Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Foundations of Practice 1

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

 

 


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1461

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013

BESC1461

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 1 2025

BESC1473

Bundoora Campus

Research

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012

Course Coordinator: Tara Quinlivan

Course Coordinator Phone: -

Course Coordinator Email: tara.quinlivan2@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

Foundations of Practice 1 is an introductory level course in the Master of Clinical Psychology program designed to provide you with the foundational theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to support entry into supervised therapeutic practice in clinical settings. This course will continue to build on knowledge and skills gained in the APAC-accredited four year undergraduate psychology program and is focused on two central areas of psychological practice:

  • Counselling
  • Professional Practice & Ethics


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for MC002 Master of Clinical Psychology:

  • PLO 1:  Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the theories, models and scientific underpinning of professional psychological practice and its application across behavioural and organisational systems.
  • PLO 2:  Develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the legislative frameworks and ethical codes and guidelines that guide professional psychological practice at a personal and professional level.
  • PLO 6:  Demonstrate the ability to undertake effective communication across a range of individual and organisational contexts to engage clients and to convey, appraise and interpret information relevant to professional practice and the client population.


On successful completion of this course you should be able to: 

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the definitions, principles and processes of counselling.
  2. Demonstrate awareness of your level of competence in counselling-related skills including attending, empathy, questioning and challenging.
  3. Critically evaluate your performance in a counselling interaction, and plan for development of further skills.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of the regulation and organization of psychology as a profession.
  5. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the ethical, legal and professional issues involved in the practice of psychology.
  6. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the professional, legal and ethical complexities of inter- and intra-professional relationships and demonstrate the ability to engage in ethical decision-making.

 


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities include a mixture of lectures/seminars, tutorials and skill development activities. Lectures will build on knowledge gained in undergraduate psychology and provide a solid theoretical and practice-driven basis to help you achieve professional practice skills. The skill development activities will support entry into professional psychological practice. You are expected to read widely across the academic literature related to this area of study.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment associated with this course will comprise both formative and summative assessment and incorporate a variety of assessment modes. Your diagnostic and formative assessments will take the form of tests, assignments and practice-based exercises. Your summative assessment may include formal examinations and practical evaluations.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Recording of a session displaying counselling skills and written review
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3 

Assessment Task 2: Examination
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 4, 5 & 6 

Assessment Task 3: Oral Presentation
Weighting 20%
This assessment tasks support CLOs 4, 5 & 6 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.