Associate of Science Degree in Marine Science

  1. Program goals: The marine science program is designed to respond to a need expressed by the FSM leadership in the FSM States and National Economic Summits. It has been designed to take full advantage of the unique variety of marine environments available in the FSM, particularly Pohnpei. This program provides a solid foundation for students interested in pursuing a higher degree at a four-year institution.
  2. Program history: Program was added to the college in 1986.
  3. Program description:1 The College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) at its national site in Palakir offers an "Associate of science degree in marine science" (AS in marine science), a two year program providing a solid foundation for students interested in pursuing a higher degree at a four-year institution. It is also designed to train students so that they can obtain middle-level positions related to science and technology in both government and industry. Marine sciences qualifies an individual to perform many ocean related jobs such as: educators, regulation enforcement, fisheries extension officers, observers on board, environmental monitoring and protection, advisory services, farming of marine products, coastal zone management, laboratory assistant or marine recreation and marine tourism to name a few.

    The marine science program is designed to respond to a need expressed by the FSM leadership in the FSM States and National Economic Summits. As with other COM-FSM programs, the AS in marine science, must be assessed on a regular basis by an "advisory council" composed of specialists of the FSM associated with various marine related sectors. Their recommendations are reported to the curriculum committee, where the program profile can be readjusted according to the nations economic needs.
    The AS in marine science, like the other associate degrees of the College of Micronesia-FSM, is subdivided into two basic parts:
    1) the general education core requirements which are common prerequisites for all students entering a particular field of study, and;
    2) the major requirements, which are courses of specialization within the individual program of study.
    When comparing the Associates degrees offered at the COM-FSM to those offered within the Unicersity of Hawaii system, requirements are quite similar. In each case the degree consists of a least 60 semester credits at the 100 and above levels with a specific sequence of credits linked to the "general education core" and the electives, pertaining to the major or the certificate. In a separate report by Dr. Allain Bourgoin (available upon request), the COM-FSM marine science degree was compared with the Associate of Arts (AA) degree with the Marine Option Program (MOP) certificate from Leeward Community College (LCC); the AA degree with the Bio-resources and technology certificate from the Windward Community College (WCC); and the AA degree with the Environmental studies academic certificate from the Hawaii Community College (HCC). In all cases, the general education core requirements are similar, although the number of credits may vary somewhat within the disciplines. As for the requirements for the major or the target "certificate", the marine science program from the COM-FSM largely compares with the other programs, credit wise and in the diversity of electives offered.1
  4. Program admission requirements: As per college policy for admission to associate of science programs.
  5. Program requirements:

    General Education Core Requirements: 29 credits
    English (9 credits)
    EN 110 Advanced Reading (3)
    EN 120a Expository Writing I (3)
    EN 120b Expository Writing II (3)
    Mathematics (3 credits) depending on placement
    MS 100 College Algebra (3) or MS 101 College Algebra and Trigonometry (3)
    Natural Sciences (7 credits)
    Any two of the following courses recommended, one of which must have a lab.
    SC 110 Introduction to Ecology (3)
    SC 111 Environmental Science (3)
    SC 180 Microbiology w/lab (4)
    SC 201 Astronomy (3)
    SC 202 Weather and Climate (3)
    SC 210 Conservation Science (3)
    SC 220 Introduction to Geology (3)
    SC 230 Physical Science w/lab (4)
    SC 245 Remote Sensing (3)
    SC 250 General Botany w/lab (4)
    SC 255 General Zoology w/lab (4)
    SC/SS 115 Ethnobotany (3)
    MR 230 Ichthyology w/lab (4)
    MR 252 Fishery Extension (3)
    Social Sciences (3 credits)
    SS 150 History of Micronesia (3)
    Computer Applications (3 credits)
    CA 100 Computer Literacy (3)
    Exercise sport science (1 credit)
    Any 100 level ESS course (1)
    Humanities (3 credits)
    Any course in art, music, history, literature, philosophy, or language (3)

    Major Requirements: 35 credits
    Marine Science (22 credits):
    MR 120 Marine Biology w/lab (4)
    MR 201 Aquaculture w/lab (4)
    MR 210 Marine Ecology (3)
    MR 230 Ichthyology w/lab (4)
    MR 240 Oceanography w/lab (4)
    MR 250 Fishery Biology and Management (3)
    MR 254 Marine Biology Field Studies (1)
    SC 230 Introduction to Chemistry w/lab (4)
    MS 150 Introduction to Statistics (3)
    Choose one of the following : SS 120 Introduction to Geography or SS 101 Political Science or SS 125 Geography of the Pacific or SS 130 Introduction to Sociology (3)
    Open Elective (3 credits)
    Graduation requirements:64 credits

