CERTIFICATE
Certificate in Adult Education
Cognitive • Metacognitive • Neuroscience‑Informed Learning
A whole‑person, future‑ready approach to adult education that meets you exactly where you are — whether you’re advancing your career, reentering the workforce, strengthening your facilitation skills, or discovering your next professional chapter.
Grounded in contemporary theories of adult learning and informed by research in cognitive and metacognitive development, this 9‑credit, 3‑semester certificate offers a rigorous, coherent pathway for emerging and established professionals. You will deepen reflective practice, clarify your facilitation identity, apply neuroscience‑aligned strategies to instructional design, and strengthen the self‑leadership practices that support wellbeing and professional resilience.
Certificate Program Overview
This program supports both dimensions of adult education: your ability to support others and your capacity to support yourself. You will explore your cognitive and metacognitive patterns, build confidence for expanded roles, and cultivate the clarity and purpose that anchor authentic leadership.
Additional Information
Semester 1 — Foundations & Philosophy
Strengthen your theoretical grounding and establish your adult learning philosophy.
You will:
- Build foundational understanding of adult learning frameworks
- Engage in structured self‑introspection to define your facilitation identity
Semester 2 — Tools & Portfolio
Develop practical tools and begin shaping your professional presence.
You will:
- Expand your instructional toolkit (curriculum, assessment, design essentials)
- Build a digital portfolio that reflects your evolving expertise
Semester 3 — Practicum & Application
Apply your learning in real or practice‑based settings and demonstrate your readiness.
You will:
- Design an evidence‑informed project aligned with your field
- Deliver a culminating professional presentation
Across all semesters, you will choose your project, design materials, and instructional tools based on your own professional interests. This ensures your learning is relevant, personalized, and directly applicable to your sector, role, or emerging career direction.
Choose Your Path — Certificate or Individual Courses
The Full Certificate — The Complete Professional Package (Recommended)
The certificate provides the whole developmental arc: integrated theory, tools, applied practice, a full instructional toolkit, a professional portfolio, and a culminating presentation. This is the recommended pathway for those seeking a comprehensive, future‑ready transformation.
Individual Courses — Targeted Learning Based on Your Needs
You are welcome to enroll in individual semesters if you prefer focused learning:
- Semester 1: Foundations & self‑introspection
- Semester 2: Tools & portfolio
- Semester 3: Applied practice
Individual courses do not award a certificate, but any completed course can be applied later if you choose to pursue the full 9‑credit sequence.
For detailed curriculum, degree requirements, and course descriptions, please visit the catalog.
This certificate is designed for adult‑focused professionals across sectors whose work centers on learning, development, facilitation, or community engagement. It is especially relevant for:
- Educators in nonprofit settings
- Corporate and workplace trainers
- Community‑situated learning facilitators
- Professionals who support and engage adult learners
- Adult & community education instructors
- Workforce development trainers
- Corporate learning facilitators
- Program coordinators or curriculum designers
- Professional development trainers
- Community outreach educators
- Adults who work with adults
- 9 credits over an academic year
- One Adult Education course per semester
- Classes are offered in the evenings to accommodate the schedules of working professionals
Required Courses
- Foundations of Adult Education
- Teaching Tools for Adult Learners
- Evidence-Based Practice and Application
For detailed curriculum, degree requirements, and course descriptions, please visit the AU Catalog.
Faculty Spotlights
Cathi Fuhrman
Adjunct Faculty
Heather Curl, EdD
Teaching Faculty
Mitchell Thomashow, EdD
Adjunct Faculty
Keely Nudo, EdD
Concentration Director
Admissions / Cost / Aid
Admissions
You can find more information here.
How to Apply
- Complete the online admissions application.
- A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. Submit official transcripts from the college/university you attended that shows a Bachelor's degree conferred. Transcript evaluations are required for all coursework completed outside of the U.S. or Canada (except Quebec). See Transcript Evaluation section on International Students webpage for details.
- Essay or Résumé - Submit a brief essay describing why you are interested in this program or submit current Résumé/Curriculum Vitae (CV) documenting of relevant professional and volunteer experience, professional affiliations, publications or licensure.
- International Students have additional admission requirements. See International Students page for details.
All admission application supporting materials, transcripts, recommendations, essays, etcetera, should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to:
Admissions Office
Antioch University Seattle
2400 3rd Avenue, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98121
Application Deadlines:
| Quarter | Application Deadline* |
|---|---|
| Spring | March 15 |
| Summer | June 15 |
| Fall | September 15 |
| Winter | December 15 |
| * Complete applications received after the Deadline date may be considered if space is still available in that quarter or will be reviewed for the next available term. | |
| Please review the Academic Calendar for additional details. | |
| MA in Education | |
|---|---|
| Cost per Credit | $840 |
| Full-Time Credits per Quarter | 3 |
| Total Program Credits | 9 |
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | |
Please note: Additional fees for all AU programs may include (but are not necessarily limited to) charges for materials, late registration, enrollment maintenance, parking, graduation, transcripts, tuition payment plan, late payments, late registration, and returned checks.
Financial Aid
A majority of AUS 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 AUS.
We are currently seeking approval for this certificate to be eligible for federal student loans; please check with Financial Aid for updates.
Start your Antioch Journey
Take your next step - talk to our admissions team to find the right program for you.