement
Master of Counselling graduates will practise with a high level of competence in a diverse range of professional
environments, using theory and research to inform their current and future practice. They will contribute to the
counselling profession and the wider community through effective, highly skilled and ethically based practice. They will
also make an effective contribution to the research environment by engaging in counselling–related research activity.
Programme overview
Candidates entering the programme must normally hold a bachelor’s degree and have relevant professional experience.
Entry is normally dependent on the achievement of a minimum B average in the final year of their qualifying course of
study and the outcome of a selection process, which includes written documentation and an interview in November prior
to the year of admission. The selection criteria are in keeping with the Learning Outcomes for the specialist counselling
course (Professional Counselling Practice 1, COUN675). They include aptitude for postgraduate level study, evidence of
previous counselling experience and ability to reflect on that experience critically and with maturity, relevance of
vocational goals, openness to self examination and reflection, along with ability to articulate personal values with cultural
sensitivity and self confidence. Students who are selected into Part I of the programme will undertake 120 points of taught
courses enabling them to develop a strong knowledge and skill base. In the specialist counselling course (Professional
Counselling Practice 1, COUN675) students will acquire knowledge and skills to develop effective, ethically based
counselling practice. This course also requires students to undertake 50 hours of supervised counselling practice in the
community.
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Students who are not initially selected into the programme may enrol in a number of the compulsory taught courses
(HLTH 481, COUN 678, COUN 679) and/or the optional course, COUN 677, and/or a research methods course (EDEM
693, EDEM 697, EDEM 698 or another approved course). Students who pass these courses may apply in a subsequent
year for selection into the specialist counselling courses or transfer their courses to PGCertHealSc, PGDipHealSc,
PGCertEd or PGDipEd.
To proceed to Part II, students shall normally be required to have achieved a B grade or better in Part I. Students who do
not proceed to Part II may elect to transfer their courses to PGCertHealSc, PGDipHealSc, PGCertEd or PGDipEd.
In Part II, students will be required to undertake a 30 point specialist counselling course (COUN 676) and either (i) a 90
point professional counselling research portfolio (COUN 698) or (ii) a 90 point thesis (COUN 697). In the taught 30
point course, COUN 676 (Professional Counselling Practice II), students will extend their clinical skills by attending
workshops and engaging in 450 hours of approved counselling experience. This will enable them to meet the
requirements for membership of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and for registration in the future. Of
necessity, many students will need to enrol in Part II on a part-time basis.
The 90 point Professional Counselling Research Portfolio requires students to attend regular seminars and workshops
which will extend their knowledge and understanding of traditional therapist-generated clinical case studies and develop
their skills to use methodological rigour in case-study research (McLeod, J. (2010) Case Study Research in Counselling
and Psychotherapy. London:Sage). This is particularly relevant to graduates who seek a degree that emphasises the
integral relationship between theory, research and practice. By means of this focused, coherent, cohort-based approach
students will be equipped with the necessary research knowledge, skills and understandings to enable them to complete
the research portfolio. There are precedents for this cohort-based approach in other professional, health-related masters
programmes. The University of Auckland instituted this approach and a research portfolio in their Master of Counselling
in 2010. Students who want to proceed from a Master of Counselling to a PhD may chose to enrol in either the research
portfolio or a 90 point thesis.
Proposed teaching/delivery methods
Delivery methods will be predominantly face-to-face, including lectures, discussion, student presentations, skills
laboratories, group work, individual investigation and self-directed study. Students are required throughout the
programme to undertake practicum work in community settings and this will be supervised on-site by counselling
practitioners in the field. University staff will oversee the supervision, as well as facilitating seminars and workshops for
students undertaking counselling case studies and other projects as part of the supervision of their research portfolios. For
the research portfolio, each student has an approved topic and an approved primary and secondary supervisor.
Assessment procedures
Assessment will be undertaken via a range of methods which are consistent with the University of Canterbury and the
College of Education’s assessment procedures and may include the following: essays, tests, reports, examinations,
portfolios and presentations (both individually and in groups), and on-line assessments, as appropriate. From time to time
academic visitors to the Health Sciences Centre and members of relevant professional bodies will also be used for
purposes of ongoing moderation and review.