  6. Program courses and enrollment: Section and enrollment data includes courses that are taken by students in other majors.
    CourseNumber of sectionsEnrollment
    FallSpringFall Spring
    MR 120 Marine Biology w/lab10130
    MR 201 Aquaculture w/lab0107
    MR 210 Marine Ecology0107
    MR 230 Ichthyology w/lab10012
    MR 240 Oceanography w/lab01120
    MR 250 Fishery Biology and Management0106
    MR 254 Marine Biology Field Studies0103
    MS 150 Introduction to Statistics225359
    SC 230 Introduction to Chemistry w/lab112323
  7. Principal faculty:
  8. Program outcome analysis. Health indicators.
    1. Program enrollment:
      Marine science program enrollment
      Fall 04Spring 05Summer 05
      36228
    2. Graduation rate:
      National Campus Graduation rate
      Fall 2001 cohort

      Graduation rate
      Program # of Full time, first time students enrolled Comp. ≤ 2 yrs Graduation rate (2 yrs) Comp. 2<4 yrs. Graduation rate (>2 yrs) Total Completers Total Graduation rate
      Marine Science 11 2 18% 0 0% 2 18.18%
      Comp. < 2 yrs. = Completers in less than or equal to 2 years of coursework
      Comp. 2 < 4 yrs. = Completers in more than 2 but less than 4 years of coursework
      Graduation rate (2 yrs) = Total number of completers in ≤2 yrs. [completers within 150% of normal time for a 2 years college] in each program divided by the number of full time, first time enrolled students.
      Graduation rate (>2 yrs) = Total number of completers in 2<4 for each programs divided by the number of full time, first time enrolled students.

      IPEDS calculation of Graduation rate:
      Rate is calculated as the total number of completers within 150% of normal time divided by the total number in cohort minus any allowable exclusions.

      Allowable exclusions:
      students who died or became permanently disabled
      students who left school to serve in the armed forces (or have been called up to active duty)
      students who left school to serve with a foreign aid service of the Federal government
      students who left school to serve on an official church mission
    3. Average class size:
      Average students per section fall 04 and spring 05 national site
      CourseStudents per section
      MR 120 Marine Biology w/lab13
      MR 201 Aquaculture w/lab7
      MR 210 Marine Ecology7
      MR 230 Ichthyology w/lab12
      MR 240 Oceanography w/lab12
      MR 250 Fishery Biology and Management6
      MR 254 Marine Biology Field Studies3
      MS 150 Statistics28
      SC 230 Chemistry w/lab23
    4. Student's seat cost: Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics fall 2004 and spring 2005. Note that budget structures do not provide for costs per seat at a single course level.
      Student seat cost calculations
      Student seatsCreditsFY 2005 budgetSeat cost
      15645512$515,313.00$329.48
    5. Course completion rate for the program:
      Course completion rate fall 2004 and spring 2005
      CoursePercent D or betterPercent C or better
      MR 12062%38%
      MR 201100%43%
      MR 21086%71%
      MR 230100%92%
      MR 24092%42%
      MR 25067%33%
      MR 252100%100%
      MR 25433%33%
      MS 15090%78%
      SC 23080%72%
    6. Student's satisfaction rate: [Indicator yet to be defined]
    7. Employment data: [Unknown. Refer to alumni database.]
    8. Transfer rate: [Unknown. Unclear how to determine this beyond an anecdotal level.]
    9. Program student learning outcomes:
      Students will be able to...
      • Express the fundamental notions of geological, physical, chemical, and biological oceanography and exploring these concepts to interpret the marine sciences
      • Describe the major environments of the world's oceans (from the nearshore to offshore and from the shallow to the deep) and the interactions with the living forms that inhabit each respective ecosystem within this major water basin.
      • Link the interaction between humans and world's oceans, weighing both resource utilization needs (which covers the fisheries and mariculture) and human induced degradation of the marine environment and its counter-balance, the examination of the conservation and enhancement measures taken towards the marine environment.
        Express the fundamental notions of geological, physical, chemical, and biological oceanography and exploring these concepts to interpret the marine sciences Describe the major environments of the world's oceans (from the nearshore to offshore and from the shallow to the deep) and the interactions with the living forms that inhabit each respective ecosystem within this major water basin. Link the interaction between humans and world's oceans, weighing both resource utilization needs (which covers the fisheries and mariculture) and human induced degradation of the marine environment and its counter-balance, the examination of the conservation and enhancement measures taken towards the marine environment.
      MR 120 Marine Biology w/lab •• 
      MR 201 Aquaculture w/lab  ••
      MR 210 Marine Ecology  • 
      MR 230 Ichthyology w/lab  ••
      MR 240 Oceanography w/lab •  
      MR 250 Fishery Biology and Management  • 
      MS 254 Marine Biology Field Studies •  
      SC 230 Chemistry w/lab •  
      MS 150 Introduction to Statistics    
      SS 120 Introduction to Geography or SS 101 Political Science or SS 125 Geography of the Pacific or SS 130 Introduction to Sociology    
      Open Elective (3 credits)    

