SAN DIEGO, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bridgepoint Education, Inc. , a leading provider of postsecondary education services, announced today that Ashford University will offer the following three new master's degree programs: Master of Arts in Education, Master of Public Administration and Master of Arts in Health Care Administration, beginning May 1, 2009.

Based in Clinton, Iowa, Ashford University provides online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degree programs to students across the United States.

"We are proud to offer these new programs to our Ashford University master's degree candidates," said Jane McAuliffe, Chief Academic Officer of Bridgepoint Education. "They demonstrate our commitment to providing high-quality, innovative, and easily accessible academic options for our students.

"Furthermore, each program addresses a unique need within our student population. We strive to meet those needs on a continual basis and to ensure our educational offerings reflect cultural and societal changes," McAuliffe added.

The Master of Public Administration degree program was designed to academically prepare students for work in the government, non-profit and public service sectors. The Master of Arts in Health Care Administration degree program will provide students with the coursework needed to advance their careers in the health care arena, or to ease transition into the field from other industries.

The Master of Arts in Education degree program was designed to enhance students' understanding of current education processes and policies and to provide them with the skills needed to advance their careers in the education field. Students wishing to pursue their Master of Arts in Education degree can select between nine new specializations: Teacher Leader, Higher Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Distance Learning, Early Childhood Education, Educational Technology Leadership, Cultural Responsive Educator, Assessment and Measurement, and English Language Learner.

These new programs have been approved by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as postsecondary academic degree programs and do not include any additional professional licensures or certifications. Students seeking licensure or certification should consult the appropriate corresponding entities.

About Bridgepoint Education

Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the disciplines of business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences. Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions - Ashford University and University of the Rockies - deliver their programs online as well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, respectively.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is a coeducational higher education institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, and psychology. The University offers high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared with other private institutions. Its tagline is: "Higher Education Made Affordable"(SM). For more information, please contact Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513 or visit www.ashford.edu.

SOURCE: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Web site: http://www.ashford.edu/