Certificate
Certificate in Waldorf Education
Educate students through creative learning.
Waldorf education is one of the fastest-growing independent school movements in the world. By placing an emphasis on imagination, teachers who leverage this approach are better equipped to encourage students to think creatively, critically, and empathetically. It allows students to develop important artistic and social skills, while also promoting free thinking and moral responsibility.
The demand for trained Waldorf teachers is very high. This program prepares our students for possible careers such as an Elementary Waldorf Class Teacher, or Elementary Waldorf Special Subjects Teacher (Foreign Language, Handwork, Physical Education and other subjects).
This certificate is offered by AU New England
Summer residency in Wilton, NH, will take place in person July 13-28, 2024, with some synchronous online classes June 25-28.
Program Overview
Waldorf curriculum engages the child in a broad range of disciplines in ways appropriate for a given age and level of development. Its ultimate goal is to awaken within the child a steadily increasing imaginative and intellectual capacity, a deeply held love for learning, a will to work, and a strong sense of moral responsibility to guide the child through adolescence and into adulthood.
The Program unfolds through a combination of group coursework, independent study, and practical experience, including an in-depth study of how the Waldorf curriculum meets the child’s cognitive, emotional, and moral needs, exploration of the theoretical foundations of Waldorf education and anthroposophy, and a learning community to which the student contributes personal experience, insight, and research. Course instructors bring fresh insights from direct classroom practice with children and teach artistic courses which develop creative capacities for application in the art of teaching and personal development.
There are three options to gain the 28-credit Waldorf Certificate:
- Full-time Year Round
- Part-Time Summer Sequence Regular, and
- Summer Sequence Advanced (Healing Education)
Year-Round Certificate
(18 months to completion)
This full-time, 28-credit program is for those who seek to earn an AWSNA-approved Waldorf teaching certificate in 5 consecutive semesters (18 months). Year Round program cohorts begin in the summer, with cohorts admitted every other year.
This program is ideal for both pre-service teachers (with little or no Waldorf teaching experience) and practicing Waldorf teachers who are able to attend summer residencies in Wilton, NH, and monthly weekend residencies in Keene, NH, in the fall semesters. During the intervening spring semester, students complete an internship or practicum at an established Waldorf school of their choice. Interested students can choose to extend their studies to complete a MEd by completing a Master’s Project after the requirements for the certificate have been met.
Part-time Summer Sequence (Regular) Certificate
(25 months to completion)
This part-time, low residency, 28-credit program is for those who seek to earn an AWSNA-approved Waldorf teaching certificate in 5 semesters spread over 25 months (students have the fall semesters off). This program is ideal for those who live farther away and cannot commute to weekend residencies in Keene, NH, in the fall semesters.
Summer Sequence (Advanced) Certificate, Transdisciplinary Focus on Healing Education
(17 months to completion)
This 28-credit program is for experienced Waldorf educators and anthroposophical practitioners. Learn more about this program option.
Advanced Healing Education Program applicants are required to have 5-7 years of professional experience with a practice based on anthroposophic foundations OR completion of a four-year program of the Camphill Academy (Enrollment concurrent with the advanced level of a Camphill Academy program may be considered in exceptional cases.)
Summer residency in Wilton, NH, will take place in person July 13-28, 2024, with some synchronous online classes June 25-28.
Degree Requirements
For Year-Round:
- Minimum number of required semesters: 5
- Expected study sequence:
- Summer I (approximately 3 weeks) — courses held in Wilton, NH (dormitory housing available)
- Fall I (5-weekend residencies) — courses held in Keene, NH
- Spring I (12 weeks) — internship or practicum at the established Waldorf school of your choice
- Summer II (approximately 4 weeks) — courses held in Wilton, NH (dormitory housing available)
- Fall II (5-weekend residencies) — courses held in Keene, NH
For Summer Sequence:
- Minimum number of required semesters: 5
- Expected study sequence:
- Summer I: 3 weeks — courses held in Wilton, NH – School dormitory/local rooms available
- Fall I: no courses
- Spring I: Online course (4 credits)
- Summer II: 3 weeks, Wilton, NH
- Fall I: no courses
- Spring I: 12-week Internship/Practicum (nationwide – or worldwide)
- Summer III: 3 weeks, Wilton, NH
Requirements:
The Waldorf Certificate is available to individuals who are solely interested in pursuing training as a Waldorf teacher. Applicants without a BA must have at least 60 credits and experience in education. The Waldorf Certificate Program is a summer entry program. This program requires 28 credits to complete.
Course Sequence:
For Year-Round:
Summer I (3-week residency in Wilton, NH)
- Waldorf Curriculum Prep I
- Human Development
- Research & Self Development
- Eurythmy I
- Speech I
- Visual Arts I
- Plus non-credit workshops (drawing, singing, movement, etc.)
Fall I (5-weekend residencies in Keene, NH)
- Evolving Consciousness and Philosophy
- Visual Arts II
- Plus non-credit workshops (Eurythmy & Drama)
Spring I
- Elementary Internship or Practicum
- Professional Seminar (online)
- Math Methods in the Waldorf Grade School (online)
Summer II (3-4 week residency in Wilton, NH)
- Waldorf School Administration
- The Adolescent
- Foundations of Human Experience
- Science Curriculum
- Music Curriculum
- Plus non-credit workshops (arts, speech, Eurythmy, etc.)
