Master of Arts (Pastoral Counselling)

What is this course about?

CSU's Pastoral Counselling program qualifies individuals to undertake professional or highly skilled work in the field of Pastoral Counselling in settings such as pastoral and clinical counselling practise, church and community work, and lay or ordained ministry.

Pastoral counselling skills are exercised in a variety of institutional settings within the overall framework of the churches in Australia at the corporate and congregational levels of denominations, universities, military, corrective services, police, ambulance, trade and industry, and like situations.

These courses are a response to community expectations for professionally trained pastoral counsellors in the church and community. They provide an opportunity for lay or ordained church workers to develop their counselling skills and qualifications.

Residential schools

In every session there will be a two- to four-day residential school for the subjects coded THL, with the exception of THL434 which has a five day residential school and THL435, which does not have a residential school. These are normally held in February, April/May, July or September.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Admission requirements

Graduate Diploma of Pastoral Counselling

Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree in theology, psychology or equivalent. Applicants with degrees in any other disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Applicants without an undergraduate degree will be considered, with evidence that they are able to undertake tertiary studies in this area (such as a letter of motivation and two professional or academic references), as assessed by the Course Coordinator.

Master of Arts (Pastoral Counselling)

Applicants should:

• hold an undergraduate degree in theology, psychology or equivalent - applicants with degrees in other disciplines are encouraged to apply; or
• have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma of Pastoral Counselling at CSU; or
• hold a Graduate Diploma of Counselling from another institution; if so they may be required to complete the core subject theological component of the CSU Graduate Diploma of Theology before being granted admission to the Master of Arts (Pastoral Counselling).

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

fee-paying
csp
international-distance

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This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2