BA (Hons) top-up Counselling Studies

This programme will top-up your foundation degree in counselling to a degree and will enable you to develop into a reflective practitioner. It will also develop your expertise in helping people to improve their wellbeing and quality of life. You will study modules that focus on areas such as therapeutic relationships, cognitive behavioural therapy, developing a personal integrative approach to counselling, plus the opportunity to carry out research in an area of counselling of your own choice.

Aims

This programme allows you to top-up a foundation degree in counselling to an honours degree. It will enable you to develop into a more reflective and informed counsellor. You will develop your professionalism by focussing on both theoretical and practical aspects of counselling. The programme also provides an opportunity for you to develop your skills as a researcher, as you will carry out an in depth study of an area of your own counselling interest in the form of a research project. You will benefit from discussions with your peers who will have a variety of counselling experiences to share and you can enjoy working collaboratively in a supportive environment.

Modules

• Aspects of the Therapeutic Relationship.
• Planning and Designing the Primary Project.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
• Developing a Personal Integrative Approach to Counselling.
• Research Dissertation.

Teaching & assessment

• Lectures
• Individual tutorials
• Group tutorials
• Reflection on professional practice
• E-learning
• Peer learning
• Constructive oral feedback
• Written feedback.

A range of assessment methods will be used, including:

• Case studies
• Referenced theory assignments
• Triad work
• Presentations
• A dissertation of 10,000 words

Interview Instructions

You will be invited to attend an interview with a member of the course team, where you will be given an overview of the course and the opportunity to ask questions. You will complete a small piece of written work to assess your suitability for the programme. If you have any special requirements, please let a member of the teaching team know prior to attendance.

Entry Criteria

Applicants should hold a counselling qualification with a value of 240 credits (120 at Level 4 and 120 at Level 5). This will normally be satisfied if applicants hold a Foundation Degree or Counselling Diploma. If you have previously studied on a similar award and have gained higher education credit at an equivalent level it may be possible to take this into account to gain exemptions from one or more modules.