Thesis-based course requirements
The thesis-based master's degree in counselling psychology is a minimum of 28.5 units of study and includes a thesis and its oral defense. The program includes the following required courses:
| Course number (units) | Course name |
|---|---|
| ED-D 503 (1.5) | Program Development and Evaluation |
| ED-D 514 (1.5) | Assessment in Counselling |
| ED-D 518 (1.5) | Advanced Seminar in Theories of Counselling Psychology |
| ED-D 519C (1.5) | Ethics and Legal Issues in Counselling |
| ED-D 519H (1.5) | Career Development and Counselling Across the Life Span |
| ED-D 519L (1.5) | Group Counselling |
| ED-D 519N (1.5) | Diversity, Culture, and Counselling |
| ED-D 522 (3.0) | Skills and Practice for Counselling |
| ED-D 523 (3.0) | Internship in Counselling |
| ED-D 560 (1.5) | Statistical Methods in Education |
| ED-D 561A (1.5) | Methods in Educational Research |
| Electives (3.0) | Courses to be chosen in consultation with student's supervisor |
| ED-D 599 (6.0) | Thesis* |
*Students choosing to conduct a thesis involving qualitative methodology should complete ED-D 563 or equivalent in addition to ED-D 560 and Ed-D 561A. Students may choose to replace ED-D 561A and/or ED-D 560 with other research methods courses from across the university in consultation with their supervisor. Contact your program assistant for the paperwork.
Program courses and requirements are subject to change. Check the Academic Calendar for up-to-date information and course descriptions.
On average, this degree takes about 2.5 to 3 years to complete, as it can take 1 to 3 extra semesters to complete the thesis component after the 2 years of course work and internships are complete.
Practicum/internship guidelines
Students are required to complete ED-D 522 Skills and Practice for Counselling and ED-D 523 Internship in Counselling.
ED-D 522 provides basic counselling interventions with an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and includes extensive opportunity to role-play and to self-reflect on role as counsellor and issues related to boundaries and power. Students will experience sequenced skills training with extensive counselling simulation and supervision of practice in a field setting. The course includes direct client contact under the supervision of a qualified professional with diverse client populations.
ED-D 523 provides intensive practice in advanced counselling techniques and approaches under the direction of a professional counsellor in community settings. Lectures focus on case presentations, models of consultation, supervisor-supervisee relationship, roles and responsibilities of health professionals, counsellor identity, professional organizations, and record keeping.
The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s Council on Accreditation for Counsellor Education Programs (CACEP) considers supervised practice as the most critical experience of the program. Students are required to complete the following practicum/internship hours under the direction of a professional counsellor in the community:
ED-D 522 practicum hour requirements summary:
- Total of Direct Counselling hours (40 individual and 10 group) = 50 hours
- Total of Indirect Service hours (other on-site practicum activities) = 50 hours
- TOTAL REQUIRED ON-SITE HOURS AT FIRST-YEAR PRACTICUM = 100 hours
ED-D 523 internship hour requirements summary:
- Total of Direct Counselling hours (160 individual and 40 group) = 200 hours
- Total of Indirect Service hours (other on-site practicum activities) = 200 hours
- TOTAL REQUIRED ON-SITE HOURS AT SECOND YEAR INTERNSHIP= 400 hours