Master of Counselling

Regulations effective September 1, 2021.

The Faculty of Health Disciplines offers a 36-credit, Master of Counselling (MC) program. The MC is a mixed online delivery master's program designed to meet the graduate academic requirements for the career paths of professional counsellor or counselling psychologist. The program incorporates core and specialization courses to ensure that all learners attain competency in the fundamentals of counselling psychology.

We offer:

Master of Counselling: Counselling Psychology
Master of Counselling: Art Therapy* (Admissions to the Art Therapy program specialization are currently suspended. See note below.)

Learners in the Art Therapy specialization take their art therapy courses through the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.

Counselling Psychology

The Master of Counselling (Counselling Psychology specialization) is designated as an approved program of the College of Alberta Psychologists in 2021. Graduates with sufficient additional psychology coursework meet the academic requirements for licensing as a Registered Psychologist in Alberta.

Graduates from the Master of Counselling course-based route require an additional 36-credits in psychology. Graduates from the thesis-route require an additional 24-credits in psychology. In either case, graduates require 3 credits at the senior undergraduate (i.e., typically 300 or 400 level) or graduate level in each of these foundational knowledge areas:

Social Bases of Behaviour
Biological Bases of Behaviour
Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behaviour
Psychology of the Individual

Learners from other provinces are responsible for checking their provincial regulatory body for licensure requirements.

Art Therapy*

* Program on hold – Athabasca University and the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute have decided to suspend admissions to the Master of Counselling: Art Therapy specialization, while we review the program and the partnership. The suspension will continue from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024.

Learners in the Art Therapy specialization take art therapy courses through the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute ( VATI). VATI was established in 1982 and is accredited by the Degree Quality Assessment Board of the Province of British Columbia. VATI offers a Graduate Level Diploma Program in Art Therapy. Learners in the Master of Counselling: Art Therapy (MC:AT) take core program courses through Athabasca University and then access specialization courses through VATI. The VATI courses are recognized for transfer credit into the Athabasca University MC:AT.

The MC:AT is designed to provide learners with both a solid foundation in counselling practice as well as specialized training in Art Therapy. Art Therapy provides individuals with an opportunity to explore personal problems and potentials through painting, sculpture, or drawing. The symbolic communication of emotions and experiences through art leads naturally into other more traditional verbal forms of counselling processes.

This program is offered under the written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education effective February 24, 2014, having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the minister. Nevertheless, prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (for example, acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies, or other educational institutions). Reconfirmed August 12, 2019.

To be admitted to the MC program, applicants must have:

an undergraduate (baccalaureate) degree, normally four years.*
a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in the last 10 half course equivalents (30 credits).
a minimum of three courses** (nine credits) in psychology or educational psychology, including:
- a course in developmental psychology (3 credits),
- a course in learning psychology (3 credits),
- a course in counselling theories or personality theories (3 credits).

* The undergraduate degree must be conferred prior to the application deadline. Official, sealed transcripts including the date of degree conferral must be received by the program office on or before the application deadline. Canadian degrees must be granted by institutions that are members of Universities Canada or are provincially authorized to grant university degrees. U.S. degrees must be granted by institutions that are regionally accredited.

** These courses must be at the second-year undergraduate level or above (senior-level), and must be completed, with a grade issued on an official transcript, by the application deadline. An official, sealed transcript stating final course grades must also be received by the Faculty of Health Disciplines office on or before the application deadline. Official translated transcripts must be submitted for applicants with transcripts issued in a language other than English (e.g. Canadian French language post-secondary institutions).

To calculate your program admission GPA (the GPA AU will use for your entry into the program), please visit the Graduate Admission GPA page on the Faculty of Health Disciplines website.