Fall II (5-weekend residencies in Keene, NH)
- Waldorf Curriculum Preparation II
- Language Arts Methods in the Waldorf Grade School
- Geometry in the Waldorf Curriculum
- Plus, non-credit workshop (handwork)
For Summer Sequence:
First Summer (Classes are held for three weeks in July in Wilton, NH)
- Eurythmy 1
- Research
- Human Development
- Geometry
- Painting 1
- Speech 1
- Plus non-credit courses (Bothmer, Singing, etc.)
First Spring
- Education for Social Renewal (online course)
Second Summer (Classes are held for three weeks in July in Wilton, NH)
- Speech 2
- Drawing
- Evolving Consciousness 2
- Elementary Curriculum Seminar
- Painting 2
- Plus non-credit courses (Bothmer, Singing, Euythmy, etc.)
Second Spring
- Practicum/Internship
Third Summer (Classes are held for three weeks in July in Wilton, NH)
- Foundations
- Math and Language Arts
- Science Curriculum
- Music Curriculum (optional for Certificate students)
- Adolescent
- Arts to accompany Foundations
- Plus non-credit courses (Bothmer, Today’s Child, Singing, etc.)
Education Programs at Antioch University New England value colleagueship and strong learning communities. We offer a 10% discount for 3 or more students from the same school or school district who attend any of our AUNE Education MEd or Certificate programs at the same time. Specific limitations and conditions apply. You can find more information here.
If you think you are eligible, kindly contact Carol Renzelman, AUNE Education Department Administrative Director.
Admissions / Cost / Aid
Admission
How to Apply
- Complete the online admissions application, including the following:
- Essay questions, admissions, and program-specific
- Resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
- Non-refundable $50 application fee
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities where you earned a degree or certificate.
- email transcripts to [email protected], or
- mail to:
Office of Admissions
Antioch University New England
40 Avon Street
Keene, NH 03431-3516
- Two letters of recommendation are required from people who are in a position to evaluate your professional or academic work. The person making the recommendation may not be related to you.
- There are additional requirements for International applicants and applicants without a Bachelor’s degree
- Interview with a faculty member of the department to which you seek entry if selected. This can be in person, by phone, or via Skype.
- Master’s and Certificate Programs do not require the GRE or any other standardized test for admissions. We consider all of your application materials and evaluate your academic potential in a variety of ways.
Official transcripts should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to:
Office of Admissions
Antioch University New England
40 Avon Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03431-3516
All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
Application Deadlines
| Program | Term | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Summer Sequence MEd and Certificate | Summer | June 1 |
| Waldorf Year Round MEd and Certificate (even years only) | Summer | June 1 |
| Transdisciplinary Studies in Healing Education MEd and Certificate (odd years only) | Spring | December 1 |
LEARN MORE
Prerequisites
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or have completed at least 60 credits at an accredited institution to enter the Master’s Program or the Certificate Program.
Foundation Studies Prerequisite
Waldorf teacher education applicants are expected to have basic familiarity with Waldorf education and with Anthroposophy, the philosophy of human development that is the basis of Waldorf teaching and learning.
If you are interested in Waldorf Teacher Education, please complete the Waldorf Programs Questionnaire.
Upon receipt, we will review the questionnaire and communicate with you about your background. If you need further work in this area, we will share suggestions on how to proceed.
Please continue with the application process for admission at the same time as you complete the Waldorf Programs questionnaire. If you have questions along the way, feel free to contact Dana Kedziora, Waldorf Admissions Counselor, or book an appointment with Dana via this link.
For additional questions, you may email Carol Renzelman, Administrative Director, Education Department.
Fulfilling the Foundation Studies Prerequisite:
We recommend that you study certain basic works by Steiner with a mentor or join a Foundations Study Group. Sharing your questions and having discussions with a mentor or group will deepen your understanding of the Anthroposophical basis of Waldorf education.
We also recommend that you finish your mentorship experience with a course entitled “Life Cycles and Self-Development.” This Anthroposophical course is held for one week each July in Wilton, New Hampshire, one week prior to the start of our Waldorf Teacher Education Program (also in Wilton). For more information about this course and how to register please contact the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton,NH . www.centerforanthroposophy.org
Finally, we advise you to get started by reading the following books. All of the books below are available from Steiner Books at http://steinerbooks.org/
- Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy in Everyday Life ISBN-13: 978-0880104272
- Torin Finser, School as a Journey ISBN-13: 978-0880103893
- Rudolf Steiner, Kingdom of Childhood ISBN-13: 978-0880104029
- Henry Barnes, A Life for the Spirit: Rudolf Steiner in the Crosscurrents of our Time ISBN-13: 978-0880103954
Tuition & Financial Aid
A college education is an investment in your future. Let us help you understand the costs and explore the resources available to help make your college education even more affordable. The majority of AUNE students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public, and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AUNE.
Cost
| Waldorf Education Certificates | Tuition Cost per Credit | Total Program Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Teacher Education Certificate, Summer Sequence or Year-round Delivery | $924 | 28 |
| Transdisciplinary Studies in Healing Education Certificate | $924 | 28 |
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | ||