In response to the growing public profile of holistic, homeopathic and spiritual healthcare, interest in education and training in unconventional medicine has increased. Ashford University has introduced the Bachelor of Arts in Complementary and Alternative Health to serve this demand.

In the most recent National Health Interview Survey, conducted in part by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 38% of the U.S. adult population uses some form of complementary or alternative medicine. This figure has increased since 1979, when the office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine was established as part of the National Institutes of Health (www.nccam.nih.gov).

Ashford University, an academic institution owned by Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: BPI), has satisfied postsecondary students worldwide with contemporary degrees suited to the needs of nontraditional students and alternative learning environments. It is ideally suited to provide a modern scholastic offering such as the bachelor’s in Complementary and Alternative Health, which can support careers such as holistic or integrative healthcare, and provide advanced academic opportunities for massage, music or art therapists. 

“There is an added push in the healthcare industry to integrate alternative care methods with traditional Western care,” stated Dr. Alice Vestergaard, executive dean of the College of Health, Human Services, and Science. “Because of this, we are seeing an increased demand for individuals who are versed in these nontraditional healthcare practices, products and systems.”

Ashford University’s Bachelor of Arts in Complementary and Alternative Health will be offered online at this time. It does not provide licensure or certification of any kind, and it is the student’s responsibility to determine individual states’ requirements for practice.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.