Programme summary for Foundation Degree Counselling
About the programme
- An opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the body of person-centred counselling theory and research
- An approach that enables students to develop their own synthesis securely grounded in the core model
- A strong emphasis on personal and professional development, the core qualities of counselling, practical skills training and workplace learning
- An emphasis on working in groups: skills training and clinical supervision groups, and within the whole programme group, on interactive structured exercises and activities.
- A well established and successful tradition of counsellor training at the college
- Programme staff with extensive clinical experience and many years experience as trainers.
- In a School of Caring Professions with other staff with relevant expertise, Learning Resources Centre, shop and cafeteria.
- A commitment to experiential learning for which the person-centred framework provides a theoretical basis, the main elements of which are:
- Learning through experience, including the experience of therapeutic practice both within the course and the workplace and the dynamic relationship between the two
- Learning through personal development, because of the importance given to the development of the personal attitudes, qualities and responsiveness of the therap
- Learning through relationship, with tutors recognising students as co seekers of learningLearning through self-directed work, to include assignments and self-assessment, as much as is practicable, given external constraints
Programme structure
Normally a 2 year full-time programme which includes supervised counselling placements. There is a requirement for completion of a minimum of 10 hours’ personal therapy with an appropriately qualified counsellor by the end of the course.
The training consists of 8 modules:
Year 1
| Module number | Module title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Continuing Personal Development (1) | 40 | 1-2 |
2 | The Core Model | 40 | 1-2 |
3 | Comparative Theories | 20 | 1 |
4 | Ethical and Professional Issues | 20 | 2 |
Year 2
5 | Continuing Personal Development (2) | 40 | 3-4 |
6 | The Core Model and Practice | 40 | 3 |
7 | Diversity and Difference in Counselling Practice | 20 | 4 |
8 | Client Work in Therapeutic Counselling | 20 | 3-4 |
All Year 1 modules must be passed to enable progression to Year 2. All 8 modules must be passed to enable progression to Year 3 of the BSc Counselling.
Career opportunities
At present there is no statutory regulation of counsellors in the UK, but there are plans to introduce a register in 2011. We have done our best to design a programme which is a thorough and contemporary preparation for a career as a professional counsellor, and which will equip you with the skills, qualities, knowledge and development you need. The programme has been carefully designed around the best information available about what will be required for programmes leading to registration.
Support
- Students joining the Foundation Degree are offered an induction programme in the week before classes begin. Returning students also receive induction to the next level or year of their programme.
- All students are allocated a personal tutor.
- First year students are supported by a programme designed to help them develop study skills, covering IT skills, library use, report and essay writing, the ethics of study and research, and working in groups.
- In year 2 of the programme students will have regular course-based clinical supervision groups to support them in their client work on placement.
- Support and help with career choice, job applications and preparation of CVs is included in the programme.
- Specialist support (for example, for financial advice, careers advice, counselling and learning support) is also available from both central college and university services. The University has a student Special Needs advisor.
Admission
For admission to the Foundation Degree in Counselling programme candidates will normally require
- NQF Level 2 qualification in counselling skills and NQF Level 3 in counselling skills/studies
- We also accept people with Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-University level qualiications including International and European Baccalaureate
- Students may also be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Acreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.
- In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes
- There is a minimum age limit of 21 (at the time of the start of the course).
The consideration of applications will be in the light of the following BACP accreditation of training courses requirements:
- Self-awareness, maturity and stability
- Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience
- Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course
- Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirement
- Ability to form a helping relationship
- Ability to be self critical and use both positive and negative feedback
- Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression
- Awareness of issues of difference and equality
- Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support
- Competence in generic skills including: literacy, administrative skills, self-management skills, communication and interpersonal skills
- Commitment to self-development
The interview will give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate that they have achieved appropriate levels of
- Personal qualities, including empathy, acceptance and genuineness
- Reflexivity
- The capacity to cope with the emotional and intellectual demands of contracted counselling with clients
- The ability to be self critical and respond constructively to feedback
- Awareness of issues of difference and equality
- Commitment to self-development
Key facts
You can start many programmes in either September or February and applications are simple to make. Click below to:
Apply online Counselling (Foundation Degree)
