EDF5543 Ethics and professional issues in counselling and psychology
Faculty of Education
EDF5543 Ethics and professional issues in counselling and psychology is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Education, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Malaysia. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Malaysia
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before EDF5543
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After EDF5543
No unit lists EDF5543 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Overview
This unit develops advanced understanding of the ethical, legal and regulatory dimensions of professional counselling practice. You will examine the ethical foundations of the profession, and gain an awareness of the critical issues and dilemmas faced by counsellors. You will learn how to resolve ethical dilemmas which are not always addressed by professional codes of conduct. Themes in this unit include implementing ethical principles and codes of practice, moral and legal responsibilities, personal, social and professional values, diversity, sensitive issues and practice, duty of care; confidentiality and privacy, referrals, dual relationships and managing boundaries; and professional relationships.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- Essay (2000 words or equivalent)Written50%
- Ethical application (2000 words or equivalent)Written50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
understand and be prepared to adhere to the professional, ethical, social, legal and moral obligations of counsellors
- 2
comprehend the ethical requirements of professional societies and organisations in the locations in which you plan to practise
- 3
explore the functions of professional and legal bodies in dealing with ethical matters
- 4
develop and demonstrate well informed decision-making processes regarding dilemmas arising in counselling
- 5
determine professional competencies and limits of proficiency and on actions in a range of situations.
Workload and teaching
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
- equivalent to 36 hours of engagement in online, face-to-face or blended platforms
(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.
Using a dynamic and applied approach to learning, this unit aims to foster ethical awareness to support your professional practice as a counselor. Problems-based learning allows you to collaboratively respond to complex ethical dilemmas in a supportive environment, providing considerable opportunity for self reflection. Each week, you will engage with practical activities including case studies and group discussions which involve recognising, assessing and responding to ethical dilemmas and professional issues.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Please visit the unit Moodle site for further information.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Loy SeeMey
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Ling Mee Chooi
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EDF5543?
EDF5543 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is EDF5543 offered?
In 2026, EDF5543 runs in Semester 2 at Malaysia.
How much work is EDF5543?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EDF5543 have an exam?
No. EDF5543 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.