Program Courses and Enrollment
The following are descriptions of the General Education Core courses and the major courses required for the AS in Marine Science:
EN 110 Advanced Reading: Designed to improve students’ critical reading and thinking skills, increase analytical, inferential and evaluative comprehension, expand vocabulary skills, and employ effective study strategies for use across academic disciplines.
EN 120a Expository Writing I: Designed to help students develop in expository writing by completing a minimum of five multi-draft essays of varying degrees of complexity. In these essays students develop topics in at least four of these five rhetorical patterns: example, comparison/contrast, classification, process analysis, and cause/ effect analysis. The students also write an argumentative essay that demonstrates familiarization with methods of research documentation.
EN 120b Expository Writing II: Provides an introduction to college-level research writing skill.. the student will investigate research topics in a variety of disciplines while enhancing their critical thinking and argumentative abilities.
MS 100 [or above] College Algebra: Identifies components of exponential expressions in polynomials with mathematical operations of exponential expressions; factoring of up to 4th degree polynomials; recognizing rational and irrational numbers with emphasis on the use of number lines, equation and inequality solving with application problems; introduction of literal equations; working with radical expressions; graphing of two variables on the xy plane; solving systems of equations in two or three variables;
For 7 credits any combination of science w/lab and a science without a lab:
Science Course with Laboratory:
Options include:
AG 101 Introduction to Agriculture
AG 110 Crop Production w/Lab:
AG 140 Principles of Animal Science w/Lab
SC 117 Tropical Pacific Island Environment w/Lab
SC 120 Biology w/Lab
SC 122a Anatomy and Physiology I w/Lab
SC112b Anatomy and Physiology II w/Lab
SC 130 Physical Science w/Lab
SC 180 Microbiology w/Lab
SC 230 Introduction to Chemistry w/Lab
SC 240 Introduction to Physics w/Lab.
SC 250 General Botany w/Lab
SC 255 General Zoology w/Lab
Non-lab science courses:
Options include:
SC 111 Environmental Science
SC 115 Ethnobotany
SC 220 Introduction to Geology
SC 260 Independent Studies in Biology
SS 150 History of Micronesia: Study of Micronesian History from Pre-history to the present.
CA 100 Computer Literacy: Introduction to computer concepts and applications
Exercise Sport Science Course
Options Include:
ESS 101 Individual activities
ESS 101j Joggling
ESS 101r Resistance Training
ESS 101t Introduction to Tai Chi/Qi Gong
ESS 101w Walking for Health and Fitness
ESS 101y Introduction to Yoga
ESS 102(x) Group Team Activity
ESS 102b Fundamentals of Basketball
ESS 102s Fundamentals of Softball
ESS 102v Introduction to Volleyball
ESS 102 Snorkeling
ESS 102WS/1 Open Water SCUBA Diver
Humanities Courses
Options include:
Ethical Thought and Moral Values:
EN 208 Philosophy
EN 209 Introduction to Religion
Language:
FL 101 Japanese I
FL 102 Japanese II
ML10 Micronesian Language
FL/SS 107 Chinese Language and Culture
Arts:
AR 101Introduction to Art
AR 105 Painting
EN 213 Island Style Theater
MM 110 Introduction to Photography and Video
MM 120 Film Studies
MM 205 Media Studies
MM 240 Computer Animation
MU 101 Introduction to Music
SS 195 Micronesian Cultural Study
Historical Analysis:
EN 210 Writing on 19th Century Pohnpei
SS 170 World History I
SS 171 World History II
SS 240 East Asian History
Literature:
EN 210 Introduction to Literature
EN 202 Narrative Fiction
EN 203 Drama
EN 204 Poetry
EN 205 Literature of the Sea
EN 206 Mythology
MS 150 Statistics
MR 120 Marine Biology w/lab: The course introduces students to the common forms of life inhabiting the oceans of the globe including the marine microbes, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Their basic structure, function, natural history and adaptations to the marine environment will be covered. Current issues in marine biology will also be discussed. Laboratory sessions and field exercises will focus mostly on the taxonomic groups.
MR 201 Aquaculture w/lab: An investigation of the principles underlying the culture of both marine and freshwater organisms. Pertinent aspects of the physiology of aquatic species will be covered as well as system design, water quality, nutrition, reproduction, and disease. An analysis of the constraints of the development of aquaculture will be made.
