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Masters in Applied Psychology (Guidance Counselling)

College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences
PAC Course Code: CKE15
Qualification: MA
Duration: 2 Years part-time. The course will be structured as follows: Year 1: 60 Credits- This amounts to 12 hours of teaching per week which equates to two days. Year 2: 30 Credits - This will involve one day of teaching and one day on placement per week.
EU Fees: The IRISH/EU TUITION FEE for this postgraduate programme for 2012/2013 (Year 1 part-time 60 Credits) will be €5,300.00. The Irish/EU TUITION FEE for year 2 of the programme 2013/2014 (30 credits part-time) will be €2,650.00
Closing Date - EU Applicants: Thu, 07 June 12
Closing Date - Non-EU Applicants: Thu, 07 July 11

Overview of Applied Psychology (Guidance Counselling) (MA)

Guidance promotes personal, social, educational and vocational development in individuals, and being situated in the School of Applied Psychology, is informed by this discipline. Consequently, this Masters is intended for psychology graduates, teachers, social workers, probation officers, juvenile liaison officers, occupational therapists, mentors, managers, those who work in adult education, pastoral care, residential care, youth and community work, sport, nursing, adult placement, development work, coaching, employee welfare, human resources, as well as those whose work has a guidance component. In addition, those who have a qualification in guidance counselling may wish to progress to a Masters level qualification.

Programme Learning Outcomes MA in Applied Psychology (Guidance Counselling)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Within the context of the guidance function counsel clients at appropriate levels of depth on vocational, educational and social/personal issues in both one-to-one and group settings;
Incorporate relevant theory/empirical findings and cultural/educational contexts in doing so;
Address the needs of clients from diverse social and cultural backgrounds;
Use career information and psychometric tools appropriately;
Keep appropriate records;
Participate in workplace and professional networks;
Understand how to implement evidence based approaches to guidance counselling.

What will I be Studying?

Proposed Course Content

Year I

Theories of Career Development
Career Skills
Theory & Practice of Psychological Testing
Psychological Principles of Human Development
Psychological Perspectives of Counselling Theories
Counselling Skills
Group Theory and Practice
Career Information and Professional Issues

Year II

Inclusion of Learners with Special Educational Needs: Culture, Learning and Schools
Counselling Case Study
Practical Placements
Educational disadvantage and multiculturalism: Learning & Identity
Portfolio Project

Exit award: Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Guidance Counselling) Students who successfully complete and pass taught modules to the value of 60 credits in Year 1 and opt not to complete Year 2 may exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Guidance Counselling. A student who subsequently applies to undertake the Master’s programme must do so within 5 years of successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma Examination subject the programme been on offer.

Entry Requirements

The programme is open to the following:

1. Applicants with a second class honours degree / or graduates who do not meet this requirement and have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience in teaching, industry or community work will also be considered

2. Personal Statement:
Each candidate will supply a personal statement conveying.
i) An understanding of the contribution that psychology can make to guidance counselling.
ii) Reasons for applying to the course.  

Short listed candidates will be interviewed and will be selected on the following criteria:
i) Enthusiasm and interest in guidance counselling. 
ii) A thoughtful appraisal of guidance counselling and their own orientation within it.
iii) A well thought out plan of where the course fits with their career development.
(Interviews will take place the week starting the 25^th June. Applicants will be notified Week of the 18^th June)

ALL APPLICANTS MUST arrange for TWO Referee's Report forms to be posted DIRECTLY to the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork

N.B. Please note, the MA in Applied Psycholgoy (Guidance Counselling) offers educational and training opportunities which will require you to come in contact with the public and assume positions of trust. To ensure the protection of the public, and justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake these programmes of study/training. Consequently, all students on the MA in Applied Psychology (Guidance Counselling) undergo GARDA/POLICE VETTING. University College Cork has made arrangements with the Gardaí with regard to Garda Clearance procedures.

This programme will run subject to minimum quotas of places being filled

English Language Requirements:

IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL equivalent

Part-Time Taught Postgraduate Programmes

Please note that non-EU applicants are not eligible to study part-time programmes

Application Procedure

Please note that the application procedure for the MA in Applied Psychology (Guidance Counselling) involves:

1) submitting an ONLINE application at www.pac.ie/ucc (Course Code CKE15). Please click here for How to apply online

2) completing online additional supplementary questions and personal statement. Please click on this link to view the additional supplementary questions: CKE15AdditionalQuestions (232kB)

3) Arranging for TWO Referee's Reports to be posted DIRECTLY to the Course Coordinator, School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork. The Referees' Report forms are also downloaded and printed during the online applications process. Please click here to see a copy of the special REFEREES' REPORT FORMS: CKE15ReferenceForms (220kB)

4) Non-UCC applicants must submit evidence of any post-secondary qualification(s) that were not completed in University College Cork and evidence of English language proficiency (if applicable) either by UPLOAD via the PAC "Application Status" link or by post to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway (marked with your online Postgraduate Application Number)

5) All applicants offered a place will have been selected through short-listing and face to face interview with the School of Applied Psychology. (Interviews will take place the week starting the 25^th June. Applicants will be notified Week of the 18^th June)

6) Successful applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €500 on acceptance of their place.

Career Opportunities

Guidance promotes personal, social, educational and vocational development in individuals, and being situated in the School of Applied Psychology, is informed by this discipline. Consequently, this MA in intended for psychology graduates, teachers, social workers, probation officers, juvenile liaison officers, occupational therapists, mentors, managers, those who work in adult education, pastoral care, residential care, youth and community work, sport, nursing, adult placement, development work, coaching, employee welfare, human resources, as well as those whose work has a guidance component. In addition, those who have a qualification in guidance counselling may wish to progress to a Masters level qualification.

Find out More

Number of Places: 20

Course Coordintor: Dr. David O'Sullivan

Email: david.osullivan@ucc.ie Tel No. 021 – 490 4601.

Web: http://apsych.ucc.ie/

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