Master of Counselling

This programme is for professionals who aspire to enhance their counselling competencies with a balance of academic rigour and skills-based practice. Specialisation in different areas of counselling and training in supervisory skills are encouraged to empower graduates to take on leadership roles and become domain experts. The CFT specialisation track aims to target at professionals both counsellors and social workers who are seeking to enhance their career as couple and family therapists. Individuals interested in clinical work with couples, children and their families are welcome to apply.

1. How many intakes are there in a year for Master of Counselling (MCOU)?
   We have only one intake a year, every July.
   
   
2. What is the duration to complete the programme?
   Approximately 2 years for those with relevant qualifications and training in counselling. For those without the relevant requirements, they need to complete 3 pre-requite courses (PRCOU) and start their 180-hour practicum prior to the programme. The pre-requisite courses begin every January, and students will take 2.5 years to complete the entire MCOU programme.
   
   
3. What is the maximum candidature to complete the programme?
   The maximum candidature period is 4 years.
   
   
4. How many courses do students take in each semester?
   Students are recommended to complete 3 courses per semester.
   
   
5. What is the assessment structure?
   There will be one on-going assessment (either a group-based project or an individual essay paper), and an examination for every course. Students need to achieve a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 to be awarded the Master of Counselling and will be terminated when the CGPA falls below 3.0 during the course of study.
   
   
6. When are the lessons scheduled?
   Lessons are scheduled on four Saturdays per course from 8.30am to 5.30pm, with a lunch break of an hour.
   
   
7. What is required under the Mandatory Personal Development?
   To support the personal and professional growth, students must receive at least three personal development sessions at our in-house C-three Counselling during their practicum before they graduate. They would not be allowed to graduate without completing at least three sessions of personal development.
   
   
8. What happens if I do not complete the graduate programmes (e.g. Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master) within the candidature period? Can I apply to take the remaining courses via CET pathway?
   Students who have not completed their graduate programmes within the stipulated candidature period will not be eligible for the award of the qualification for such graduate programmes. Such students however may apply to take, via the CET pathway, the remaining courses which they did not complete under their graduate programmes as part of their personal learning and development. Such application will be subjected to the CET admission requirement. However, as such students have exceeded the candidature period for their graduate programmes, they will not be awarded the qualification for such graduate programmes even after taking and completing the remaining courses via the CET pathway (“Condition”).
   
   PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COURSE, IS ONE OF THE COURSES UNDER A GRADUATE PROGRAMME. THEREFORE, APPLICANTS FOR THIS COURSE ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING CONDITION. BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS COURSE, THE APPLICANT AGREES TO BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING CONDITION.
   

1. Currently, I'm holding a full-time job. How should I go about completing the supervised practicum sessions?
   The 180-hour supervised practicum over a period of 10 months is mandatory for all MCOU students. Students are expected to commit their time to fulfil the practicum requirements. Some practicum sites operate after regular office hours and/or over the weekends. Due to the dynamic matching processes, we cannot guarantee a match between our carefully selected practicum sites, supervisors, and the students expressed interest. Students may be interviewed or selected by the sites according to their requirements. Students are not allowed to find their sites or supervisors and would not be allowed to carry out their supervised practicum at their workplaces due to learning and teaching purposes and ethical considerations.
   
   
2. When do we need to start the supervised practicum?
   All SUSS Master of Counselling (MCOU) students are required to fulfil 180 hours of supervised practicum, comprising 100 hours of supervised counselling involving direct contact with clients, and another 80 hours of indirect counselling activities such as case management, meeting, training, documentation etc. Students can begin their practicum after they have completed the pre-requisite courses (where applicable) and at least three compulsory courses. For students with little relevant counselling experience, they are encouraged to do more than 3 compulsory courses.
   
   
3. Will MCOU help to source for practicum sites or must the student self-source the practicum sites?
   MCOU has a strong network of practicum sites. The University will provide a list practicum sites for students to indicate their interest. However, students may propose practicum sites to the programme, which are subjected to further screening and negotiation with the agencies concerned by the programme for future students. However, students are not allowed to conduct their practicum at their own place of work/ agency in view of conflict of interest and dual role considerations.
   
   
4. From January 2024 onwards, MCOU incorporate live supervision and reflecting team format for practicum. Will all supervisors be allocated a group of two to three students per agency?
   MCOU will incorporate reflecting team with the new format of live supervision only. This is possible as we combine the individual and group supervision and group 2 to 3 students into live supervision. The original traditional practicum format is used only where necessary. But it is unlikely that the individual student could be supervised using reflecting team, and will receive 18 hours of individual supervision, and 14 hours of group supervisor 14 hours.
   
   
5. Some sites are not open to video and audio recording, so will this be mandated, or students will be penalised if the site disallowed this?
   We will respect the policy of agencies and clients. It is unethical and even illegal to record without consent. With live supervision, the need to record is reduced too. But for students’ learning, audio/visual recording is strongly encouraged, with informed consent from client.
   
   
6. Is Zoom supervision still accepted or is only face-to-face and on-site supervision preferred?
   We are open to using ZOOM. But for students’ learning, in person learning is preferred in MCOU. With the live supervision, blended (use of ZOOM and in person) counselling practice is used, depending on the agency and clients’ needs. However, we adhere strictly to Singapore Association for Counselling regulations. For example, students must not do more than 50% online client contact.
   
   
7. What if I fail my practicum?
   Students who fail their supervised practicum will have to repeat COU608, as with other MCOU and SUSS courses, to graduate.
   
   
8. What is the significant difference between COU608 and COU691?
   COU608 is a compulsory course. COU691 is an elective. Students can choose to do COU691 in lieu of two elective courses. COU691 is to encourage students to do another practicum as our programme continues to emphasis on clinical training of students. Students who opt for COU691 will be allocated to sites which will help them to develop specialised focus and/or skills.