Introduction

Counselling and guidance are evolving to meet the needs of individuals in schools and communities to improve their understanding, adjustment, and daily functioning across the lifespan. The roles of counsellors are notably complex and multifaceted. The challenges and demands in the quality of the counselling and guidance services offered in the educational and community settings are also increasing. Hence, counsellors need to be reflective about their own practices and ways to enhance their competencies in these areas.
The Master of Arts (Counselling and Guidance) programme is fully certified by the Singapore Association for Counselling as a training programme for Registered Counsellors. Upon completing the programme, students are expected to be competent in various areas including major counselling theories, evidence-based practices, case documentation, ethical and legal issues, and research and programme evaluation skills in counselling. Students are trained to adopt an integrated approach to counselling, which draws on knowledge from various counselling theories, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and multicultural therapeutic perspectives.
The programme emphasises a developmental perspective, focusing on issues pertinent to providing counselling and guidance services and programme development. The counsellors' personal and professional growth and development; appreciation of diversity and demonstration of understanding ethical and legal issues are also emphasised. The practicum allows application of theories and techniques leading to effective individual and group counselling.
This rigorous, informative and structured training programme is a course-work oriented professional degree that is designed to prepare new entrants into the fields of counselling and guidance as highly competent and caring counsellors. It is also designed to enhance and upgrade the knowledge and skills of counsellors at a master's level and to prepare those who may wish to pursue a doctoral education later.

Curriculum Overview

Programme Structure

The Master of Arts (Counselling and Guidance) is a professional degree which comprises 42 Academic Units (AUs) inclusive of the 8 core areas for coursework component (11 courses of 3 AUs each), clinical instruction (2 practica of 3 AUs each) and dissertation (3 AUs).

The core areas have been identified as the essential competency areas for counsellors by Council for the Accreditation of Counselling and other Related Educational Programmes (CACREP). For clinical instruction, a total of 400 hours (100 hours of face to face and 100 hours of associated services for each practicum) is required. Students can start their full-time or part-time practicum after the completion of 5 specified courses.

Entry Requirements

You must have a Bachelor's degree from a regionally recognised university preferably with Honours or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
Only applicants who have the suitable personal attributes and aptitude for the counselling profession with potential to contribute to the community will be considered. Preference will be given to those who have the relevant counselling work experience or majored in related fields such as education, psychology and social work. Completed application forms will be reviewed and shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an admission interview with the faculty panel.

For international applicants, more information on the entry requirements can be found here. : https://www.nie.edu.sg/higher-degrees/admissions/general-entry-requirement

 

Duration & Intake

Programme Duration

The Master of Arts (Counselling and Guidance) is offered on both full-time and part-time basis.
The candidature periods are as follows:

Fees & Funding

Our tuition fees are subject to revision on a yearly basis. More details can be found here. : 
https://www.nie.edu.sg/higher-degrees/admissions/fees