Units / EDF5539
EDF5539 · Counselling in a multicultural context
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Faculty of Education
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit prepares you to be culturally competent counsellors in Malaysia and beyond. It examines selected issues connecting counselling and psychology to broader social, political and cultural issues. It locates existing psychological and counselling knowledge in a contemporary social context, exploring emerging trends of mental health needs in different contexts and reviewing existing mental health practices across cultures. Specific topics on social-political determinants (such as power structure, systemic racism, social injustice, healthcare inequalities, indigenous practices and wisdom) will be discussed in-depth in the counselling context. You will learn about cultural formulation and analysis of mental health issues and clients in the clinical settings. You are encouraged to be highly critical and reflexive in the integration of both professional and personal cultural identity development.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | Summer semester A | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reflective report on a cultural immersion experience (2400 words or equivalent) | Written | 60% | — |
| 2 | Case study and cultural formulation (1600 words or equivalent) | Written | 40% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- critically appraise the role of counselling in addressing a range of social, political and cultural issues
- review empirical literatures and theories regarding multicultural counselling
- evaluate the relationship between the mental health system and broader social issues
- engage in high reflexivity of personal cultural identity and professional counselling identity
- develop skills in applying cultural formulation and analysis on clinical cases
Workload
Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising: (a.) Contact hours for on-campus students: • 36 hours of engagement in online, face-to-face or blended platforms over the semester (b.) Additional requirements (all students): • independent study to make up the required minimum hours during the semester. For the unit teaching schedule, please visit the timetable.
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