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Faculty of Social Sciences

Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work & Psychology

Programmes

MSc. Counselling Psychology

About the Programme

Introduction

The MSc Counselling Psychology degree programme was developed to meet the growing need for qualified counsellors in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and offers recent university graduates and practitioners the counselling skills to address psychological issues within organisations and society.

What Will I Study?

Objectives

To produce practicioners who will:

  • have a working knowledge of and appreciation of the discipline of counselling psychology;
  • be able to analyse societal problems by applying contemporary counselling psychology theories;
  • be able to conduct psychological research on the counselling needs of individuals in society;
  • be able to contribute to the body of knowledge of psychology by furthering Caribbean psychological research;
  • be adequately skilled to pursue further postgraduate study in counselling psychology and related disciplines; and
  • be able to provide adequate psychological counselling services to individuals and groups in society.

At a Glance

  • Degree Level: Postgraduate
  • Qualification: MSc
  • Duration: 21 months to 4 years

Contact


Programme Details

Programme Structure/Course of Study
Students are required to gain 48 credits following either the Research Option or Practice Option. The Research Option has been designed for those students intending to undertake further studies through a research degree in psychology. It requires the completion of a 20,000 research paper on an issue relevant to the field of psychology. The research paper will ensure that students are involved in conducting empirically sound scholarly research and will enable students to develop research skills that can be used to address organizational and societal problems related to the therapy needs of individuals.

Students who select the Research Option will undertake ten (10) courses, a 40-hour Pre-practicum lab, 2 Integrative Internship and Seminars of 500 clinical hours each and a research paper. Such students must apply to the Programme Coordinator by the end of the first semester regarding his or her decision on selecting the Research option.

Research Option - Programme with Research Paper Included
Year I - Semester I (4 courses full time/2 courses part time)
COSY 6000 - Foundation/Principles of Counselling Psychology
COSY 6020 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselling Psychology
PSYC 6220 - Psychometrics I: Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities
PSYC 6110 - Applied Research Design and Statistics

Year I - Semester II ( 4 courses full time/2 courses part time)
COSY 6030 - Group Counselling Theories and Techniques
APSY 6020 - Advanced Psychopathology
COSY 6010 - Counselling Skills and Techniques
PSYC 6120 - Psychometrics II: Personality Testing

Year I - Summer (2 courses)
COSY 6012 - Family Counselling/Therapy
PSYC 6090 - Practicum Lab

Year II - Semester I
COSY 6991 - Integrative Internship and Seminar I (500 hours)
PSYC 6100 - Advanced Developmental Psychology
*Research Paper

Year II - Semester II
COSY 6992 - Integrative Internship and Seminar II (500 hours)
*Research Paper (Cont'd)


The Practice Option has been designed for those students who are considering becoming practitioners. Students who select the Practice Option will undertake twelve (12) courses, a 40-hour Pre-practicum lab, and 2 Integrative Internship and Seminars of 500 clinical hours each.

Practice Option - Programme without Research Paper
Year I - Semester I (4 courses full time/2 courses part time)
COSY 6000 - Foundation/Principles of Counselling Psychology
COSY 6020 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselling Psychology
PSYC 6220 - Psychometrics I: Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities
PSYC 6110 - Applied Research Design and Statistics

Year I - Semester II ( 4 courses full time/2 courses part time)
COSY 6030 - Group Counselling Theories and Techniques
APSY 6020 - Advanced Psychopathology
COSY 6010 - Counselling Skills and Techniques
PSYC 6120 - Psychometrics II: Personality Testing

Year I - Summer (three courses)
COSY 6014 - Substance Abuse Theories and Counselling
COSY 6012 - Family Counselling/Therapy
PSYC 6090 - Practicum Lab

Year II - Semester I
COSY 6991 - Integrative Internship and Seminar I (500 hours)
PSYC 6100 - Advanced Developmental Psychology

Year II - Semester II
COSY 6992 - Integrative Internship and Seminar II
One of the following electives:
*COSY 6013 - Vocational Counselling (100% online) (3cr) 
OR
COSY 6011 - Marital and Couples Counselling/Therapy (100% online)
(Please Note: Only one elective is offered each year).

*Not on offer in Semester II

Entry Requirements

To qualify for entry applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work or a related field with at least Second Class honours or equivalent. Students without a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Social Work will be considered but the department will require these students to complete specific pre-requisite courses. Most applicants will be interviewed.

Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work & Psychology
Telephone: (246) 417-4288/4293/4996 Fax:(246) 422-4425 Email: gss@cavehill.uwi.edu