UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
1. Awarding Institution /Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and/or
location of delivery
Preston
3. University Department/Centre
School of Community Health and
Midwifery
Not applicable
4. External Accreditation
5. Title of Final Award
6. Modes of Attendance offered
MSc Counselling and
Psychotherapy
Postgraduate Diploma Counselling
and Psychotherapy
Part time
7. UCAS Code
Not applicable
8. Relevant Subject
Benchmarking Group(s)
Not applicable
9. Other external influences
Not applicable
10. Date of production/revision of
this form
January 2014
11. Aims of the Programme
PG Diploma
 To provide an opportunity for experienced practitioners to critically evaluate
the current research in counselling and psychotherapy and to apply to
practice
 To enable students to develop an advanced knowledge and critical
understanding of the theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy
 To facilitate the development of skills and interventions, ethical and safe
practice and ability to critically reflect on practice.
 To provide an opportunity to further experienced practitioners’ personal and
professional development.
 To enable students to develop a professional stance toward evidence-based
practice through the critique of current research and its application to
practice.
MSc
 To enable students to complete a rigorous piece of theoretical, case study
or empirical investigation into counselling and psychotherapy applying
research knowledge gained on the PG Diploma.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
PG Diploma: Students will be able to:
A1. Integrate ethical thinking and decision-making into practice in varied contexts and
with varied client groups.
A2. Critically explore the development and use of self with the theory and practice of
counselling and psychotherapy.
A3. Demonstrate systematic and critical understanding of previous and current
research and appropriate literature.
A4. Apply advanced knowledge and understanding of counselling and psychotherapy
theory and underpinning philosophy to practice
MSc:
A5. Complete a rigorous piece of theoretical or empirical investigation, or a
hermeneutic case study, in an area related to counselling and psychotherapy.
Teaching and Learning Methods
PG Diploma:
Lecture, seminar, experiential methods and guest speakers from within the School.
Group discussions using case studies and research reports to integrate theory and
practice. Presentation of an ethical dilemma from practice by students to group and
the use of models of ethical reasoning to work through ethical decisions
MSc:
Individual tutorial support of counselling dissertation.
Assessment methods
PG Diploma:
Case Study from practice that critically analyses and resolves an ethical dilemma
Varied methods according to which modules are chosen, e.g. Learning statements,
essays, presentations etc. Research proposal, presentation and critique of a research
paper.
MSc:
Counselling Dissertation or a hermeneutic case study
B. Subject-specific skills
Students will be able to:
PG Diploma:
B1. Demonstrate ethical decision-making skills specific to the practice of counselling
and psychotherapy
B2. Demonstrate self-awareness development and implications for practice
B3. Demonstrate a greater insight into how contextual and thematic issues impact on
the practice of counselling and psychotherapy
B4. Critically apply extended knowledge and understanding of the BACP Ethical
Framework
MSc:
B5. Apply research skills appropriate and applicable to counselling and
psychotherapy
Teaching and Learning Methods
PG Diploma:
Practice in sharing ethical issues and dilemmas and sharing of the means to make
ethical decisions. Experiences that deepen self-reflection on own issues and the
impact on others. Varied methods according to which modules are chosen.
MSc:
Individual tutorial support.
Assessment methods
PG Diploma:
Essay, Case study and feedback from peer and tutors. Critique of research paper and
research proposal. Varied methods according to which modules are chosen, e.g.
Learning statements, essays, presentations.
MSc:
Counselling Dissertation
C. Thinking Skills
Students will be able to:
PG Diploma:
C1. Critically analyse and identify ethical issues that impact upon professional
practice.
C2. Critically apply and evaluate ethical components of professional practice with
professional codes e.g. BACP Ethical Framework as essential to the philosophy of
professional counselling and psychotherapy practice
C3. Critically examine and evaluate Counselling and psychotherapy theories and
concepts and their application to practice.
C4. Critically analyse, synthesise and apply relevant historical and contemporary
material from primary and secondary sources.
C5 Evaluate the dilemmas implicit in the development of rigour within ethically
committed research
C6 Critically evaluate a variety of research methods.
MSc:
C7 Select synthesise, evaluate an apply varied philosophies varied conceptual
frameworks and research methodologies/techniques relevant to dissertation topic
Teaching and Learning Methods
PG Diploma:
Lecture, seminar, group discussion, casework discussion and student presentations..
Varied methods according to which modules are chosen.
MSc:
Individual tutorial support
Assessment methods
PG Diploma:
Case study from practice that critically analyses and resolves and ethical dilemma
Varied methods according to which modules are chosen, e.g. Learning statements,
essays, presentations. Research proposal and critique of research paper.
MSc:
Counselling Dissertation
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
Students will be able to:
PG Diploma:
D1. Develop reflective practitioner skills
D2. Demonstrate ethical decision-making skills
D3. Critically evaluate a deeper awareness of self and difference including cultural
values, within the process of counselling
MSc:
D4. Critically apply Research Skills
Teaching and Learning Methods
PG Diploma:
Case work discussion, experiential exercises and presentations with student and tutor
feedback
Varied methods according to which modules are chosen
MSc:
Individual tutorial support
Assessment methods
PG Diploma:
Case Study
Varied methods according to which modules are chosen, e.g. Learning statements,
essays, presentations.
MSc:
Counselling Dissertation; Hermeneutic Case Study.
Level
Module
Code
Module Title
Credit
rating
Level 7
HN4700
Dilemmas in Professional
Counselling Practice (core)
20
Level 7
NU4025
Introduction to Postgraduate
Research (core)
20
Level 7
HN4015
Working with Fragile Process
(core)
20
Level 7
CG4007
Jungian and Post-Jungian
approaches to therapy
(option)
20
Level 7
HN4711
Therapeutic Work with
Children and Adolescents
(option)
20
Level 7
NU4007
Solution-Focused
Interventions (option)
20
Level 7
HN4704
Supervision of Counselling
(Core)
20
Level 7
CG4009
A Critical understanding of
the Evidence Base in
Counselling and
Psychotherapy (Core)
20
Level 7
NU4053
Dissertation
(core for MSc)
60
14. Awards and
Credits*
MSc Counselling and
Psychotherapy
Requires 180 credits at
Level 7 of which the
following core modules
must be achieved:
HN4700
HN4015
NU4025 (or
equivalent)HN4704
CG4009
NU4053
Plus one option
Postgraduate Diploma
Counselling and
Psychotherapy
Requires 120 credits at
Level 7 of which the
following core modules
must be achieved:
HN4700
HN4015
NU4025 (or equivalent)
HN4704
CG4009
Plus one option
15. Personal Development Planning
Both PG Diploma & MSc
Personal development planning is a core learning process. Using a journal of
reflection, formative assessment processes and tutorials students will be able to;
1. develop skills of reflection on their academic, personal and professional
development (within clear and safe boundaries). Ethical thinking and practice is very
important within the course
2. increase own skills, qualities, attitudes and capabilities. (Reflection on self and use
of self in counselling)
3. improve their own learning and performance by taking responsibility for their own
development and developing the necessary skills for independent learning. (Student
presentations of case material will encourage this.)
4. identify own strengths, weaknesses and needs and direction for change.(audit of
skills at the beginning and end of course)
5. set goals and plan action for developing, monitoring and reviewing their own
progress.(journal and reflective learning statement)
6. compile their own records of learning experiences and achievement (journal and
reflective learning statement)
7. plan realistically for their career progression and manage own career development
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic
qualifications, together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to
study. These criteria may be expressed as a range rather than a specific grade.
Amendments to entry requirements may have been made after these documents were
published and you should consult the University’s website for the most up to date
information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
All students initially enrol on the Postgraduate Diploma. For the Postgraduate
Diploma, students must provide evidence of having completed a professional
qualification in counselling and/or psychotherapy for at least a minimum period of two
years; have completed a Bachelors with Honours Degree and be working in, or have
recent experience of, counselling and/or psychotherapy
For the MSc, applicants will undertake a progression interview at which an
assessment will be made on the person’s ability to undertake the Counselling
Dissertation. This will be determined by the student’s ability to maintain an average of
55% or above on core modules within the programme.
17. Key sources of information about the programme

Student Handbook/School Handbook

School of Health website

UCLAN Web site www.uclan.ac.uk

Post Graduate Open Days
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
Lev Module
el
Code
A1
Core
X
HN4711
O
X
X
X
X
HN4015
Working with Fragile Process
Core
X
X
X
X
CG4007
Jungian and Post-Jungian
approaches to therapy:
O
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Solution-Focused Interventions
O
Introduction to Postgraduate
Research
Core
Critical understanding of the
evidence base in Counselling and
Psychotherapy
Core
Supervision of Counselling
Core
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Dissertation
NU4007
NU4025
CG4009
HN4704
MSc
Students
only
NU4053
Core
A2
A3 A4 A5
B1
X
X
X
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
X
X
X
X
Thinking Skills
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7
D1 D2 D3 D4
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Subject-specific Skills
Module Title
Dilemmas in Professional
Counselling Practice
Therapeutic work with Children
and Adolescents
HN4700
Level 7
Knowledge and
understanding
Core (C) or
Option (O)
Other skills
relevant to
employability and
personal
development
B2
B3 B4
X
X
B5
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
x
x
x
x
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
X
X
X
X
x
X
X
X
X
X
Note: Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks