Masters (Coursework)
The Master of Counselling Social Work (MCSW) is designed for practicing social workers to extend their counselling and therapy knowledge and skills.
The Master of Counselling Social Work (MCSW) is designed for practicing social workers to extend their counselling and therapy knowledge and skills. You will participate in interactive intensives and seminars with a focus on practice skills and theory as well as in-depth analysis and application of ideas to your own social work practice.
You'll study core facets of the therapeutic relationship drawing on systemic and relational counselling approaches across a variety of practice contexts. During your study engage with contemporary counselling frameworks including family therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive, behavioural, mindfulness, and trauma-based approaches. You'll also gain advanced counselling skills, explore complex practice issues such as therapeutic impasse, grief, loss, trauma, and violence, and enhance your social work research knowledge. This postgraduate degree is also a pathway to a Professional Doctorate or PhD.
Studied part-time over two years the program is based on flexibility. Through a combination of online delivery and Friday/Saturday intensives, it's easily accessible for students who have work and family commitments, or who live outside of Sydney or NSW.
The admission requirements for the new Master of Counselling Social Work are as follows:
Admission is subject to quota. Applications must include a brief curriculum vitae detailing relevant information about the entry requirements.
Eligibility of the AASW ensures that students are professional social workers, are committed to the values and ethics of the profession and have had prior education in social work practice methods including counselling. The AASW also expects social workers to have participated in professional development activities (of up to 30 hours per year) and to have received professional supervision. The MCSW facilitates learning in the counselling frameworks that support Accredited Mental Health Social Work status with the AASW.
These criteria ensure that applicants meet Level 9 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and have the skills and knowledge to be capable of reaching the specified Learning Outcomes within the volume of learning of a 48 UOC Masters program.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you're completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
The admission requirements for the new Master of Counselling Social Work are as follows:
Admission is subject to quota. Applications must include a brief curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of at least two professional referees.
Eligibility of the AASW ensures that students are professional social workers, are committed to the values and ethics of the profession and have had prior education in social work practice methods including counselling. The AASW also expects social workers to have participated in professional development activities (of up to 50 hours per year) and to have received professional supervision.
These criteria ensure that applicants meet Level 9 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and have the skills and knowledge to be capable of reaching the specified Learning Outcomes within the volume of learning of a 48 UOC Masters program.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Research pathways
The Master of Counselling Social Work is also a gateway to doctoral research.