MASTER OF ARTS in GUIDANCE COUNSELLING AND LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT 2016 Entry Dr. Lucy Hearne, Course Director.

2 year part-time initial training qualification in Guidance Counselling (QQI Level 9) Award: Level 9 (90 ECTS credits) Approved by the DES for the purposes of employment as a qualified guidance counsellor in post-primary, further and adult education Approved by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (Ireland) Does not provide a recognised teaching qualification as required by the Teaching Council. Requires a very high level of personal and professional commitment from participants in terms of attendance, contribution, self-directed learning and time management

Programme Aims To provide practicing teachers and other relevant professionals with a recognised professional qualification in Guidance Counselling To support the development of a range of knowledge, skills and competencies for practitioners within a lifelong learning framework of delivery To promote self-understanding and personal insight in order to deliver an effective guidance counselling service to clients

Core Learning Outcomes of MA Theoretical knowledge, skills and competencies needed to support clients within a personal, social, educational and vocational guidance counselling framework across the individuals lifespan Personal leadership in management of an effective, contemporary guidance counselling service Practitioner-based research methodologies to contribute to the growth of evidence-based research Critical awareness of ethical and professional issues Independent learning, critical thinking and integration of theoretical concepts within everyday practice and specific research contexts

Programme Delivery Locations for Recruitment UL Campus and Carrick on Shannon Education Centre 13 modules in total – 9 classroom-based taught modules* + 2 educational practice placement modules and 2 dissertation modules: 2 of the taught modules delivered in Autumn and Spring semesters (12 week semester):  For UL campus: 1 module mid-week x 12 weeks (Tues 6.30pm to 9.30pm) + 1 module x 6 weekends (Saturdays 9am to 4pm)  For Carrick campus: 2 modules delivered over 8 out of 12 weekends (Friday 6.30pm to 9.30pm & Sat 9am to 4pm) 1 full weekend residential (off-campus) in Spring semester, Year 1 as part of module EN modules (5 days per module) delivered in Summer Semester Year 1, approximately at end of June/early July

Programme Curriculum Year 1: Semester 1Semester 2Summer Semester EN5311 Counselling Theory & Practice 1 (6 ECTS) * EN5331 Psychology of Human Development (6 ECTS) * EN6091 Advanced Research Methods (6 ECTS) * EN6141 Professional Practice in Guidance Counselling (6 ECTS) * EN6142 Theory & Skills of Experiential Group Learning (6 ECTS) * EN5320 Theory & Practice of Psychological Testing (6 ECTS) * Year 2: Semester 1Semester 2Summer Semester EN5313 Counselling Theory & Practice 2 (6 ECTS) * EN5321 Guidance in Adult & Continuing Education (6 ECTS) * EN6143 Dissertation 2 (18 ECTS) EN6093 Contemporary Perspectives on Vocational Development & Progression Across the Lifespan (6 ECTS) * EN6034 Practicum 2: Educational Practice Placement (3 ECTS) EN6133 Practicum 1: Educational Practice Placement (3 ECTS) EN6044 Dissertation 1 (12 ECTS)

Practicum Placement Year 2 Second Year Educational Practicum Placement of 96 hours under direct mentorship of a qualified Guidance Counsellor on site in the placement from end of August to end of April in Year 2. Students have to secure this placement themselves. It is separate to any other professional work they are involved in, e.g. teaching hours Can be in secondary, further education, third level, adult guidance sector. Advisable to have planned for this placement well in advance of Year 2.

Personal Counselling Students need to complete 6-10 personal counselling sessions with accredited Counsellor, Psychologist or Psychotherapist in each academic year (September onwards) It is a specific requirement of the programme to gain the qualification and in line with best practice in the profession. Students source this counselling themselves

UL Student Learning Supports Student Handbooks: UL and MA programme specific provided to students UL Library Facilities: Textbooks, Online Journals/Databases, Induction by library staff, Faculty Librarian Programme Sulis site for resources, communication and assignment uploading Harvard / UL Referencing System “Cite It Right” to be used by students, - see UL library website One to Two Tutorials per Semester outside of class time Student Class Representative appointed by group each semester Assigned supervisors for Dissertation supervision Course Director/Faculty Tutors Open Access Times

Further Information UL online application form: counselling-lifespan-development-ma National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE): Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC): Department of Education and Skills (DES):