Programs

Undergraduate Programs

University Certificate: Counselling Women

Number of credits required from Athabasca University: 6 credits.

Maximum credit awarded in this program for prior learning through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) processes: 15 credits.

Program Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Outcomes

As a result of completing this program, students should be able to

demonstrate a broad understanding of the diversity of women’s experience.
become familiar with feminist theory, especially as it relates to counselling women.
demonstrate knowledge of research methods and ability to conduct research and interpret research results.
become familiar with feminist counselling strategies and practice.
critically compare traditional approaches with alternative approaches to counselling women.
demonstrate knowledge and practice of legal and ethical issues relevant to counselling practice.
demonstrate knowledge and practice of advocacy from a feminist perspective.
critically analyze social and counselling issues from a feminist perspective.

Skills Outcomes

As a result of completing this program, students should be able to

demonstrate an awareness and understanding of social and counselling issues relating to women counselling women.
demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the shifting social, political, economic, and cultural context in which counselling takes place.
demonstrate an understanding of their own life experiences and how that knowledge can be applied to their work with women.
demonstrate an ability to verbally and non-verbally demonstrate genuine concern for others.
demonstrate effective crisis-intervention skills.
demonstrate skills to empower themselves as well as their clients.
demonstrate skills to identify client needs and client-referral skills.

Value Outcomes

As a result of completing this program, students should be able to

demonstrate a fundamental awareness of the cultural and social bases of human prejudice and discrimination (e.g., sexism, racism, ethnocentrism, agism, classism) and of feminist insights and alternatives that foster tolerance for diversity of human experience and ways of life.
gain an ability to foster a community of individuals who will be able to provide counselling for women from a feminist perspective.

Possible Career Options

The University Certificate in Counselling Women (UCCW) prepares students for careers in a wide range of fields, including, for example, teaching, social work, women’s crisis centres, criminal justice, health care, law, policing, journalism, counselling, human resources, union officer, international aid officer, and policy analysis.

The UCCW enhances counselling and problem-solving skills for both professionals and volunteers who are currently employed as crisis workers, social workers, family life educators, adult educators, nurses, teachers and vocational counsellors.