Predicted student numbers/EFTS
Counsellors are in high demand following the Christchurch earthquakes and there has been a notable increase in
counsellor training interest. This can be seen in the increased enrolments for the counselling open-entry course (in the
proposed degree, HLTH 481) from 31 students in 2011 to 53 students in 2012. Some students who were not selected into
the limited-entry courses have taken the open entry course as part of a PGDipHealSc for subsequent application to the
counselling programme. The proposed degree has the potential to increase enrolments by allowing students who are
interested in counselling to incorporate HLTH 481 and/or three previously limited-entry, but now new open-entry
courses, (COUN 677, COUN 678, COUN 679) into a PGCertHealSc, PGDipHealSc, PGCertEd or PGDipEd. A number
of courses in the proposed degree will be organised in teaching blocks. This may increase student numbers from beyond
the Canterbury region.
A limitation of entry will be implemented for the professional counselling practice courses (COUN 675, COUN 676).
The rationale for this is to ensure that students have appropriate clinical supervision during practicum, access to suitable
counselling placements, and to ensure that graduates have employment opportunities.
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Student numbers for COUN 675 Professional Counselling Practice 1 will be limited to 12 in 2013. While an increase to a
maximum of 16 is anticipated, this would require negotiation with four new placement providers and the appointment of
an additional staff member. Since transition arrangements will be established to enable current students to transfer to the
Master of Counselling, predicted student numbers for COUN 676, Professional Counselling Practice II, and COUN 698,
Professional Counselling Research Portfolio will be 12 in 2013 and 2014.
Resources
Existing facilities, services and spaces in the Health Sciences Centre clinic are highly suitable for current student and staff
numbers. Furthermore, current library resources, including both collections and electronic databases, are excellent. New
library purchases can be managed within current allocations.
An increase in the number permitted to enrol in professional practice courses will require two full-time academics and the
employment of a clinical educator. This will require extra office space and access to a larger teaching clinic space. In
addition, it is anticipated that, as the demand for research supervision grows, expanded staffing capacity is likely to be
required. It may be that the clinical education and research supervision role can be achieved in the one appointment.
Plans for monitoring programme quality
Existing internal quality assurance procedures in respect to the Master of Counselling will continue. The counselling
programme will be monitored and evaluated at regular intervals by programme staff.
An advisory committee whose membership will include representatives from both academic and professional sectors will
assist in the monitoring of the programme.
Evaluation of course content and teaching methods will be undertaken using the UC evaluation procedures currently
operated by The Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring (CEM (NZ).
A graduating year review will be undertaken within three years of the graduation of the first cohort of students.
Proposed new regulations and prescriptions (see Calendar Form at the end of Section A)
Confirmation that Section B has been prepared and is available to CUAP on request
Section B has been prepared and is available to CUAP on request.
For New Qualifications – TEC/NZQA/NZVCC Requirements
EFTS value of qualification: 2 EFTS
NZSCED code: 061399
NZQA exit level of qualification to go on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework: 9
Statement regarding funding: This qualification should be funded at the Postgraduate level
Memorandum of understanding: N/A
Duration of the Qualification
Minimum number of points to complete the qualification: 240
Vacation/recess weeks
Work experience/placement hours per week
Placement hours Part I = 50 per annum
Placement hours Part II = 450 per annum
Tuition/teaching (full-time equivalent) weeks (including exam and study weeks) -26 weeks
Teaching hours per week:10 hours per week, plus practicum supervision, plus research supervision.
Self-directed learning hours per week; 30
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Calendar Form
New Qualification Regulations
2012 Calendar, p.128, After the Degree of Bachelor of Teaching and Learning with Honours (BTchLn(Hons))
add: The Degree of Master of Counselling (MCouns)
The Degree of Master of Counselling (MCouns)
See also General Course and Examination Regulations.