If you are lacking the prerequisite psychology courses, they are available through Athabasca University. These courses are offered in an online learning format. To register in a course, please follow Athabasca University undergraduate course registration process.

prerequisite courses
Prerequisite	Available courses
Learning Psychology	PSYC 387	Learning	(3)
	PSYC 355	Cognitive Psychology	(3)

Developmental Psychology	PSYC 323	Developmental Psychology	(3)
	PSYC 381	Psychology of Adult Development	(3)
	PSYC 350	Adolescent Development	(3)

Counselling Theories	PSYC 406	Introduction to Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy	(3)
	PSYC 356	Introduction to Personality Theories and Issues	(3)

If you are submitting alternative prerequisite courses from another post-secondary institution, please submit a course outline / syllabus and a website link to the course if available. Courses are not reviewed for equivalency prior to the application deadline. Prerequisites will be evaluated during the admission process.

Preference is given in the admissions process to applicants who have at minimum 1–2 years full-time paid or volunteer experiences in counselling or a related field.

Successful applicants are required to participate in an online self-study GCAP 500: Student Orientation before the start of the program. Failure to successfully complete the orientation may result in removal from the program.

Applicants without a 4-year degree

Applicants without a four-year degree will be considered if they have completed a degree equivalent in nature to three-year academic degree programs at Athabasca University. The degree must consist of a minimum of 90 credits (15 full-course equivalents). In addition, applicants must meet one of the following additional criteria:

A minimum of 18 additional credits (3 full-course equivalents) at the senior undergraduate or graduate level. The average grade point of the additional coursework must be at least 3.0 to apply to the Master of Counselling program or 2.5 to apply to the Graduate Diploma in Counselling.

or
Evidence of at least three years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience. Applicants must demonstrate that the work experience has been completed within the last five years and was in an area related to counselling/human services or equivalent. Applicants must also demonstrate active professional development during that time period in areas related to counselling. Applicants must have an average GPA of 3.3 in psychology and educational psychology courses in their degree program and in any additional program prerequisites if applying to the Master of Counselling (and 2.8 if applying to the Graduate Diploma in Counselling*).

Advanced standing

Some learners may have completed work at other post-secondary institutions that is applicable to the MC program. Only courses taken within six years of the date of application will be considered for advance credit. Learners may apply for advance credit for up to 12 credits of graduate study from other universities into the MC program. A maximum of three credits can be applied to the area of specialization. The remaining courses must be applied to the core program courses. Learners must demonstrate that previous course work is equivalent to core GCAP courses or appropriate for option or specialization course credit.

Transfer credit

Learners may apply for transfer credit for up to 12 credits of graduate study from other universities into the MC program if courses were not used to fulfill requirements of a completed degree or credential. A maximum of three credits can be applied to the area of specialization. The remaining courses must be applied to the core program courses. Transfer credit maximums are inclusive of any advance credit awarded at the time of admission. Only graduate level course that were successfully completed with a final grade of B- (70 per cent) or higher, will be considered for transfer credit. For more information on applying for transfer credit, see Transfer Credit.

Non-program students

Current and Post-Masters learners who are not enrolled in the MC program may apply to register in MC courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting. Courses taken as a non-program learner may be directly applied toward the program in accordance with the degree requirements, if and when a learner becomes a program student. However, the GCAP is under no obligation to admit non-program learners into the MC program. To apply to take a course as a non-program learner, please contact gcapadmin@athabascau.ca.

English language proficiency

There are minimum English language proficiency requirements allowed for admission to a graduate program at Athabasca University. It is the learner's responsibility to ensure they meet the minimum requirements.

All applications for admission must be submitted electronically using the online systems described below. Applications will not be accepted by mail or fax. As payment is required at the time of application, please ensure you have met the Admission Requirements prior to applying to the program. Application fees are not refundable.

Application deadlines

The Faculty of Health Disciplines typically recommends that students start the application process at least 12-16 weeks prior to the application deadline (noted in the chart below). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. It may take 8-12 weeks after the deadline to receive an admission decision.

Application deadlines
Program	Spring	Fall	Winter
Graduate Diploma in Counselling		February 1
Master of Counselling		February 1
Master of Health Studies	November 1	March 1	July 1
Master of Nursing: Generalist	November 1	March 1	July 1
Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner	December 1	April 1	August 1
Post-Masters Certificate in Counselling	December 1	April 1	August 1
Post-Masters Diploma: Nurse Practitioner	December 1	April 1	August 1

These deadlines are final, and no exceptions will be granted. There are no appeals to admissions decisions. Incomplete or late applications are not assessed nor retained for consideration for admission the following year.

Course registration deadlines

For course information and details about deadlines and registering, please see the Athabasca University course listings and follow online course registration procedures.

Step 1: Apply to be an AU graduate learner

The application process has two parts. You must first apply to become a Graduate Learner at Athabasca University, and then apply to your program.

Complete the Graduate Program Application through the AU Office of the Registrar Online Services to receive your student ID number, which is needed to apply for your specific program.

Current/returning students:

Click here and login with your existing AU student ID number. Once logged in, click on "Change of Program".
Click on the "Graduate Application" and complete the required steps.
Be sure to select the appropriate Graduate Program.

New to AU:

Click here, and click on "Apply Now" under the Graduate Application heading in the middle of the screen.
You will be assigned an AU student ID number, which will be used to access all AU services and resources.
Be sure to select the appropriate graduate program.

Step 2: Pay the application fee

As part of the AU graduate program application process, pay your non-refundable application fee.

Step 3: Apply to your program

Once you have received your student ID number and paid your fee, log into your myAU account to begin the program application process. You will complete your program application using the Faculty of Health Disciplines' Graduate Student Admission System (GSAS).

In your GSAS application, please select the same program as you did in Step 1.

As part of the application process, you will provide information related to:

Academic background
Work and volunteer experience
Professional development activities
Rationale for applying to the program and other pertinent information

You can log into your GSAS application and change your information at any time during the application process. However, once you finalize and submit your GSAS application for review, it can no longer be modified. You will be able to track completion of various components of the online application through the GSAS Application Checklist after submission (receipt of reference forms and hardcopy documents). You do not need to wait for your Hardcopy Materials Package to be confirmed as received before submitting your online application for review, however, the Hardcopy Materials Package must be received no later than your chosen application deadline.

To check your application status, return to the GSAS application, not myAU.

Letter of reference

Letters of reference must be submitted within the online application process; paper copies will not be accepted. Each applicant is required to provide three official letters of reference, including providing the email address of each referee. At least one of the letters of reference should come from someone familiar with your academic skills. If an academic reference is not provided, you will be asked to explain within the application why you were unable to meet this requirement.

All referees must be able to provide an objective assessment of your background and capabilities with respect to the prospective graduate program. Letters from friends, family members, clients, colleagues, or people currently registered in an AU graduate program, or general reference letters (letters that are not written in support of your application to the particular graduate program) are not acceptable. For professional or employment references, please select individuals who are familiar with your work, preferably if they have supervised you in some way.

You must submit current letters of reference with your application, even if you have previously applied to an AU graduate program.

Note: The application system does not allow changes in the References section after the application deadline (e.g. to modify a referee email address, changes a referee, etc.).

Counselling Programs Reference Assistance, contact: gcapgradapply@athabascau.ca
Nursing and Health Studies Reference Assistance, contact: cnhsgradapply@athabascau.ca

Step 4: Submit required hardcopy materials

Please print the Hardcopy Application Material Checklist and include this form with your completed hardcopy application package.

Assemble and then mail or courier all required hardcopy information. Email attachments, photocopies, unsealed/opened transcripts and faxed documents are considered unofficial and will not be accepted. Send your hardcopy information when you have compiled all the required materials, and in sufficient time to be received by the Faculty of Health Disciplines and date stamped by the application deadline.

When assembled, send your hardcopy materials to:

Graduate Programs
Faculty of Health Disciplines
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Canada

Required hardcopy materials

Official transcripts

Submit official transcripts from ALL institutions (including Athabasca University, if applicable) regardless of the number of courses taken or the amount of time spent there. Please note the following:

To be considered official, transcripts in your package must be received in envelopes that have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution.
Do not include transcripts from high school.
Transcripts must state the degree awarded and must be dated within one year of the application deadline.
Official transcripts must be issued directly to you and mailed/couriered as part of your hardcopy documents package to the address listed above. AU is not responsible for the delay/loss of transcripts sent directly to the University.