      10. In 2005 a three year plan was developed for assessing the program learning outcomes in marine science. That document is reproduced immediately below. The source of the document is not recorded. The document was part of a packet of information distributed at an assessment workshop August 2005. The source is thought to be either the office of the director of academic programs or the institutional research and planning office.

      Year Express the fundamental notions of geological, physical, chemical, and biological oceanography and exploring these concepts to interpret the marine sciences Describe the major environments of the world's oceans (from the nearshore to offshore and from the shallow to the deep) and the interactions with the living forms that inhabit each respective ecosystem within this major water basin. Link the interaction between humans and world's oceans, weighing both resource utilization needs (which covers the fisheries and mariculture) and human induced degradation of the marine environment and its counter-balance, the examination of the conservation and enhancement measures taken towards the marine environment.
      05–06•
      06–07•
      07–08•
      08–09
      09–10
      2005-2006 Outcome one

      Express the fundamental notions of geological, physical, chemical, and biological oceanography and exploring these concepts to interpret the marine sciences

      1. When will it be assessed? Starting fall 2005 school year
      2. How will it be assessed?
      3. How will the data be collected?
      4. Who will analyze the data? Marine science faculty and the division chair will analyze the data and share the results with the curriculum committee.
      5. How will results and implications be documented? Results of the assessment process will be documented both with the chair of the division and the office of the vice president for instructional affairs. Recommendations for changes to be made will be documented within the curriculum committee meeting minutes.
      2006-2007 Outcome two

      Describe the major environments of the world's oceans (from the nearshore to offshore and from the shallow to the deep) and the interactions with the living forms that inhabit each respective ecosystem within this major water basin.

      1. When will it be assessed? Starting fall 2006 school year
      2. How will it be assessed?
      3. How will the data be collected?
      4. Who will analyze the data? Marine science faculty and the division chair will analyze the data and share the results with the curriculum committee.
      5. How will results and implications be documented? Results of the assessment process will be documented both with the chair of the division and the office of the vice president for instructional affairs. Recommendations for changes to be made will be documented within the curriculum committee meeting minutes.
      2007-2008 Outcome three

      Link the interaction between humans and world's oceans, weighing both resource utilization needs (which covers the fisheries and mariculture) and human induced degradation of the marine environment and its counter-balance, the examination of the conservation and enhancement measures taken towards the marine environment.

      1. When will it be assessed? Starting fall 2007 school year
      2. How will it be assessed?
      3. How will the data be collected?
      4. Who will analyze the data? Marine science faculty and the division chair will analyze the data and share the results with the curriculum committee.
      5. How will results and implications be documented? Results of the assessment process will be documented both with the chair of the division and the office of the vice president for instructional affairs. Recommendations for changes to be made will be documented within the curriculum committee meeting minutes.
    10. Student learning outcomes for courses: Refer to individual outlines.
  9. Recommendations:
    In a fall 2005 survey of 67 students in the Pohnpei Islands Central High School senior year A1 and A2 sections done by Keiko Fuketa, 50 students indicated plans to attend the national campus. The survey asked students to choose from a list of majors at the college. After analysis, the results were summarized as follows:
    MajorNumber of students
    Computer information systems8
    Micronesian studies8
    Education7
    Health career opportunities program7
    Japanese language5
    Marine science5
    Liberal arts4
    Media studies3
    Accounting and general business2
    Business administration1
    Agriculture0
    Sum:50

1 The material in this section is lifted verbatim from a report done by Dr. Allain Bourgoin.