1. Qualifications Required to Enrol in the Degree
Every candidate for the Degree of Master of Counselling, before enrolling for the degree, shall have:
(a) qualified for a degree in New Zealand and either;
I. acquired experience in counselling, teaching, nursing, social work or an equivalent profession; or
II. been deemed suitable for training as a counsellor; or
(b) been admitted ad eundem statum to enrol for the Master of Counselling; and
(c) been approved as a candidate for the Degree by the Dean of Education
Notes:
1. Selection will be based on academic attainment and such other criteria as the Selection Committee may determine,
which will include an interview for admission to the professional counselling practice course (COUN 675).
2. The relevance and standard of previous studies and any subsequent professional work experience are the main
criteria of approval.
3. Students will normally be expected to have at least a B average in their 300-level courses.
4. Candidates are required to be vetted by police.
2. Structure of the Degree
The course of study for the Master of Counselling shall comprise at least 240 points/2 EFTS as follows;
(a) Requirements for Part I
a. Compulsory courses (HLTH 481, COUN 675, COUN 678, COUN 679,) as specified in the Schedule to the
Regulations totalling 90 points/0.75 EFTS
b. An approved research methods course of at least 15 points/0.125 EFTS
c. One additional approved course of at least 15 points/ 0.125 EFTS
(b) Requirements for Part II
a. COUN 676 Professional Counselling Practice II, 30 points/0.25 EFTS; and
Either
b. COUN 698 Professional Counselling Research Portfolio, 90 points/0.75 EFTS
Or
c. COUN 697 Thesis, 90 points/0.75 EFTS
Note: To proceed to Part II, students shall normally be required to have achieved a B grade or better in Part I.
3. Courses for the Degree
The courses for the Master of Counselling are listed in the Schedule to these regulations.
4. Courses from other Masters or Honours Degrees
A candidate may, with the approval of the Dean of Education, replace up to 0.5 EFTS (60 points) with relevant
courses at an equivalent level provided these courses have not been credited towards another qualification.
5. Approval of Course of Study
Each candidate is subject to the approval of the Dean of Education. Prior qualifications and experience of the candidate
will be taken into account in approving the course of study.
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6. Time Limits
(a) A candidate may be enrolled as a full-time or part-time candidate.
(b) A part-time candidate is one who, because of employment, health, family or other reasons, is unable to study and
research full-time.
(c) The minimum period of enrolment for a full-time candidate is two consecutive years. The maximum period of
enrolment for a full-time candidate is three years from the year of first enrolment.
(d) The minimum period of enrolment for a part-time student is four consecutive years. The maximum period of
enrolment for a part-time candidate is six years from the date of first enrolment.
(e) After commencement of study for the degree, a candidate may, with the permission of the Dean of Education,
transfer from part-time to full-time status or vice-versa.
(f) To qualify for the award of the degree, all requirements must be completed within the time limits listed above,
unless the candidate is granted an extension by the Dean of Education because of special circumstances.
Note: In special cases the Dean of Education may suspend the enrolment of a candidate or approve an extension and
in such cases determine whether the candidate remains eligible for Honours.
7. Re-enrolling in Courses
A candidate for the Degree must meet the required competency level in each compulsory course in the programme. Any
candidate who fails a compulsory course may seek approval to re-enrol in that course in only one subsequent year. A
candidate who fails more than one of these courses will not normally be permitted to proceed with the Degree.
8. Master of Education (with Certificate in Counselling)
A candidate who has qualified for the award of the Degree of Master of Education (with Certificate in Counselling) shall
not normally be awarded the Degree of Master of Counselling.
9. Award of PGDipEd, PGCertED, PGDipHealSc, PGCertHealSc instead of MCouns
A candidate who fails to complete the requirements for the Master of Counselling degree but successfully completes the
requirements for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education or Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences may be
awarded, upon the recommendation of the Dean of Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education or Postgraduate
Diploma in Health Sciences instead. A candidate in the Master of Counselling degree may after completing 1.0 EFTS
(120 points) elect to take a Postgraduate Diploma in Education instead of continuing with the Masters degree. A candidate
in the Master of Counselling degree may after completing 1.0 EFTS (120 points), including HLTH 401, elect to take a
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences instead of continuing with the Masters degree. A candidate in the Master of
Counselling degree may after completing 0.5 EFTS (60 points) elect to take a Postgraduate Certificate in Education or a /
Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences instead of continuing with the Masters degree.