Additional materials for all programs

Applicants with international credit (completed outside Canada and the US) must request a course-by-course educational assessment from a member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (members include: World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)). The assessment must be dated within five years of the application deadline. If your assessment was issued more than five years prior to the deadline, it must be reassessed or reissued by the credentialing agency prior to your package submission.
Official translated transcripts must be submitted for applicants with transcripts issued in a language other than English (Canadian French language post-secondary institutions included).
Applicants without Canadian citizenship must provide a photocopy of permanent resident documentation.
Proof of English Language Proficiency. See the English Language Proficiency Requirements.
Applicants requesting transfer credit for courses taken outside Athabasca University must review the Transfer Credit page and follow the steps provided.
Note: All transcripts, references, test scores, and other documents become the property of Athabasca University and will not be returned to the applicants or forwarded to another program or institute.

Additional materials for Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner and Post-Masters Diploma: Nurse Practitioner ONLY

You must provide the following documents in your Hardcopy Application Package:

Photocopy of current Nursing Registration,
Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate,
Photocopy of Nursing Practitioner (NP) license (if applicable), and
Letter of Verification (from employer or College of Registered Nurses) confirming 5,000 hours of recent clinical practice as a Registered Nurse.

Step 5: Track your application status

Track receipt of your hardcopy documents and your application status by logging into your GSAS application.

Nursing/Health Studies applicants

Counselling applicants

It is your responsibility to ensure that all components of your application package have been received by the FHD program office and date-stamped no later than the application deadline.

Allow sufficient time prior to the deadline for the assembled package containing transcripts, etc. to be received by the FHD Program Office. The Faculty recommends you allow at least eight (8) weeks for this. Please ensure that your former institution does not send your transcripts directly to Athabasca University's Registrar's Office. You must assemble and mail/courier the Hardcopy Materials Package directly to the FHD Graduate Program Office (address above).

Once your file has been reviewed the status of your application will be updated online. It is your responsibility to continue to check you GSAS application for updated information. Due to the large volume of applications, the FHD administrative staff are unable to provide information on the status of your application by phone or email.

Application deadlines are final and no exceptions will be granted. There are no appeals to admission decisions. Incomplete or late application packages will not be assessed nor retained for consideration for admission the following year.

Please read all the application procedures carefully before you begin the application process.

Visiting students and prospective students who have not been admitted to the MC, GDC, or PMCC programs may be permitted to register in up to two approved GCAP courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting.

This option is only available to current and post-Master's learners who are not currently enrolled in the MC, GDC, or PMCC programs. Eligible applicants may apply to register in MC courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting. Courses taken as a non-program learner may be directly applied toward the program in accordance with the degree requirements if a learner is accepted as a program student. Grades on courses completed as a non-program student will be considered in the admission process. However, the GCAP is under no obligation to admit non-program learners into the MC program. To apply to take a course as a non-program learner, please contact gcapadmin@athabascau.ca.

Graduate students:

Please see below to determine the best fit for your situation:

Post-Masters Certificate in Counselling

For students who have completed a Master's degree in Counselling, Applied or Educational Psychology elsewhere and would like to take 3-4 courses.

Western Dean's Agreement

For students who are attending a Psychology-related Masters at another western Canadian university.

Non-Program Students

For psychology-related Masters program graduates who are missing 1‑2 courses for licensure purposes.

Note for Undergraduate Students: We are not currently offering graduate-level courses to students who do not have a Counselling-related Master's degree completed or in progress.

Non-program student application deadlines

The following are deadlines to apply as a non-program student:

May 15 for Fall Session courses (September to December)
September 15 for Winter Session courses (January to April)
January 15 for Spring Session courses (May to August)

Late applications are not assessed nor retained for future consideration.

Steps in the application process

New non-program students must contact gcapadmin@athabascau.ca to confirm eligibility prior to submitting a non-program application and submitting the non-refundable fee. Course registration is not possible until our office has completely processed your application.

Once your application has been processed, current non-program students do not have to submit additional non-program applications. You will be able to register in future courses through the online registration system.

Non-program course registration deadlines

The following deadlines are for non-program course registrations:

June 1 for Fall Session courses
(September to December)
October 1 for Winter Session courses
(January to April)
February 1 for Spring Session courses
(May to August)

Register in courses

Course registration is not possible until our office has completely processed your application. Existing non-program students can proceed to registering in courses.

Go to Course Offerings to review the syllabus for your course selection. Note: not all courses are available to non-program learners. Access to courses will depend on availability with priority given to program students.
Review the applicable fees. Ensure you include the appropriate Course Tuition fee as well as the Athabasca University Graduate Student Association (AUGSA) fee.
For those students taking a course through the Western Dean's Agreement, online registration cannot be completed. Note that the fully completed and approved Western Dean's Authorization form must be received in the GCAP office by the applicable course registration deadline noted above.
It is the learner's responsibility to register by the course registration deadline and ensure that all prerequisite requirements are fulfilled. If a learner registers in a course for which they are not eligible, the registration may be cancelled and the tuition fee, less the withdrawal processing fee, will be refunded.
Ensure you are aware of the applicable Course Withdrawal Regulations. Contact the FHD program office at gcapadmin@athabascau.ca at least one month before the applicable course registration deadline.
Funded students will be required to pay out-of-pocket if funding is not received prior to the course registration deadline. You must contact the student financial aid office at Athabasca University, three months prior to your anticipated start date to ensure funding is in place for your start date. For more information, contact AU Student Financial Aid.
Late registrations will not be accepted.

Academic schedule
Spring 2021
May 5	First day of Spring session courses
May 10	First day for students to register in Fall session courses starting in September
May 15	Requests for transfer credit for Fall session
May 24	Victoria Day — University closed
June 5	Last day for early withdrawal from Spring session courses No record of the course will appear on the transcript
June 11	Virtual Convocation 2021
June 30-July 6	GCAP 682: Two 4-hour Practicum Virtual Intensive Seminars
July 1	Last day for students to register and pay tuition for Fall session courses starting in September
July 1	Submitted Typhon, MC – Practicum Placement Request Form
July 1	Canada Day — University closed
July 3	Last day for late withdrawal from Spring session courses Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing
July 7-13	GCAP 682: Two 4-hour Practicum Virtual Intensive Seminars
July 14-20	GCAP 682: Two 4-hour Practicum Virtual Intensive Seminars
July 22	New student program orientation begins
Aug. 1	Submit Application to Graduate if completing program
Aug. 2	Civic holiday — University closed
Aug. 3	Last day of Spring session courses
Fall 2021
Sept. 1	First day for students to register in Winter session courses starting in January
Sept. 6	Labour Day — University closed
Sept. 8	First day of Fall session courses
Sept. 30	National Day of Truth and Reconciliation – University closed
Oct. 8	Last day for early withdrawal from Fall session courses No record of the course will appear on the transcript
Oct. 11	Thanksgiving Day — University closed
Nov. 1	Last day for students to register in Winter session courses starting in January Tuition fees are due
Nov. 8	Last day for withdrawal from Fall session courses Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing
Nov. 10-16	GCAP 681: Four-Day Practicum Virtual Seminars (Thursday to Sunday)
Nov. 11	Remembrance Day — University closed
Dec. 1	Submit application to graduate if completing program
Dec. 7	Last day of Fall session courses
Dec. 25/21 - Jan 4/22	The University will close at 4:30 p.m. on December 24, 2021 and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on January 4, 2022 — University close
Winter 2022
Jan. 1	First day for students to register in Spring session courses starting in May
Jan. 5	First day of Winter session courses
Feb. 3	Last day for early withdrawal from Winter session courses No record of the course will appear on the transcript
Feb. 21	Family Day (Alberta)— University closed
Mar. 1	Last day for students to register and pay tuition for Spring session courses starting in May—Late registrations will not be accepted.
Mar. 4	Last day for Withdrawal from Winter session courses Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing
March 9-15	GCAP 681: Two 4-hour Practicum Virtual Intensive Seminars (Thursday - Sunday) GCAP 682: Two 4-hour Practicum Virtual Intensive Seminars (Thursday - Sunday)
Apr. 1	Submit Application to Graduate if completing program
Apr. 5	Last day of Winter session courses
Apr. 15-18	Easter break — University closed
Spring 2022
May 1	First day for students to register in Fall session courses starting in September
May 4	First day of Spring session courses
May 15	Requests for transfer credit for Fall session
May 23	Victoria Day — University closed
June 2	Last day for early withdrawal from Spring session courses No record of the course will appear on the transcript
July 1	Last day for students to register and pay tuition for Fall session courses starting in September—Late registrations will not be accepted.
July 1	Submitted Typhon, MC – Practicum Placement Request Form
July 1	Canada Day — University closed
July 3	Last day for late withdrawal from Spring session courses Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing
July 6-12	GCAP 682: Two 4-hour Practicum Virtual Intensive Seminars
July 26	New student program orientation begins
Aug. 1	Submit Application to Graduate if completing program
Aug. 1	Civic holiday — University closed
Aug. 2	Last day of Spring session courses
Fall 2022
Sept. 1	First day for students to register in Winter session courses starting in January
Sept. 5	Labour Day — University closed
Sept. 7	First day of Fall session courses
Sept. 30	National Day of Truth and Reconciliation – University closed
Oct. 6	Last day for early withdrawal from Fall session courses No record of the course will appear on the transcript
Oct. 10	Thanksgiving Day — University closed
Nov. 1	Last day for students to register in Winter session courses starting in January—Late registrations will not be accepted. Tuition fees are due
Nov. 6	Last day for withdrawal from Fall session courses Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing
Nov. 9-15	GCAP 681: Two 4-hour Practicum Virtual Seminars
Nov. 11	Remembrance Day — University closed
Dec. 1	Submit Application to Graduate if completing program
Dec. 6	Last day of Fall session courses
Dec. 24/22 - Jan 3/23	The University will close at 4:30 p.m. on December 23, 2022 and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on January 3, 2023 — University closed

