online Foundation Studies Program

The Sophia Institute Foundation Studies and Waldorf Certificate Program are similar to the Foundation Studies and Waldorf Certificate Programs offered by other Waldorf Teacher Training Centers in the USA and Canada. Our courses prepare students to teach in Waldorf grade schools, Waldorf Kindergartens and preschools, and Waldorf high schools. Our graduates receive a certificate and have found work in Waldorf schools or other Anthroposophical organizations. Foundation Studies students have also transferred successfully into other teacher training programs and have received full credit for the courses taken at Sophia Institute. The completed Foundation Studies (or equivalent) are required for enrollment in most Waldorf Teacher Training programs.
The Foundation Studies form a complete unit. A student may elect to only complete the Foundation Studies or may progress to other programs after completion.
The Sophia Institute, and especially the Foundation Studies Program, were originally developed primarily for those individuals who want to become Waldorf grades teachers. Over the years, we encountered students with a wide variety of interests: early childhood or Kindergarten teachers, parents of students in the Waldorf schools, grades teachers, high school teachers, people interested in bio-dynamic farming, administrators, fundraisers, development coordinators, etc. They all shared a strong interest in deepening their understanding of Anthroposophy.

We believe in and practice a collaborative learning style, where the students and teachers together form a temporary learning community. The contribution that each individual brings to the learning community is an integral part of the learning experience, and determines the course’s direction. The Sophia Institute Courses and activities have been influenced and shaped by this process of collaboration. A great inspiration for the creation and work of the Sophia Institute was given by Tamara Slayton (1950 – 2003), Waldorf educator, author, and workshop leader. We were fortunate to learn from Tamara during the formative years of the institute, and regard her as one of our guides. She was especially skilled in facilitating and nurturing temporary collaborative learning communities, in both adult education and in teaching children, that strive towards the experience of spiritual insights in a participatory and inclusive style.

Recommended Reading List

To view the Recommended Reading List for the Sophia Institute online Foundation Studies Program, please click here.
The Sophia Institute courses are designed to meet the needs of those individuals who want to develop their artistic abilities, and acquaint themselves with or deepen their understanding of the basic world-view of Anthroposophy brought by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). The achievements inspired by Anthroposophy can be seen throughout the modern world today. It attracts those people who wish to work out of new impulses in the fields of agriculture, the arts, education, curative education, social therapy, natural sciences, and medicine.

Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy and the Arts, while providing a background for those wishing to become teachers in Waldorf Schools, also offers the same opportunity to others who are interested in learning more about how they may work in the world, guided by a foundation in Anthroposophy. In the Foundation Studies broad themes of the essential nature of the human being and human development are taken up on many different levels.

Foundation Studies Program Outline

1st Semester (7 credits)
1. What is Anthroposophy? An Introduction (1 credit)
2. Foundation Studies/Core Studies I (4 credits)
3. Art 1 (1 credit)
4. Art 2 (1 credit)

2nd Semester (7 credits)
1. Anthroposophy in Everyday Life/Practical Training in Thought (1 credit)
2. Foundation Studies/Core Studies II (4 credits) 
3. Art 3 (1 credit)
4. Art 4 (1 credit)

Foundation Studies/Core Studies

Foundation Studies/Core Studies I (4 credits)
Lesson 1.1. Anthroposophy and Biography/Introduction to Life Phases
Lesson 1.2. Rudolf Steiner's Biography/Introduction to Rudolf Steiner's Life and Work
Lesson 1.3. Devotion and Meditation/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 1
Lesson 1.4. Meditation in Practice/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 2
Lesson 1.5. Sequence and Patterns in Life's Trials/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 3
Lesson 1.6. Education of the Soul and Spirit/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 4
Lesson 1.7. Requirements and Conditions of the Inner Path/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 5
Lesson 1.8. Anthroposophy and Buddhism/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 6
Lesson 1.9. Dream Experiences of Body, Soul and Spirit/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 7
Lesson 1.10. The Three States of Consciousness/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 8
Lesson 1.11. The Splitting of the Soul Forces/Drug Use/Problems of Our Time/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 9
Lesson 1.12. The Guardian of the Threshold/Karma/Guardians in Society/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 10
Lesson 1.13. The Greater Guardian of the Threshold/Global Consciousness/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Chapter 11
Lesson 1.14. Authentic Cognitive Striving versus Passive Visionary Dreams/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds/Epilogue
Lesson 1.15. Summary and Reflection/Knowledge of the Higher Worlds

Foundation Studies/Core Studies II (4 credits)
Lesson 2.1. Foreword/Prefaces/Introduction/Theosophy
Lesson 2.2. The Essential Nature of the Human Being/Body, Soul and Spirit/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (I., II., III.)
Lesson 2.3. The Essential Nature of the Human Being/Physical Body, Etheric Body, Astral Body and Ego/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (IV. 31-47)
Lesson 2.4. Body, Soul and Spirit/Life Phases/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (IV. 47-62)
Lesson 2.5. Re-incarnation and Karma Part 1/Theosophy/Chapter 2
Lesson 2.6. Re-incarnation and Karma Part 2
Lesson 2.7. The Soul World/Theosophy/Chapter 3 (I.)
Lesson 2.8. The Soul World after Death/Theosophy/Chapter 3 (II.)
Lesson 2.9. The Spirit World/Theosophy/Chapter 3 (III.)
Lesson 2.10. The Spirit World after Death/Theosophy/Chapter 3 (IV.)
Lesson 2.11. The Seven Kingdoms/Theosophy/Chapter 3 (V.)
Lesson 2.12. Thought Forms and the Human Aura/Theosophy/Chapter 3 (VI.)
Lesson 2.13. The Path of Knowledge/Theosophy/Chapter 4
Lesson 2.14. Reflection and Final Paper

Tuition/Foundation Studies Program

The Online Foundation Studies Program includes 2 semesters. The tuition rate is $2100 (USD) per semester (6 months). $60 (USD) per additional month. Monthly payments of $350 (USD) per month. Discounted/prepaid rate is $1500 (USD) per semester. To qualify for the prepaid/discounted tuition rate, the tuition must be prepaid for each semester prior to the start of each semester.

Tuition/Foundation Studies/Core Studies Program

The Online Foundation Studies/Core Courses includes Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 and Part 2 are scheduled to be completed in 3 - 6 months each. The tuition rates are as follows:
  • Foundation Studies/Core Studies/Part 1: $900 (USD). $60 (USD) per additional month. Monthly payments of $150 (USD) per month. Discounted/prepaid rate is $600 (USD). 
  • Foundation Studies/Core Studies/Part 2: $900 (USD). $60 (USD) per additional month. Monthly payments of $150 (USD) per month. Discounted/prepaid rate is $600 (USD).
To qualify for the prepaid/discounted tuition rate, the tuition must be prepaid prior to the start of each unit.
Enrollment Forms