Ashworth University Introduces Post-Secondary International Bridge Program

Norcross, GA, June 15, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Ashworth University, recently announced the addition of an International Bridge program to its post-secondary degree offerings. One of only a select few domestic programs of its type, Ashworth’s International Bridge Program has been specifically designed for students holding a three year international bachelor’s degree.

“A three-year international bachelor’s degree typically is not considered equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree” said Deepa Chadha, Ashworth Director of Degree Programs. “These applicants are usually required to enroll in an accredited U.S. bachelor’s program to ‘complete’ their degrees.”

Completing Ashworth University’s International Bridge Program qualifies students holding valid three-year International degrees for admission into its master’s programs. The Bridge program is comprised of ten bachelor’s level courses (two semesters of five courses each). Course selection is determined by the applicant’s previous education and the target master’s degree program.

“The International Bridge program will greatly benefit three-year degree holders looking to complete their master’s degrees,” said Chadha. “Traditionally, applicants with three-year international degrees would be subjected to a course-by-course transfer of bachelor’s credits. This type of transfer almost always results in a lower number of credits being transferred, requiring students to complete more than one year of undergraduate study to be eligible for admission into a master’s program.”

Among the courses offered:

Achieving Academic Excellence
English Composition
Personal Finance
Introduction to Accounting
Principles of Finance
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Business Analysis
Fundamentals of Management
Marketing Principles
Technical Communication
Statistical Analysis I
Organizational Behavior
Management Information Systems
Electronic Commerce
Strategic Information Technology
Internet Marketing
e-Business Strategy

The International Bridge program was developed primarily to cater to three-year bachelor’s degree holders from India, Pakistan and other countries in Southeast Asia. It is also geared towards dealing with the Bologna Process, a movement towards post-secondary standardization among 45 European countries. Named after its place of origin, the University of Bologna, the Bologna declaration was signed in 1999 by Ministers of Education from 29 European countries. By 2010, European universities will convert to three year degree programs.

“The Bologna Process demonstrates that education can transcend geographic boundaries and that students, particularly international, look beyond their home country for options,” commented Jon Bouffler, Ashworth Executive Vice President.

“Earning a Master’s degree from an American institution is considered by many to be the Holy Grail of education,” he added. “This is a great opportunity Ashworth. It could take years for the U.S. to develop a fail-safe process for converting the three year International degree to the American equivalent.”

The desirability of the American degree, especially Master’s, remains strong for several factors - the prestige among global companies looking to hire graduates with American degrees, a higher degree of specialization versus its international counterparts, better course materials (textbooks), and the number of quality, published faculty.

“The traditional Masters degree has been a relatively rigid, time consuming and costly process, excluding many people wanting to benefit from further higher education,” said Bouffler, referring to a large segment of the population who attempt to manage career and family as well as higher education. “Our program is built around self-paced, individual study. Students do not attend classes (brick and mortar or online) and are not required to participate group projects.”

Ashworth University, a worldwide leader in comprehensive online education, offers diploma and degree programs in high school, career school, associates, bachelors and masters. It is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Based in Norcross, GA, Ashworth University, offers more than 450 different high school, career school, associates, bachelors and masters courses.

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