Program delivery

The program is offered during three semesters each year. Learners participate in paced learning activities that require completion of course work on a fixed schedule. All course work should be completed during the semester periods. Extensions to these timelines may be granted, if circumstances warrant.

Learners progressing through the Master of Counselling program on the standard program plan sequence generally complete the program in 3.3 years. Learners may take courses at a slower pace to accommodate life circumstances. Thesis learners usually take approximately one extra year to complete the program.

It is strongly recommended that you consider the time commitment involved with online graduate work as you prepare for this program. You should plan to devote a minimum of 15 hours per week in each course. During the semesters when you are completing your practicum, you must be able to devote 200 hours per semester on your practicum placement.

Program requirements

The MC program involves 36 credits of graduate psychology courses: seven core courses, two 3-credit practicum courses and nine more credits.

MC core courses

All learners are required to complete the following core courses.

Core courses
GCAP 631	Models of Counselling and Client Change	(3)
GCAP 632	Professional Ethics	(3)
GCAP 633	Sociocultural and Systemic Influences on Counselling	(3)
GCAP 634	Assessment Processes	(3)
GCAP 635	Responsive Case Conceptualization & Counselling Interventions	(3)
GCAP 671	Responsive Counselling Relationships & Interpersonal Communication	(3)
GCAP 691	Methods of Inquiry	(3)

All learners are also required to complete two Counselling Practicum courses:

Counselling Practicum courses
GCAP 681	Counselling Practicum I	(3)
GCAP 682	Counselling Practicum II	(3)

Learners may apply to complete a thesis as part of the Counselling Psychology program. Thesis learners complete the following additional courses:

Additional courses for thesis learners
GCAP 692	Advanced Quantitative Methods	(3)
GCAP 696	Thesis I	(3)
GCAP 697	Thesis II	(3)
GCAP 692	Advanced Quantitative Research	(3)

All learners are automatically enrolled in the course-based exit route. In the course-based exit route, learners also complete two elective courses:

Elective courses in the course-based exit route
GCAP 643	Health Psychology	(3)
GCAP 648	Counselling Children and Adolescents from a Developmental Perspective	(3)
GCAP 650	Special Topics Course	(3)
GCAP 654	Family Therapy: Theory and Practice	(3)
GCAP 672	Group Counselling and Process Skills	(3)

And the following culminating course

Culminating courses
GCAP 695	Specialization Seminar – Knowledge Transfer	(3)

Maximum time in the program

Under exceptional circumstances, you may be permitted to complete the program over a longer period of time (taking up to a maximum of seven years). However, you must still complete the first year courses as part of your cohort. Be prepared to plan ahead to ensure course availability if you deviate from the standard program plan.

Program status

To maintain program status, learners must complete six credits during each academic year (September 1 to August 31). Learners are required to receive an overall grade of 70 per cent or B- to pass each GCAP course. In addition, learners are expected to maintain at least a B or 75 per cent in the program. Learners who fail a course, or who receive a grade of B- in two courses, will be removed from the program with no option for re-admission to MC graduate programs (with the exception of GCAP 695: Specialization Seminar – Knowledge Transfer where learners may have a second opportunity to repeat the seminar if they do not pass).

Residency

In keeping with Athabasca University's mandate of open access, residency requirements for the MC are satisfied when the learner has successfully completed 24 credits within the MC program. The remaining credits may be transferred from other institutions, if they are applicable to AU's MC program.

Throughout the program, learners must participate in synchronous virtual labs and virtual intensive seminars (VIS). All learners must complete GCAP 671 Responsive Counselling Relationships & Interpersonal Communication, GCAP 681: Counselling Practicum I, and GCAP 682: Counselling Practicum II within the MC program.

Program withdrawal

Learners may withdraw from the program by submitting their request in writing to the GCAP program office and formally withdrawing from any courses in which they are currently registered. Learners who withdraw may apply to re-enrol in the program by following the regular application procedures outlined above.

Full- and part-time status

Normally, the MC program is completed at a pace of four courses per year. Learners may study in the program on a full- or part-time basis. Part-time learners must complete a minimum of six credits per calendar year. Program learners are considered full time if they complete a minimum of nine credits in a given calendar year. Note however, that other organizations (e.g. provincial student loan programs, First Nations, Canada Revenue Agency) may have other criteria for defining full-time status.

Program completion time limits

Learners must complete the MC degree requirements within seven years of their initial enrolment in the program. Learners who do not do so may be required to repeat courses completed at the beginning of their program.

Use of Master of Counselling credential

The MC Program does not have candidacy exams, therefore the use of MC (C) or MC (Candidate) during your program is not permitted. You may use this credential only after the degree is conferred.

Graduation requirements

To be eligible for graduation, each learner must successfully complete 36 credits of graduate coursework required for the MC degree, including either the thesis or course-based exit.

Course registration

It is the learner's responsibility to register by the course registration deadline and ensure that all prerequisite requirements are fulfilled. If a learner registers in a course for which he/she is not eligible, the registration may be cancelled and the tuition fee—less the withdrawal processing fee—will be refunded.

Course extensions

In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, learners may be assigned a grade of "Incomplete" (INC). This allows learners to take one additional month to complete and submit the course work. In order for learners to extend their course work, they must submit the course extension form and fee for approval. One month after the original course completion date, a final grade will be assigned to the course based on the assignments completed before that date. If no assignments have been submitted, a final grade will be assigned based on the course work received as of that date. Normally this will result in a grade of F being assigned.

Course withdrawal

Learners may withdraw from a course up until one month before the end of the session (refer to the current Academic Schedule). In order to withdraw from a course, students must submit a Graduate Course Withdrawal Form (PDF) to their program office. The date of withdrawal will be the date of the emailed form.

Learners who withdraw from a course any time after their course registration is finalized and up until the early withdrawal deadline (one month after the course start date) will have the record of registration deleted from their official transcript and will be refunded the course tuition less the Course Withdrawal Processing Fee. Course materials should not be returned as there will be no additional refund.

