Does it matter if I graduated from a Sunbridge part-time or full-time program, or when I attended Sunbridge?

Documentation of graduation from any full-time or part-time Early Childhood or Elementary Teacher Education program offered by Sunbridge College or Sunbridge Institute, regardless of year, fulfills the 12-credit elective requirement for a self-designed Waldorf concentration of the SUNY Empire MEd or MALS program. There is no “statute of limitations” in terms of when you can begin your SUNY studies.

If I am accepted to Sunbridge, will I automatically be accepted to SUNY Empire?

Applications to Sunbridge and SUNY Empire are completely separate and are assessed individually.

When should I apply to SUNY Empire?

You may apply to and enroll in the SUNY Empire State University MEd or MALS program at any point before or after you have begun or completed your Sunbridge teacher education program. Keep in mind that SUNY Empire will award you credit for your Sunbridge teacher education program only after you complete that Sunbridge program and receive your diploma, so if you are pursuing your SUNY master’s degree before your Sunbridge graduation (or perhaps before you have even enrolled in Sunbridge), be sure to register only for the MEd or MALS required (core) courses and tell your Empire State advisor that you plan on incorporating the Sunbridge Professional Learning Evaluation Process (PLE), so that you don’t sign up for any of the courses that will eventually be covered by those PLE credits (that is, the elective credits you will be awarded for your Waldorf Education concentration through your Sunbridge diploma).

When can I begin my SUNY Empire studies?

You may begin taking your SUNY Empire State required courses in either the fall or the spring term. 

Can I take longer—or less—than two years (six terms) to complete the SUNY Empire portion of the program?

Yes, but you must complete your SUNY Empire course requirements within six years of taking your first SUNY Empire course.

I Can I enroll in SUNY Empire before I begin my Sunbridge program?

Yes. Start with the required core courses, and be sure to tell your Empire State advisor that you plan to incorporate Sunbridge PLE, to be certain you don’t take any of the courses that would eventually be covered by that credit.

Will SUNY Empire award credits for my graduation from Sunbridge’s High School Teacher Education program?

Right now, our partnership with SUNY Empire only applies to graduates of our Early Childhood and Elementary teacher education programs. However, SUNY Empire is currently reviewing our High School program, and we expect our partnership to extend to that program, as well, in the coming months. (Check back for that announcement!)

Will the MEd program lead to New York State teaching certification?

The SUNY Empire MEd does not lead directly to New York State teaching certification, but may fulfill the NYS graduate degree requirement for NYS teachers. Contact SUNY Empire State University directly for more information.

How does the Sunbridge/SUNY Empire program partnership compare to other master’s programs in Waldorf education?

We believe that Sunbridge’s partnership with SUNY Empire offers those seeking a master’s degree in education or liberal studies with a concentration in Waldorf education the best of both worlds. As a Sunbridge student you are afforded the opportunity to be part of a comprehensive, world-renowned Waldorf teacher education program, establishing important, real-time relationships with classmates and faculty who are also part of the Waldorf movement. Our low-residency program format allows you to reap the many benefits of progressing between study in your Sunbridge classroom and your practical work in a Waldorf classroom. As a SUNY Empire student you have the opportunity to be part of a broader academic conversation and earn an advanced degree conferred by a highly-regarded New York State university. The online format of the SUNY Empire program allows you to conveniently fit your master’s studies into your personal and professional life. We believe you will find the SUNY Empire coursework and experience to be a valuable complement to your Sunbridge program.

Can you tell me more about SUNY Empire State University?

SUNY Empire State University was established in 1971 by the SUNY Board of Trustees and then-SUNY Chancellor and future US Commissioner of Education and President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Ernest L. Boyer (who later became a Waldorf grandparent!), as a distinctive statewide SUNY institution focused on nontraditional teaching and learning. Empire State University is dedicated to enabling motivated adults, regardless of geography or life circumstance, to manage and master a rigorous academic program and earn a degree.

Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the University serves mostly working adults pursuing associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees on-site at 35 locations in New York State and abroad, as well as online. Forty-plus years after its founding, the University continues its commitment to valuing learning gained from life and work experience. Over the years, many Sunbridge students have earned their undergraduate degree through enrollment in SUNY Empire State University; through this newly-established partnership between the two institutions, Sunbridge students may now enroll in SUNY Empire State to earn their graduate degree.

Mission: Founded in 1971 as the innovative campus of the State University of New York, Empire State University empowers learners from diverse backgrounds to achieve their educational goals. We have decades of experience providing educational access through online teaching and learning, individualized instruction, mentoring, and prior learning assessment. We build on our students’ experiences to promote their growth and drive upward mobility and economic development in New York state and beyond.