(Norcross, GA) Ashworth University recently announced the addition of four new tracks to its existing Master of Business Administration (MBA) program as well as a new graduate certificate program.
The new MBA additions allow students to select from among the current general program, and four new MBAs with concentrations in Health Care Administration, Human Resources Management, Marketing, and International Business. Ashworth also offers Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Health Care Administration, Human Resources Management, Criminal Justice, Marketing, and Management.
Ashworth’s MBA programs are comprised of general and quantitative core courses, combined with specialty courses in different areas of study or concentration, with the Master of Science programs geared towards a higher degree of specialization within a certain area of study. While the MBA degrees target those seeking general management and administration skills that can be applied towards any field or industry, the M.S. degrees are ideal for those seeking highly specialized knowledge within a particular area.
“At other institutions, the traditional Masters program can be rigid, time consuming and costly, excluding many people who would benefit from further higher education,” said Jon Bouffler, Ashworth Executive Vice President, referring to a large segment of the population who attempts to manage career and family as well as higher education. “Our program is built around self-paced, individual study. Students do not attend classes (on site, conference call, online, etc.) and are not required to participate group projects.”
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average person with a bachelor’s degree remains with a company less than five years. The American Society for Training and Development cites the average annual reimbursement being $1,616. “Many don’t get to take full advantage of most corporate tuition reimbursement programs. We wanted to provide a practical, quality, and affordable alternative,”
Ashworth is also developing graduate certificate programs in Health Care Management, Human Resources Management, Criminal Justice, Marketing, and Management. The certificate programs comprise one semester’s worth of graduate level courses within a specific area of concentration. An alternative for bachelor’s degree holders who want to complete graduate level coursework in specific areas without completing an entire degree program, or for those who already have a master’s degree and want to branch out to a different area of expertise, students have the opportunity to test the waters by completing a certificate program before committing to a full blown graduate degree program.
“Our students are looking to move up in their existing careers. Depending on their career goals, they believe that some level of higher education will give them the advantage they need,” said Chada. “Many of our students work full-time jobs and have families. We wanted this to be as flexible as possible so that they can work it into their work and family schedules -- and with rising gas prices it helps that they can complete the course at home and not have to travel to a classroom.”
