Post-Graduate Certificate in Counselling

Submitted by clmacgil on Tue, 09/14/2010 - 11:16.

The Post-Graduate Certificate in Counselling program focuses on the fundamentals of counselling theory and practice. The Certificate is designed for students who do not want to complete a Masters degree would like to use their certificate as a stepping stone for entering a Masters program.

Students with a GPA of 3.00 are eligible to apply to the post-graduate certificate program. Prior to admission, student will need to complete at least one undergraduate course in each of the following areas: learning theory, developmental psychology, and communication skills, i.e., the same courses that are required for entrance into the Master of counselling program. In some cases, if prerequisite courses are in progress, then applicants may be admitted contingent on successfully completing the prerequisite course(s).

Students who successfully complete their Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling can apply to ladder into the Master of Counselling program, and if accepted, then the courses that are part of their Post Graduate Certificate will be transferred to their Master of Counselling program.

Program Delivery

The Post-Graduate Certificate program in Counselling is primarily web-based with one face-to-face course component. Normally, students take their face-to-face course by attending classes at the University of Calgary campus, offered over two weeks in July. The rest of the program is completed online. The minimum computer hardware and software requirements are outlined on the Online Delivery page.

Program Requirements

The Post-Graduate Certificate program consists of 18 credits (6 half-courses). The program has been designed to be completed in 1.5 years. The completion rate is considered full-time study at four courses per year. You are not permitted to move through the certificate program more quickly, however you may choose to complete the program over a longer period of time (up to 3 years).

Required Courses

The Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling program consists of Stage I of the Master of Counselling program, plus one elective. Thus, it focuses on the fundamentals of counselling theory and practice. Specifically, it consists of the following courses:

CAAP 601 Theories of Counselling and Client Change

CAAP 603 Professional Ethics

CAAP 605 Developing a Working Alliance

CAAP 607 Equity and Diversity Issues in Counselling

CAAP 617 Methods of Inquiry

One (1) elective course, usually selected from the following list:

CAAP 621 Career Counselling Theory and Practice
CAAP 623 Processes and Resources for Facilitating Career-Life Transitions
CAAP 625 Systemic Community Change
CAAP 627 Career Development in Organizational Settings
CAAP 629 Multicultural Issues in Career Development
CAAP 631 Learning Processes
CAAP 633 Human Development
CAAP 635 Health Psychology
CAAP 637 Group Process
CAAP 639 Introductory Data Analysis

Students successfully completing the Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling can apply to have their certificate laddered into the Master of Counselling program and receive credit for all their coursework competed in their certificate.

Summer Institute

During the first year, students in the Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling will typically complete CAAP 605 Developing a Working Alliance, which is delivered via a 5 week on-line module that runs from mind-May to the end of June, plus a 10 day intensive Summer Institute held at the University of Calgary during the first part of July.

Registration and Fees

The following fee payment schedule applies to students in the Master of Counselling online program, as well as the Post-Graduate and Post-Masters Certificates in Counselling.

Students continue to pay a program fee (pro-rated each semester) as long as they remain in the program. The course fee is paid only as students register in each course. So if you take only 3 courses a year, you will only pay for those three courses.

All numbers have been rounded to the nearest dollar in this table. To calculate your fees in a given semester, simply multiply the per course fee by the number of courses you plan to take and add the other fees noted on that line of the table below:

May 1st 2011 to May 1st, 2012	Program Fee	Per Course Fee	Due Date
Installment 1*	$513.86	$1,182.27	September
Installment 2	$513.86	$1,182.27	January
Installment 3	$513.86	$1,182.27	May

*Less $500 deposit for new students who paid this amount before starting the program

Note:
Fees are subject to change without notice. Normally, the fee increase comes into effect in May. We anticipate that the per course tuition and program fees will increase by at least 4.1 % per annum.

Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirements for a course-based Post Graduate Certificate program include:

A University of Calgary four-year baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized institution. Degrees and grades from foreign institutions are evaluated for their equivalency to those of the University of Calgary.

A minimum GPA of 3.00 (on the University of Calgary four-point system). This is based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents.

Prerequisite courses in learning theory, developmental psychology and communication skills, normally, must be completed prior to application date of December 1st.

A written statement indicating the applicant's reasons for pursuing a graduate program in Graduate Programs in Education.

CV/personal resume documenting professional experience.

Two letters of reference. Reference Request Package

Application Deadline: December 1

Admission to all graduate programs is highly competitive due to limited enrollment capacities. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

All graduate programs are governed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. In the case of any conflict, regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar take precedence over material on this website. Please consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar for University of Calgary graduate admission requirements.

How to apply

Please refer to the How to Apply link for information about application deadlines and procedures.

For further information please contact Merrit Penny at penny@ucalgary.ca or 403.210.9634.

Post-Graduate Certificate in Counselling

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