MASTER OF COUNSELLING

Academic Programmes

  • Accredited and awarded by Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
  • Organised by the Executive Counselling and Training Academy in Academic partnership with Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Parkway College of Nursing and Allied Health.
  • The Master of Counselling is recognised by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
  • The Master of Counselling offered by Flinders University in Singapore in partnership with ECTA, is equivalent to the Master of Counselling offered at the Adelaide, Australia campus of  Flinders University.

Master of Counselling

The Master of Counselling is a 12-month course. It is the third and final stage of a 24-month “nested suite” course that includes Stage 1: Graduate Certificate in Counselling, and Stage 2: Graduate Diploma in Counselling..

Total Units: 36

Prerequisites:

Completed Graduate Certificate in Counselling

Completed Graduate Diploma in Counselling

Course Structure

Core Topics Units
MHSC8043 Advanced Counselling Theories and Approaches 9
MHSC9036 Advanced Placement in Counselling 9
MHSC9035 Counselling Settings in Professional Practice 9
MHSC8018 Low Intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychological Disorders 4.5
Elective Topics
SOAD8009 Trauma and Complexity 4.5
MHSC9038 Counselling for Couples and Families 4.5
Awarded with a Master of Counselling 36 Units

Course Aims

The Master of Counselling is specifically designed to deepen counselling knowledge mastery and heighten skills-performance. Apart from keeping abreast of new and emerging counselling theories, our Trainee Counsellors will have ample opportunities to explore and analyse advanced intervention models and approaches and apply them in various authentic counselling settings.

It is taught and facilitated by academics with extensive clinical and field experience, and is awarded by the Flinders University.
The 12-month course of study is the third and final stage of a 24-month “nested suite” course that includes Stage 1: Graduate Certificate in Counselling (6 months in duration), and Stage 2: Graduate Diploma in Counselling (6 months in duration).

The 24-month programme provides a professional qualification and is suitable for professionals involved in human resources, health, social services, and education. Professionals who are keen to further deepen their competencies in helping others to grow, will learn to transform their natural talents, abilities and inclinations towards a rewarding professional career.

An integral component of the programme is its 1059 contact hours, which include 542 lecture contact hours; 21 hours of individual supervision; 15 hours of group supervision; and 100 hours of client counselling during Practicum placements.

Other features of the course outside of these contact hours include counselling-related learning, such as clinical experiences at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, observations and activities at Child Guidance Clinic, Institute of Mental Health and Family Service Centres, case note documentation, attendance at conferences and meetings as well as participation in discussions on case management with families, educators, social workers, doctors, psychiatrists and other professionals involved in mental health.

The main objectives of the programme are to ensure the acquisition of an advanced level of knowledge of key counselling approaches, and the development of critical competencies for immediate application in counselling practice.

Course Objectives

On completion of the course, the Trainee Counsellor will be able to:

  1. Conduct comprehensive assessments and deliver treatment for a range of mental and physical health conditions using contemporary evidence to work with a range of people
  2. Integrate valid and reliable engagement and outcome measures to guide and inform assessment and support with people across the continuum of care
  3. Contribute to an evolving model of health care at the local and global level
  4. Practice as a proficient and competent counsellor using a range of counselling approaches that are empirically informed
  5. Provide adapted, person-centric support that recognises the variance of health and illness across a continuum
  6. Recognise culture, identity and choice is inherent in contemporary counselling practice

Duration

The Master of Counselling is a 12-month course. It is the third and final stage of a 24-month “nested suite” course that includes Stage 1: Graduate Certificate in Counselling, and Stage 2: Graduate Diploma in Counselling. Lectures are usually held on one weekday evening per week and some Saturdays for the full day.

Duration: Part-time, 12 months

CONTACT HOURS (525 Hours)

Lectures: 241
Case Management: 100
Group Dynamics & Interventions: 14
Individual Supervision: 10
Counselling Direct Contact Hours: 60
Professional Development Learning (PDL) & Counselling Facilities Experiences: 40
Personal Journal: 60

Entry Requirements

Applicants must normally hold a degree or equivalent from an approved tertiary institution, or Graduate Diploma in Counselling.

This programme is an extension of the Graduate Certificate in Counselling and Graduate Diploma in Counselling accredited and awarded by the Flinders University.

Applicants may be accepted directly into the Master of Counselling programme if they have completed a Postgraduate Diploma of Counselling (or its equivalent) from a recognised university or institution. Credit exemptions, where applicable, may be granted up to a maximum of 50% of the nested suite of courses.

Direct entry applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, subject to the decision of the Clinical and Academic Director of ECTA and approved by Flinders University.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Applicants are required to possess at least 5 GCE “O” Level passes, including a credit for English Language. Applicants without a credit in English can provide evidence of having attended the International Language Testing System (IELTS) and attain an overall band score of at least 6.5 points. Alternatively, applicants may also show evidence of their academic qualifications conducted in English Language (e.g. , qualifications from other countries). A Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)Pass grade of B2.

RESIDENCY STATUS

Applicants must be a Singapore Citizen, a Singapore Permanent Resident or  a holder of a valid Work Permit, or a valid Dependent Pass.

Additional Requirements

Applicants will be assessed for suitability through:

  1. an interview via ZOOM or face-to-face;
  2. submission of a 200-word statement explaining why they have chosen to pursue a counselling programme, and what they intend to do with the qualifications attained; and
  3. provision of one character reference where the referee is unrelated to the applicant at a personal level, for example, a family member of and relative, and who has a good knowledge of the applicant’s quality of work and suitability for the counselling programme (click here for a sample character reference letter)

Selection is based on the interview and applicants’ aptitude for the programme as determined by applicants’ suitability, academic qualifications, and work experience.

Lecturer : Students-Ratio

Course Title: Master of Counselling  1 lecturer : 40 – 48 students
Advanced Counselling Placement 1 lecturer : 25 students
Individual Supervision 1 supervisor : 1 student

Course Fees

Please refer to the Fee Payment Structure for more information.

Course Assessments

Details and requirements of Course Assessments may be found in the Student Learner Guide which will be distributed to Trainee Counsellors on the day of the Course Orientation. Members of the public may access the required information by calling or e-mailing ECTA.

Course assessments required for the Units are as follows:

MHSC8043 Advanced Counselling Theories and Approaches (9 Units)
1 Essay and 3 online Assessments are required for this topic.

MHSC9035 Counselling Settings in Professional Practice (9 Units)
1 Essay and 2 Case Studies required for this unit.

MHSC9036 Advanced Placement in Counselling (9 Units)
Practicum log of counselling hours and clinical supervisor’s final report.

MHSC8018 Low Intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychological Disorders (4.5 Units)
2 Assessments required for this topic.

SOAD8009 Trauma and Complexity (4.5 Units)
2 Assessments required for this topic.

or

MHSC9038 Counselling for Couples and Families (4.5 Units)
2 Assessments required for this topic.

Graduating Criteria

The graduating criteria are available in the Student Learner Guide which will be distributed to Trainee Counsellors on the day of the Course Orientation. Members of the public may access the required information by calling or e-mailing ECTA.

Upon successful completion of the course of study and meeting the graduation criteria stipulated by Flinders University and ECTA, students will be awarded the Master of Counselling. Below is a sample certificate.

Sample Testamur - Flinders - Master of Counselling

Teaching Methodology

Trainee Counsellors will develop and enhance their counselling skills through an integrated approach based on lectures, role-plays, video-clip viewing, small group discussions and clinical supervision.

Registration

Click for Online Application