Course description
About the course
This four-year double degree program is specifically designed to provide the prerequisites for school counsellor training. It is a special course offering selected graduates guaranteed employment and sponsorship for postgraduate study.
The course is a new training pathway for students wishing to become school counsellors. It was developed as a joint venture by Charles Sturt University and the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET).
It provides accredited qualifications in teaching and the prerequisites for postgraduate study in psychology. Provided you do well in the double degree, are willing to work in rural NSW or Western Sydney, and have suitable personal qualities, the DET will sponsor you to complete the Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology and then guarantee you full-time employment as a school counsellor. Following successful internship you would then be a teacher and a psychologist.
Where it will take you
The NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) has a considerable and growing need for school counsellors. They will sponsor selected students throughout the postgraduate phase of their training by paying course fees and other associated costs while providing part-time employment as a teacher.
Once postgraduate training is complete DET guarantees full-time employment as a school counsellor.
If you prefer to remain a teacher, the double degree will qualify you to teach in secondary schools throughout Australia and in many overseas countries.
If you wish to become a psychologist in another field this course will qualify you for entry into any fourth year psychology program in preparation for specialist training, subject to meeting entry requirements. Psychologists are also employed in health, community services, corrective services as well as many private corporations.
School counsellors
School counsellors are specialist personnel who have an important role in facilitating the social, emotional and educational development of young people in schools. They must be qualified as teachers and psychologists, and also have teaching experience. They work across all school grades from Kindergarten to Year 12 by:
* providing counselling services to students
* helping teachers develop their professional skills
* helping parents with problems their children may be having
* assessing children with special learning needs
* working with specialist learning teams
* referring students to other specialist services
and
* working with principals and school staff to help make schools safe, friendly and conducive to learning.
Training pathway
School counsellor training takes a total of six years and has two phases.
Phase one is CSU’s four-year Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) double degree.
Phase two is CSU’s two-year part-time Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology studied while building teaching experience. To be eligible for entry into phase two students must have a meritorious academic record.
Graduates of the double degree will be qualified as four-year trained teachers of English/Drama or Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education (PD/H/PE) and also possess the prerequisites for entry into the fourth-year psychology programs.
Sponsorship selection
Graduates of the double degree may be sponsored by DET for phase two of school counsellor training if they:
* are eligible to enter the Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology
* are prepared to work in rural NSW, western or south western Sydney
* are successful during their teaching practicums; and have suitable personal qualities.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) component is accredited by the Australian Psychological Society and provides the prerequisites for postgraduate school counsellor training or for other accredited fourth year psychology programs leading to registration as a psychologist in NSW.
The Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) component will enable graduates to be employed as secondary teachers in NSW and elsewhere. This double degree is accredited by NSW DET as equivalent to four-year trained status.
Graduation requirements
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points (32 subjects). Upon completion of the double degree program, students graduate with two separate awards, the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary).
Refer to the Additional requirements section for information on:
* NSW Teachers Institute requirement
* Literacy requirement
* Criminal Record Clearance
* Senior First Aid Certificate
* Immunisation
Your course is recognised by industry
This course was developed in conjunction with education providers to meet their specified needs. It is also recognised and accredited by psychology professional bodies.
Professional experience
In-school professional experiences are provided where students can accumulate a substantial number of days in schools.
