SAN DIEGO, May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI), a provider of postsecondary education services, announced today that Ashford University will offer two new degree programs - a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Studies, as well as a new minor and specialization in Operations Management, beginning May 28, 2009.

Based in Clinton, Iowa, Ashford University provides online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degree programs to students throughout the U.S. and around the globe.

"We are excited to continue our expansion of academic offerings at Ashford University," said Jane McAuliffe, chief academic officer of Bridgepoint Education. "Through diverse programs like these we hope to satisfy the individual and professional needs of our students, as well as their future employers - providing them with a solid foundation for success in the business world," McAuliffe said.

Ashford University's Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics degree program was designed for students seeking careers in economics, financial analytics, foreign trade, strategic planning, labor analysis and other associated fields.

Students who enroll in Ashford University's Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Studies degree program will learn about the physiological, sociological, behavioral and business aspects of the health care industry; academically preparing them for careers in a variety of health-related disciplines.

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

Ashford University's minor and specialization in Operations Management is currently available to online students of Ashford University and can be applied to a Bachelor of Arts degree in either Accounting or Business Administration. Course content will academically prepare students for careers in business analytics, quality management, inventory production and control.

Additionally, two existing minors and specializations offered by Ashford University that were previously open to on-campus students only, are now open for online student enrollment - Business Economics and Sports & Recreation Management.

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. For more information, please visit www.bridgepointeducation.com.

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 visit www.ashford.edu.

SOURCE: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

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