MR 210 Marine Ecology w/lab: Focuses on principles of ecology, ecological terminology, and the ecology of marine ecosystems. Important physical, chemical, and biological interactions controlling coral reef, mangrove, seagrass, estuarine, pelagic, benthic and upwelling communities are discussed.
MR 230 Ichthyology w/lab: Focuses on the general aspects of fish biology including tropical, temperate, freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include classification, biology, and physiology of fish. The laboratory includes internal and external examinations, identification, and field observation techniques.
MR 240 Oceanography w/lab: The course will include sections on oceanographic history, geology, chemistry, physics, biology, technology, and careers. The use of terminology will be emphasized. Laboratory and field exercises will include demonstration of basic concepts; use of instrumentation; and the collection and presentation of oceanographic data.
MR 250 Fishery Biology and Management: The biological aspects of fisher science that are used in management are examined. Population dynamics, modeling, fishing techniques, economics, reproduction, production, ecology, geography, oceanography and important environmental factors are discussed. Individual fisheries are used as examples of important concepts.
MR 254 Marine Biology Field Studies: Reinforces an understanding of marine biology, the marine environment and marine organisms through exposure to learning experiences in the field and laboratory investigations.
Previously, there were more marine courses running in the spring semester compared to the fall semester. In the past, this was not an issue, as the total number of marine science majors was lower; however, due to the increasing enrollment for the Marine Science Program, we scheduled MR 240 Oceanography to be offered for both the fall and the spring semesters next year to help ensure we better meet student needs. Further consideration for the spring semester schedule will have to occur, as we realize that many of the students end up taking 3 – 4 science courses together in their second semester; consequently, we may be putting them at higher risk of failing or scoring low in one or more of those courses, as the study time required for success would be extremely high.
In general, enrollment within the marine science classes is pretty high. In courses such as MR 120 (Marine Biology) and MR 240 (Oceanography), the roster fills quickly and no seats are available at the start of each semester. This number varies depending on whether 1 or 2 labs are offered, but there are always 20-30 students per lecture. For the more advanced Marine Science classes (those requiring a marine prerequisite), the number of students typically tops out around 18 students, almost exclusively Marine Science with a few Education majors that need an additional science class and have met the required prerequisite. The only exceptions to this include the MR 254 Field Study class and SC 260 (Independent Study in Biol.) as these are more hands on and field oriented requiring a more intimate level of contact between students and the instructor.
Much of the success of the program in recent years (in regards to recruitment, graduation, and transfer of our students) must be attributed to several grants and an increased collaborative relationship with University of Hawaii. These consortium grants have allowed us more control over our program by providing additional sources of funding above/beyond what could ordinarily happen to support a program from a division budget that must support a number of different classes across many disciplines and many majors. Our regular division budget does not allow for luxury purchases such as student stipends for internships and research projects, money for student and or faculty travel to conferences or workshops, expensive equipment, and covering the costs associated with certifying students for SCUBA. With the financial support offered by these grants, we have been able to recruit better, offer our students bigger/better learning opportunities while they are enrolled in COM-FSM, and also assist in their finding transfer options post-graduation. In short, these grants and the established contacts we now have at UH have given us a legitimacy that was previously lacking, helping to cover some of the holes that exist as a small college isolated on a remote Pacific island. Moreover, this relationship and the grant programs shared with UH have provided meaningful and tangible bridge opportunities for many of our top graduates as they transition to 4-year institutions in or out of the UH system.
Program Indicators
1. Assessment of course student learning outcomes of program courses
https://comfsm.tracdat.com/tracdat/faces/common/reports/viewReport.jsp
2. Assessment of program student learning outcomes
https://comfsm.tracdat.com/tracdat/faces/common/reports/viewReport.jsp
3. Program enrollment (historical enrollment patterns, student credits by major)
Our enrollment for the past several years has been somewhat consistent and remains at a level we believe is effective for our program. Program enrollment around 50 students appears to a comfortable level for our program, significantly higher than about 10 years ago, but not so high as to be difficult to handle scheduling difficulties now are we flooding the job market with graduates that cannot find work in their field.