Learners who withdraw from a course after the first month of the course start date and before the last month of the course will have their official record and transcript indicate that they withdrew without credit, and without prejudice or academic penalty (W). No fees will be refunded for learners withdrawing after the first month of a course.

Learners may not withdraw from a course within 30 days of the final day of the course.

A learner will only be allowed to withdraw from a core course two times (non-medical) before being asked to leave the program. Continued enrolment and withdrawing from a course—in particular a core course—is interpreted as the inability to successfully meet the academic requirements of the program.

Code of ethics

Learners, instructors, and faculty are required to abide by the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

Grading system

All courses will be graded using the Alpha/4.0 grading scale (effective September 1, 2004).

Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information on grading scales.

A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.

The following fees are effective for courses starting September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.

program application and admission fees
Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies:	$163
Program admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable)	$226
Non-program application fee (non-refundable) required only once:	$107

Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)

learners in Canada and out
Learners living in Canada	$1,654¹
Learners living outside Canada	$1,871¹

¹ Master of Counselling (MC) Course Tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology fee of $51 and Course Materials fee of $32 per course. They are included in this calculation and are non-refundable. This calculation also includes the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fee of $13 per credit.

program fees
Program fee per 3-credit course (non-refundable)	$599
Program fee per 6-credit course (non-refundable)	$1,198
Total Program fee (non-refundable)²	$7,188

² The total program fee is split up and charged with individual course registrations.

Estimated program tuition cost (2021-2022):

The total tuition cost for a learner living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, over a 3 1/3 year period, would be $27,036 ($1,654 x 12 = $19,848, three-credit course equivalents, plus program fees of $7,188 for a total of $27,036). AUGSA fees are included in the above calculations. Application, Admission, and Art Therapy specialization fees are not included in the above calculation.

Note: Athabasca University Graduate Student Association fees of $13 per credit will be added to the course registration fee.

Other fees

other fees
Transfer credit evaluation fee	$301/course
Course extension fee (regular mode or paced independent study):	$289
Letter of Permission fee:	$86
Course withdrawal processing fee²:	$391
AU Graduate Student Association Fee (per credit):	$13

² The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a learner withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees (see above) less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to Course Withdrawal.

Art Therapy fees

In addition to the fees described above, learners in the Art Therapy specialization will pay additional fees to meet certification requirements of the Canadian Art Therapy Association.

Fee information effective September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.

Effective June 29, 2020, a 2 per cent non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment.

program application and admission fees
Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies:	$163
Program admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable)	$226
Non-program application fee (non-refundable) required only once and waived if previously an AU student:	$107

Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)

students in Canada and out fees
Students living in Canada	$1,654¹
Students living outside Canada	$1,871¹

¹ MC Course Tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology fee of $51 and Course Materials fee of $32 per course. They are included in this calculation and are non-refundable. This calculation also includes the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fee of $13 per credit.

program fees
Program fee per 3-credit course (non-refundable)	$599
Program fee per 6-credit course (non-refundable)	$1,198
Total Program fee (non-refundable)²	$6,589

² The total program fee is split up and charged with individual course registrations.

Estimated program tuition cost (2021-2022):

The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, over a 3 1/3 year period, would be $24,783 ($1,654 x 11 = $18,194, three-credit course equivalents, plus program fees of $6,589 for a total of $24,783) plus any additional tuition and program fees required by VATI. AUGSA fees are included in this calculation. Application, Admission, and Art Therapy specialization fees are not included in the above calculation.

Other fees

other fees
Transfer credit evaluation fee	$301 per course
Course extension fee (regular mode or paced independent study):	$289
Letter of Permission fee:	$86
Course withdrawal processing fee²:	$391
AU Graduate Student Association Fee (per credit):	$13

² The course withdrawal processing fee includes the cost of course materials, shipping, and an administrative fee for processing the request. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees (see above) less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to Course Withdrawal.

Thesis (MC)

There is no Thesis fee.

Fee information effective September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.

Information effective September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.

Updated September 14, 2022 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)