THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION FOR
MSc in Counselling (Continuing Professional Practice)
1) Awarding Institution: The University of Edinburgh
2) Teaching Institution: The University of Edinburgh
3) Programme accredited by:
4) Final Award: MSc
5) Programme Title: MSc in Counselling (Continuing Professional Practice)
6) UCAS Code:
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmarking Group(s):
7) Postholder with overall responsibility for QA: Judith Fewell
8) Date of production/revision: December 2008
9) Educational aims of programme:
The MSc in Counselling (Continuing Professional Practice) offers advanced
study and research training in counselling for experienced practitioners. It
enables such practitioners to
 develop their practice through engagement with research and
scholarship in counselling and psychotherapy,
 develop the analytical skills required for clinical case studies, and to
 develop knowledge of approaches to research in counselling.
The programme works within the dialogue between the person-centred
approach and psychodynamic perspectives that provides the core
orientation for the professionally-validated Master of Counselling (MCouns:
C0187).
Distinctive features of this degree include
 integration of advanced professional practice in counselling and
counselling research
 close links with social science research concerned with counselling and
society
 close links with social science approaches to the study of health and
illness
10)
Programme Outcomes:
(a) Knowledge and understanding
The programme equips students with advanced knowledge and
understanding of
 two major bodies of theory (person-centred and psychodynamic) that
inform counselling
 theories of therapeutic relationships
 debates about research and research evidence in counselling and
psychotherapy
 epistemologies and methodologies relevant to research in counselling,
including especially clinical case studies
 social science perspectives on counselling and other health-related
topics
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, professional portfolios, dissertation
(b) Intellectual skills
Key intellectual skills fostered by the programme include the capacity to:
 analyse clinical practice informed by theoretical ideas and research
 situate theories and practices of counselling in relation to wider debates
 analyse and synthesise information relevant to clinical case studies and
counselling research
 think from both therapeutic and social science perspectives
 question popular and professional assumptions about counselling,
health and society
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, professional portfolios, dissertation
(c) Professional/subject-specific/practical skills
The programme provides practitioners with
 opportunities to advance their clinical practice theoretically and
practically
 an advanced critical appreciation of key elements of counselling practice
 a critical appreciation of approaches to research in counselling and
psychotherapy
 the ability to work across disciplinary boundaries
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, professional portfolios, dissertation
(d) Transferable skills
The programme furnishes students with a wide range of transferable skills
including:
 interpersonal skills
 advanced learning and study skills, including working in groups and
independently
 skills of critical thinking, theoretical reasoning and scholarship
 analytical skills
 self-evaluation skills
 time-management skills
 oral and written communication skills
Teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, independent study
Assessment methods: essays, professional portfolios, dissertation
11) Programme Structure and Features:
This is a postgraduate degree designed for experienced counselling practitioners
interested in studying counselling at an advanced level. It consists of the following
elements:
 Practice Seminar in Counselling and Psychotherapy (20 credits)
 Continuing Professional Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy (20 credits)
 Between Counselling and Research 1: Approaches, Issues and Debates (20
credits)
 Optional course/s in Counselling and Psychotherapy (20 credits)
 Optional courses drawn from taught courses in Counselling and Psychotherapy
and/or cognate areas (40 credits)
 Dissertation (60 credits)
The first two core courses are new. The other elements are already in place.
Market
The market for this programme is experienced practitioners seeking to upgrade their
skills and qualifications. With these proposed amendments, we hope to recruit 5 to 8
students for a 2009/10 delivery. The Practice Seminar in Counselling and
Psychotherapy core course will also be available as freestanding CPD course,
designed for the same constituency, and is expected to generate a further 3 to 5
students.
Mode of Study
Full-time or part-time.
Period of Study
The programme is designed to be completed in one-year of full-time study or over
two or three years of part-time study.