10. Award of Honours
There shall be two classes of honours: First Class Honours and Second Class Honours. Second Class Honours shall be
awarded in two divisions: Division 1 and Division 2.
11. Transitional Arrangements
(a) A candidate who commenced the MEd (Certificate in Counselling) prior to 2013, may complete that degree
under the 2012 regulations by following a course of study approved by the Dean of Education. This transitional
arrangement shall lapse at the end of 2018.
(b) If the courses passed for the MEd (with certificate in Counselling) include EDEM 671, EDEM 672, EDEM 664,
and if the candidate meets the standard required by the Joint Board of Studies: Health (normally a B grade or
higher) then with the approval of the Dean of Education, a candidate may elect to have courses transferred to the
Degree of Master of Counselling.
(c) A candidate who elects to have their courses transferred to the Degree of Master of Counselling under regulation
10 (b) may, with approval of the Dean of Education, enrol in COUN 676 and COUN 698, or COUN 697
concurrent with an approved research methods course; normally either EDEM 693 or EDEM 697 or EDEM 698.
Schedule to the Regulations for the Master of Counselling
Compulsory
HLTH 481
Counselling and Psychology: Theories and Skills
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COUN 675
COUN 676
COUN 678
COUN 679
And either:
EDEM 693
OR
EDEM 697
OR
EDEM 698
OR
Professional Counselling Practice I (limited entry)
Professional Counselling Practice II (limited entry)
Theories of Group and Family Counselling
Solution Focused Theory and Skills
Introduction to Methodologies and Ethics in Educational Research
Qualitative Research in Education
Emergent Research Methodologies
An approved research methods course of at least 15 points/0.125 EFTS
And either
COUN 698
OR
COUN 697
Optional:
COUN 677
Professional Counselling Research Portfolio
Thesis
Contemporary Approaches to Counselling
Or another course approved by the Programme Co-ordinator
Course Catalogue entry
COUN 675: Professional Counselling Practice I
.2500 EFTS 30 points
This course aims to enable students to develop and practise effective and purposeful collaborative interventions with
clients.
Limited entry. See the limitation of entry regulations.
COUN 676: Professional Counselling Practice II
.2500 EFTS 30 points
This course aims to provide the context in which students can demonstrate their counselling practice at a professional level.
Limited entry. See the limitation of entry regulations.
COUN 677: Contemporary Approaches to Counselling
.1250 EFTS 15 points
This course aims to enable students to develop knowledge of and experience with contemporary approaches to counselling.
.1250 EFTS 15 points
COUN 678: Theories of Group and Family Counselling
This course aims to introduce students to the theories, principles and practices of working with groups, families, and wider systems.
COUN 679: Solution Focused Theory and Skills
.1250 EFTS 15 points
This course aims to introduce students to the theory and skills of a postmodern model of brief counselling called solution-focused
counselling which aims to help clients identify and implement workable solutions to problems.
COUN 697: Counselling Thesis
.75 EFTS 90 points
COUN 698: Professional Counselling Research Portfolio
.75 EFTS 90 points
Page 130
MEd Regulations
Regulation 12- Remove Note.
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Master of Counselling (MCouns)
(Selection takes place in November for the following year’s intake into Part I)
PART I
HLTH481
COUN678
COUN679
COUN675
Counselling and
Psychology –
Theory and
Skills
Group, Family,
Systems
(C)
(15) (S1)
Solution Focused
Theory & Skills
(C)
(15) (S1)
Professional
Counselling
Practice I
(C)
(30points/.25)
Research
Methods
Either EDEM 693,
697, or 698
(Limited Entry)
(C)
(30)
Optional
15 point
course.
(C) (15)
PART II
COUN676
COUN698
Professional
Counselling
Practice II
(Limited Entry)
(C)
(30points/.25)
Professional
Counselling Research
Portfolio
COUN697
or
Thesis
(90pts/.75EFT)
(90pts/.75EFT)
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