Though IRPO has provided figures relating to student credits by major, we are unable to interpret the significance of this data without comparison to other program. We assume our students are comparable to those of other majors until we are told otherwise.
Major |
Degree |
Term |
Chuuk |
Kosrae |
National |
Pohnpei |
Yap |
Students |
Mar. Sci |
AS |
Fall 2011 |
|
7 |
41 |
6 |
2 |
56 |
Mar. Sci |
AS |
Fall 2012 |
|
15 |
46 |
9 |
1 |
71 |
Mar. Sci |
AS |
Fall 2013 |
|
3 |
41 |
5 |
3 |
52 |
Mar. Sci |
AS |
Spring 2011 |
|
5 |
45 |
2 |
|
52 |
Mar. Sci |
AS |
Spring 2012 |
|
11 |
35 |
5 |
1 |
52 |
Mar. Sci |
AS |
Spring 2013 |
|
2 |
38 |
4 |
2 |
46 |
4. Average class size
5. Course completion rate
Our course completion rates have been fairly dynamic and vary considerably by course. Marine Biology MR 120 is a gateway course to the other marine science classes and frequently weeds out students that are not ready to complete a rigorous biological science degree program.
Fall 2013 Course Completion by Subject & Course
Subject |
Link |
Student-Course |
%ABCorP |
%ABCDorP |
%W |
Marine Science |
MR120 |
32 |
28.1% |
56.3% |
40.6% |
Marine Science |
MR230 |
13 |
69.2% |
84.6% |
7.7% |
Marine Science |
MR240 |
15 |
40.0% |
53.3% |
33.3% |
Marine Science |
MR254 |
5 |
80.0% |
80.0% |
0.0% |
6. Student persistence rate (semester to semester)
There appears to be a drastic difference between the persistence rates between the two years included in the table below. We are not sure what accounts for the significant drop in persistence between academic years 11-12 and 12-13. Obtaining this information may be critical to understanding what factors influence success in our program.
Major |
Degree |
New Students FT 2011-3 |
Students 2012_1 |
Students 2012_3 |
Persistence Spring 2012 |
Marine Science |
AS |
10 |
8 |
7 |
80.0% |
Major |
Degree |
New FT Fall 2012 |
Persisted Spring 2013 |
Retained Fall 2013 |
Persistence Spring 2013 |
Marine Science |
AS |
15 |
7 |
6 |
46.7% |
7. Student retention rate (Fall-to-Fall for two-year programs; Fall-to-Spring for one-year programs)
Again, same as above. This significant decrease in retention is puzzling and may provide key insight into factors leading to success/failure in our program.
Persistence and Retention (new full time students)
Major |
Degree |
New Students FT 2011-3 |
Students 2012_1 |
Students 2012_3 |
Retention Fall 2012 |
Marine Science |
AS |
10 |
8 |
7 |
70.0% |
Major |
Degree |
New FT Fall 2012 |
Persisted Spring 2013 |
Retained Fall 2013 |
Retention Fall 2013 |
Marine Science |
AS |
15 |
7 |
6 |
40.0% |
8. Success rates on licensing or certification exams (CTE, TP, Nursing, etc)
A large percentage of our graduates become certified for PADI Open Water Diving. Though not required, many of our marine science majors elect to enroll in the SCUBA PE elective.
9. Graduation rate based on yearly number
Overall, we are pleased that we have increased our number of graduates from a decade ago but also realize we need to maintain steady enrollment in our program to ensure we maintain an acceptable number of graduates. We would like to see approximately 5 graduates per graduation (10/yr) but understand there are some minor fluctuations for various reasons from year to year.
Graduates by Major and Degree AY2008/09 to AY2011/12 Sorted
Major |
degree |
AY2008/09 |
AY2009/10 |
AY2010/11 |
AY2011/12 |
Total4Year |
Marine Science |
AS |
1 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
33 |
10. Students seat cost
???
11.Cost of duplicate or redundant courses, programs or services
???
12. Students’ satisfaction rate
IRPO?
13. Alumni data
Still awaiting data requested of IRPO.
14. Employment data and employer feedback (employer survey)
Still awaiting data requested of IRPO.
15. Program added or cancelled at nearby regional institutions (PCC, GCC, Hawaii schools, UOG, CMI, NMC)
No info available
16. Transfer rate