Graduate Diploma – Counselling

The Graduate Diploma – Counselling at Athabasca University is an 18-credit online program made up of six courses, with a single annual intake — application deadline January 15, classes starting in September — and a completion window of 1.5 to 3 years. Coursework covers counselling models, professional ethics, and sociocultural influences in counselling psychology, with elective options in areas such as health psychology, child and adolescent counselling, and family therapy. Students who complete five of the six courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA can transition into the Master of Counselling program. The diploma is designed for people who may not meet the GPA requirements for the Master of Counselling program, as well as those who are not looking to complete a full master's degree but still want a pathway into counselling-related graduate study. It suits candidates who want to build their academic standing before committing to the master's program, or who need a stand-alone graduate credential in counselling foundations without pursuing a full clinical master's degree.