Prerequisites equivalency guide

This guide will help you identify courses that may be accepted as equal to CNPY 414, 417, and 418, and examples of the other upper-level prerequisites. However, these lists are subject to change and do not guarantee equivalency. The final decision about course equivalencies will be made by the Graduate Advisor before the Admissions Committee's adjudication of program applications.

Visit our admissions page for more information, including prerequisites and application deadlines.

Do I need to request equivalency?

You must submit a request for every course that you are using as equivalent to an CNPY prerequisite, whether or not it is listed in this guide. The syllabus can change from year to year, so even if a course is listed, it may not always be accepted. 

When should I request equivalency?

You may request equivalency for a course before or after you take the course.

You should request equivalencies for all CNPY prerequisite courses before you submit your online application.

How do I request equivalency?

1. Review the equivalency criteria laid out below for each course. Please only submit equivalency requests for courses that meet these requirements. Otherwise, they will not be approved, and you will have to take a different course.
2. Check that your course is at least 36 instructional hours. Courses must meet the minimum instructional hours to be considered equivalent to a UVic course.
3. Send an email before the application deadline. In the email, clearly state which prerequisite you are requesting equivalency for, such as “PSYC 101 for CNPY 414”.
   1. Attach a copy of the full course syllabus for the exact term and instructor, including:
      1. the course title and unit value
      2. the name of required text(s)
      3. information on required assignments and grading
      4. a list of weekly topics
4. We will evaluate the course and let you know whether it is approved. This may take several weeks. Any prerequisites that you do not have equivalent courses for can be taken at UVic as a non-degree undergraduate student (or at another institution if accepted as equivalent).

CNPY prerequisites

CNPY 414 - Group Processes

UVic calendar description: Analysis, theory, and research related to group processes, decision-making, and leadership in a variety of settings. Awareness and understanding of self in group contexts. Includes skills practice and development related to group membership and facilitation.

We want students to understand basic group dynamics and processes before entering the program. If you have a course that covers these topics, then we will likely consider the course equivalent. Courses such as social psychology that focus on more "macro-level" groups (e.g., high socioeconomic groups, minority groups, marginalized groups) will not be considered.

CNPY 414 - Group Processes

Institution	Course #	Potential course equivalents (not guaranteed)
University of Alberta	PSYCO 405	Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
University of Calgary	SOWK 395	Practice and Evaluation with Groups
Douglas College	CYCC 4468	Advanced Skills with Groups in CYC Organizations
U. of the Fraser Valley	SOWK 301	Social Work Practice with Groups
Kwantle Polytechnic U.	CNPS 4330	Group Facilitation
Laurentian University	SWRK 3727EL	Social Work with Groups
University of Manitoba	EDUA 5540	Groups in Guidance
MacEwan University	CYCW 204	Group Work
McGill University	EDPC 502 SWRK 321 (was 376A)	Group Processes and Individuals Social Work Practice with Groups
Mount Royal University	CYCC 2216	Group Processes and Counselling theory
University of Regina	SW 425	Group Work
Vancouver Island University	CYC 265 CYC 475 (was 465)	Intro to Group Work Practice in Professional CYC Advanced Activity based CYC Practice in Groups
University of Victoria	CYC 475	Advanced CYC Practice with Groups and Families

CNPY 417 – Skills for Effective Interpersonal Communication

UVic calendar description: Basic interpersonal communication skills for active listening, empathic understanding and communication of empathy. Includes analysis of effective interpersonal skills and skill-building laboratory experience. The content and skills are transferable to a variety of settings, including counselling, education, human development, management, healthcare, psychology and recreation.

We want students to understand basic group dynamics and processes before entering the program. If you have a course that covers these topics, then we will likely consider the course equivalent. Courses such as social psychology that focus on more "macro-level" groups (e.g., high socioeconomic groups, minority groups, marginalized groups) will not be considered.

CNPY 417 is designed specifically to develop basic communication skills for counselling with a focus on active listening, basic and advanced empathy and goal setting. Course assignments are designed to assess the level of skill development in students with a final grade that is primarily based on demonstrated skills. Students in the course are required to engage in 2 hours per week outside of class in simulated counselling sessions (i.e., 1 hour as a “client” and 1 hour as a “counsellor”).

If you are thinking of requesting equivalency, here are a couple of things to consider:

1. Does my course have at least 70 per cent of my final grade comprised of assessment of demonstrated skills (i.e., through videotaped counselling sessions)?
2. Is my course designed to not only teach the concepts of basic counselling skills but also to train me to develop those skills through regular practice?

Meeting these 2 requirements does not guarantee that your course will be considered equivalent. However, if your course does not at least meet both of criteria, then it will not be considered equivalent to CNPY 417.

