Accounting

Business

Computer Information Systems

Economics

The responsibilities and careers of business professionals vary too greatly to be described here in detail. However, among business professionals' most important attributes are their versatility, broad knowledge, and administrative ability within a wide variety of organizations. The COM-FSM Business Program tries to produce a person who can function in positions from administrator or manager, to bookkeeper, accounts clerk, salesperson or small business owner. Broadly speaking, the Business Program strives to:

• Provide the student with a solid conceptual view of business.
• Provide a basic understanding of the economic system(s) at work within Micronesia and in the rest of the world.
• Demonstrate the role that law and government play in the business environment.
• Emphasize the role of business and trade in the development of the Micronesian nations.
• Aid the student with the basic quantitative concepts that are essential to business managers.
• Develop skills in the areas of basic computers, accounting, finance, marketing, management, business communication, computer information systems, and other related areas - skills that will be useful in the students' future academic, employment, and/or entrepreneurial pursuits.

To fulfill the objectives mentioned above, the COM-FSM accounting/business/CIS student chooses course work from among the following courses:

• AC131 Accounting I
• AC220 Accounting II
• AC230 Governmental Accounting
• AC240 Accounting Information System
• AC250 Managerial Accounting
• AC270 Accounting Internship

• BU101 Introduction to Business
• BU/MS110 Business Math
• BU110 Business Ethics
• EN/BU121 Business Communications
• BU250 Financial Management
• BU251 Entrepreneurship
• BU260 Fundamentals of Management
• BU270 Principles of Marketing
• BU271 Business Law

• CA100 Computer Literacy
• CA101 Computer Application I (MS Excel)
• CA102 Computer Application II (MS Access)
• IS201 Computer Information Systems
• IS220 Computer Science & Programming
• IS240 Internet & Web-based Information Systems
• IS260 Business Information Systems
• IS270 Geographic Information Systems
• IS280 Introduction to Networking

• EC220 Microeconomics (Principles)
• EC230 Macroeconomics (Principles)

While a background in business is valuable in any type of employment, the COM-FSM Business Program orients our students toward careers in small business ownership, accounting/bookkeeping, management, sales, marketing, customer service, data-entry and various computer related careers and a host of other fields. We are also planning to focus our efforts on assisting our business graduates find appropriate jobs, especially in FSM.

The graduate of the COM- FSM Business Program is awarded the Associate of Science Degree. Depending on the major chosen by the student, the A.S. may be in Accounting, Business Administration, or Computer Information Systems. The A.S. degree may be considered the terminal degree (end of studies) or the graduate may apply to a four-year institution and obtain the Bachelor's Degree. There are plans to offer 3^rd year courses in Business and Accounting at COM-FSM starting Fall 2001. Introduction of 4^th year courses in the ensuing years shall depend on the success of the 3^rd year program. Naturally, there will be those who will proceed even further, to the Masters, the CPA or other advanced designations, including the PhD.

The computer laboratory, equipped with 30 modern computers, teaches the student to use applications software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. The skills taught prepare the student for the use of technology in school as well as in the workplace.

The lab is also used to teach the student to use computerized accounting systems. In this course the student learns to use the general ledger program and other specialized software and to use such systems to maintain or manage accounts and produce financial statements.

Computer Information Systems majors take courses which cover more advanced work in the field of computer science, programming, networking and information systems.

The lab is also used to teach students to use the Internet, including sending and receiving e-mail. The internet provides students the opportunity to communicate with each other, with their instructors, and with students and friends at other campuses in FSM or abroad. The internet also provides the potential for remote work, thus someone here could work for a company in the USA or Australia. In the Internet & Web-based Information Systems course, students learn to design webpages using up-to-date technology tools, including a state-of-the-art digital camera.

One of the major objectives of the Division of Business Administration is to recruit and attempt to retain highly competent and well-qualified faculty. To promote the ideal of self-reliance, preference for vacant teaching positions is often given to Micronesian applicants. Currently, there are three full-time Micronesian faculty in the Division, teaching both business and computer courses.

Don't forget to register for summer classes!