Examines the foundations of counselling in various educational settings, including elementary and secondary schools, and college counselling, and explores relevant issues and challenges relating to diverse learners, community contexts, and the changing ecology of education in Canada. This skill-building course emphasizes legal and ethical standards of practice and the importance of developing a comprehensive counselling program for students. The class sessions are interactive and experiential, providing opportunities for critical discussion, site visits, and professional consultation.

This course covers basic principles of psychometrics as applied to the construction and validation of formal tests as well as an introduction to the administration and interpretation of assessment instruments. Addresses ethical standards of test usage, multicultural assessment, and assessment paradigms. Students learn how to select appropriate tests for specific purposes, to conduct assessment interviews, and to synthesize qualitative and quantitative assessment information in normal personality assessment. Overviews ethical, legal, and cultural facets of psychological assessment.

Focuses on the theory, interventions, and research relevant to providing crisis management services with people experiencing situational, transitional, and cultural/socio-structural crises. The course, based on a psycho-socio-cultural perspective, explores the interaction of crises with situational factors, developmental status, family dynamics, ethnicity, and gender. The course involves exploration of interactions between crises and situational factors, developmental levels, family dynamics, ethnicity, and gender, as well as both didactic and skills development components.

An overview of current conceptualization, diagnostic assessment, etiology, and treatment of emotional distress. Historical, biological, sociological, neuropsychological, cultural, and psychological theories and processes involved in the ongoing discourse around psychopathology are examined through the use of historical and current research articles, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), class discussions, case studies in print and media, and guest presentations.

Students are required to complete an M.A. thesis that passes an examiner external to the University with expertise in the area of the thesis. The thesis must be defended orally before an examination committee. Students may complete one of three types of theses. Students who intend to pursue a Ph.D.

Individual and group clinical practice with intensive supervision totalling more than 100 hours over eight months. The course includes an average of one hour individual supervision and 1.5 hours of group supervision each week. Students must complete a minimum of 40 direct client hours, of which at least 10 hours must be group work. Any incomplete hours must be made up during internship placements. The practicum course is designed to be completed in teams of five students and a faculty supervisor. Practicum I and II must be completed consecutively.

Individual and group clinical practice with intensive supervision totalling more than 100 hours over eight months. The course includes an average of one hour individual supervision and 1.5 hours of group supervision each week. Students must complete a minimum of 40 direct client hours, of which at least 10 hours must be group work. Any incomplete hours must be made up during internship placements. The practicum course is designed to be completed in teams of five students and a faculty supervisor. Practicum I and II must be completed consecutively.

Students are engaged in this course using a laboratory format. Classes include conceptual presentations on advanced counselling skills, in-class demonstrations, and triad exercises designed to facilitate counsellor development. Students also analyze and transcribe portions of video recordings of sessions. Professional roles, functions, preparation standards, ethics, and cultural differences are addressed.

Helps to orient students to several significant research areas in counselling and psychology as well as issues critical to the successful completion of thesis research. Students present their research ideas in class and develop a research proposal.

An overview of some of the most useful major career development theories and resources. A wide range of issues such as gender, culture, socio-economic status, age, and mental health concerns are also addressed, as these issues impinge upon career. Students are introduced to a variety of career counselling and implementation strategies within the current labour market. In addition, each student completes a set of career assessment instruments, and interprets them for a class partner.