Entrance Requirements
EITHER a first degree or equivalent in any subject and accreditation as a counsellor
or psychotherapist
OR a first degree or equivalent and a qualification in counselling and psychotherapy
to Diploma level and two years post-qualifying practice (which may be waived for
those who have undertaken substantial practice to prior to securing professional
qualifications)
OR accreditation as a counsellor or psychotherapist and evidence of potential to
study at postgraduate level
OR, exceptionally, candidates who hold a qualification in counselling or
psychotherapy to Diploma level, and who do not hold a first degree, and who are not
yet accredited practitioners, but who meet the criteria for professional accreditation,
may be considered for admission
Overview of the Programme
Practice Seminar in Counselling
and Psychotherapy
Continuing Professional Practice in
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Between Counselling and
Research 1: Approaches, Issues
and Debates
Optional course/s totalling a
minimum of 20 credits in
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Optional courses selected from
taught courses in Counselling and
Psychotherapy and/or cognate
areas, see illustrative list below
Dissertation (progression to dissertation
requires an average mark of at least 50 across
courses required for the PG Diploma)
Credits/
SCQF
level
20/11
20/11
20/11
20/11
40/11
60/11
Summative
assessment
Exit
qualification
4,000-5,000
word essay
4,000-5,000
word essay
4,000-5,000
word essay
As specified in
course
handbook
As specified in
course
handbook
15,000 word
dissertation
PG Diploma
MSc
Optional courses:
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Advanced Study in Counselling and Psychotherapy (20 credits)
Between Counselling and Research 2: Qualitative Research Design and Methods
(20 credits)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 1: An Introduction for Humanistic and Psychodynamic
Counsellors (20 credits)
Conducting Research Interviews (20 credits)
Contemporary Themes in Therapeutic Practices 1 (10 credits)
Contemporary Themes in Therapeutic Practices 2 (10 credits)
Counselling Children and Young People (20 credits)
Counselling in Health Care Settings (20 credits)
Counselling Supervision (20 credits)
Counselling, Attachment and Findings from Neuroscience (20 credits)
Counselling, Trauma and Attachment (20 credits)
Couple and Relationship Counselling 1 (20 credits)
Current Debates in Therapeutic Studies 1 (10 credits)
Current Debates in Therapeutic Studies 2 (10 credits)
Group Facilitation in Counselling and Psychotherapy (20 credits)
Living in the Aftermath of Death: Counselling Approaches to Bereavement (20
credits)
Principles of Contemporary Person-Centred Thinking and Practice (10 credits)
Principles of Contemporary Psychoanalytic Thinking and Practice (10 credits)
Sexualities and Genders in Counselling and Psychotherapy (20 credits)
Other courses in School of Health in Social Science
Clinical Decision Making and Professional Judgement (20 credits)
Debates and Developments in Mental Health Care (20 credits)
Dynamics of Group Behaviour (20 credits)
Ethical, legal and Social Issues in Child Health (20 credits)
Ethics in Health Care (20 credits)
Health Promotion: Philosophy, Principles and theory (20 credits)
Leadership across different Health Care Contexts: Achieving Your Potential (20
credits)
Professional and Personal Development (20 credits)
Spirituality and Health Care (20 Credits)
Courses offered by Graduate School of Social and Political Studies
Current Issues in Health and Illness Research (20 credits, GSSPS)
Sociology of Health and Illness (20 credits, GSSPS)
Anthropology of Health and Illness (20 credits, GSSPS)
Intimate Relationships (20 credits, GSSPS)
Refugees, Health and the Effectiveness of Agency Interventions (20credits, GSSPS)
The Anthropology of Death (20credits, GSSPS)
Happiness: Cross Cultural Perspectives (20credits, GSSPS)
Ethical and Political Issues in Social Research (20credits, GSSPS)
Approaches to Analysing Text, Discourses & Narratives (20credits, GSSPS)
Advanced Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences (20credits, GSSPS)
Survey Methods and Data (20credits, GSSPS)
Visual Methodologies in the Social Sciences (20credits, GSSPS)
Listening to Children: Research and Consultation (20credits, GSSPS)
Qualitative Methods and Ethnographic Fieldwork (20credits, GSSPS)
Reflexivity in Qualitative Research (20 credits, GSSPS)
Prerequisites apply to some of the optional courses above.
Optional courses may not be available every year.
Marking scheme
All items of work will be marked according to the common marking scale.
Candidates who achieve an average mark of at least 70 across all the taught
courses and a mark of at least 70 for the dissertation will be recommended for the
award of MSc with distinction. The School discretionary award for the MSc with
distinction will also apply.
12) Other items:
Students will have access to the full range of learning resources available in the
School of Health in Social Science and the wider University of Edinburgh, including
excellent library and computing facilities.
Further information about the programme is available at:
www.counsellingstudies.ed.ac.uk