CNPY 417 - Skills for Effective Interpersonal Communication

Institution	Course #	Potential course equivalents (not guaranteed)
University of British Columbia	CNPS 362	Basic Interviewing Skills
University of Calgary	SOWK 391	Practice and Evaluation with Individuals
Douglas College	PSYC 4370	Fundamental Counselling Skills
U. of the Fraser Valley	PSYCH 4915	Basic Counselling and Interviewing Skills
Kwantlen Polytechnic U.	CNPS 4300	Counselling Relationships and Basic Skills
University of Regina	SW 390	Communication Skills in Social Work Practice
Simon Fraser U.	EDUC 423	Helping Relationships
Vancouver Island University	CYC 152 CYC 252	Interpersonal Communication Skills Advanced Interpersonal Skills (Both courses must be taken with an upper-level CYC course)
University of Victoria	CYC 152 and CYC 370 (together)	Introduction to Helping Skills in CYC Practice Applying Assessment & Case Planning in CYC Practice

CNPY 418 – Introduction to Theories of Counselling

UVic calendar description: Major theoretical approaches to counselling. This will include philosophical assumptions, key concepts, the process of change, and interventions. Designed for those interested in counselling, psychotherapy, and helping relationships.

For a course to be approved as equivalent to CNPY 418, it must introduce students to the idea of separating “theory” from “therapy” by reviewing, in detail, the major movements of psychotherapy and counselling since Freud (psychodynamic) to the postmodernists (e.g., narrative). The course must focus on theories and not cover other topics.

If you are thinking of requesting equivalency, here are several things to consider:

1. Does my course focus primarily (over 90 per cent of the course) on reviewing and learning theories of counselling and psychotherapy?
2. Does my course cover the main movements (i.e., psychodynamic, humanist, behavioural, postmodern, integrated) in psychotherapy since Freud?
3. Is the course grade based primarily on assessment of knowledge rather than “personal reflection” assignments?

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee that your course will be considered equivalent. However, if your course does not at least meet all three of these criteria, then it will not be considered equivalent to CNPY 418.

ED-D 418 - Introduction to Theories of Counselling

Institution	Course #	Potential course equivalents (not guaranteed)
Athabasca University	PSYC 406	Introduction to Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy (online)
University of British Columbia	CNPS 365	Introduction to Theories of Counselling
Douglas College	PSYC 3375 CYCC 3520	Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy Professional CYC: Theory and Practice
University of Manitoba	EDUA 5500	Theories and Issues in School Counselling
Mount Royal University	CYCC 2221	Counselling Theories
Kwantlen Polytechnic U.	CNPS 3310	Theories of Counselling
Simon Fraser University	EDUC 323	Introduction to Counselling Theories
Trinity Western U.	PSYC 331	Theories of Counselling
University of Victoria	CYC 205	Applying Change Theory in Child and Youth Care Practice
University of Waterloo	PSYC 334R (was PSYC 334)	Theories of Individual Counselling Psychology
York University	PSYC 4060	Counselling Psychology

Additional upper-level prerequisites

Below is a list of UVic courses that are considered upper-level developmental or abnormal psychology courses or statistics courses. This should give an idea of the courses to look for at other institutions.

What is an upper-level course?

“Upper level” means a 300- or 400-level course, except in exceptional circumstances where approval is granted by the graduate adviser for specific 200-level courses.

At some universities, a 200-level course is the highest level offered in either developmental or abnormal psychology. In this case, applicants can request to use the 200-level course to meet the admissions requirement by emailing the syllabus to us for evaluation.

Developmental psychology courses

An upper-level course in developmental psychology should cover childhood and/or adolescent development. A course that mainly covers adult development and aging does not provide the educational basis required for the counselling psychology program. 

 Developmental psychology course equivalents

Course #	Course title	Topic area
PSYC 335	Infant and Child Development	Developmental
PSYC 336	Adolescent Development	Developmental
PSYC 435A	Advanced Infant and Child Development	Developmental
PSYC 435C	Advanced Adolescent Development	Developmental
CNPY 406	Psychology of Adolescence	Developmental
CYC 338	Applying Developmental Theory to CYC Practice	Developmental

Abnormal psychology/behaviour disorder courses

An upper-level course in abnormal psychology/behaviour disorders should cover the diagnostic criteria for most common disorders listed in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Courses taken before the current version of the DSM or ICD were published will usually be considered out of date.

Abnormal psychology/behaviour disorder course equivalents

Course #	Course title	Topic area
CNPY 420	Learning Support: Context and Key Issues	Abnormal/behaviour disorders
PSYC 260	Introduction to Mental Health and Well-Being	Abnormal/behaviour disorders
PSYC 366	Psychological Disorders of Childhood & Adolescence	Abnormal/behaviour disorders

Statisics courses

An upper-level statistics course is only required for applications to the thesis-based program. The course should be 300 or 400 level and cover descriptive statistics and inferential statistics—including univariate and regression analyses. 200-level courses are only accepted in exceptional cases, and they must cover all these topics. If your course fits these requirements, you can send us the syllabus, and we can check it for equivalency.

There may be additional UVic courses from other departments that meet the requirements of an upper-level statistics course. You can submit a syllabus for any other courses not listed here.

Statistics course equivalents

Course #	Course title	Topic area
PSYC 300A	Statistical Methods in Psychology I	Statistics
PSYC 300B	Statistical Methods in Psychology II	Statistics