Intro to Astrological Symbols
Course Description
This is course one in our four-year training program.
In this course you will learn the basic symbols necessary for deeper astrological study: 14 Planetary Symbols, 12 Signs, and 12 houses.
If you’ve been ready to jump into learning astrology and don’t know where to start, or you’re looking for a structured program that will help you feel confident practicing astrology for yourself or others, this is the perfect place to begin.
- Week 1: Astrology, planetary archetypes and your connection to the cosmos
- Week 2: The 12 signs as expressions of embodied experience
- Week 3: The 12 Houses and intro to house systems
- Week 4: Setting up a chart, using the ephemeris
You’ll also learn how to set up a chart in an astrology program (includes demonstrations for Solar Fire, Win*Star, and Sirius), how to use an ephemeris, and how to choose a house system to begin your study.
Taught by Tony Howard
Required text: The Contemporary Astrologer’s Handbook by Sue Tompkins and The Modern Textbook of Astrology by Margaret Hone (purchase separately before the course starts)
Recommended supplementary texts: The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest (free digital copy included at no charge); Horoscope Symbols by Rob Hand
$295 non-certification track / $350 certification track*
Dates and Viewing Info
The course lessons are pre-recorded so you can start viewing right away. Class for the new 2020 cohort starts officially on August 12, 2020.
Live Q&A Dates for the 2020 Session
Get your questions answered live and get to know your new cohort of Year One students!
- Sunday August 16 at 3pm Pacific Time
- Sunday August 23 at 9am Pacific Time
- Saturday August 29 at 1pm Pacific Time
- Sunday September 6 at 3pm Pacific Time
If you can’t attend the Q&A sessions in real time, you can email your questions in advance to [email protected] and we will answer your questions in the live sessions!
Course includes: four video classes, six recorded Q&A sessions, weekly reading assignments and homework and bonus videos. Video, audio and handouts are available to view and/or download.
*Certification-track students will receive feedback on homework and an exam. Non-certification students receive the same study materials and videos but do not receive personal feedback on their work.
This course is perfect for beginners and those looking to review the basics. Experienced students looking to enter our four-year program have the option to attempt to test out of this course for full credit.

Senior Instructor
Tony Howard is the founder of Astrology University, which provides some of the best online education in astrology available in collaboration with some of the finest Western astrologers of our time.
Tony’s writing has been features in The Mountain Astrologer magazine in addition to the Flare anthologies: Astrology, the Next Generation and The Book of Music Horoscopes.
Tony is passionate about sharing an astrology that empowers people to consciously co-create life as an engaged participant. Through his website TheAstrologyCoach.com he coaches both clients and astrology students to find inspiration, creative solutions and fresh insights using the cosmos as a guide.