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What Does a Career in E-Commerce Entail?
Electronic commerce is a product of the digital age, enabled by the Internet, a global network that connects distant parts of the commercial world. People worldwide increasingly buy and sell online. E-commerce covers various business channels, including business-to-business, business-to-consumer, consumer-to-consumer, and consumer-to-business. Globally, consumers use mobile devices to connect to the Internet and make purchases.
As the global trends continue, the demand grows for highly trained people to fill key roles in expanding E-commerce businesses. The job opportunities differ from the brick-and-mortar type of commerce. E-commerce needs web designers, digital communications specialists, and business strategists. The career possibilities expand as the electronic marketplace grows by significant numbers each year.
How to Earn a Degree in E-Commerce
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Students should first decide whether a career in electronic sales, marketing, customer relations, or business ownership are of greatest interest to them.
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If you plan to use education as a gateway to an E-commerce career, then you should estimate costs of education, time required, and whether it fits your goals.
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Select an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
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You can choose programs that offer classes on a college campus, courses online, or a combination of on-campus and online courses.
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The college or school should be accredited so your degree will have wide acceptance and a significant impact on your career.
What Can You Do with This Degree?
A degree in E-commerce, or business with a focus on technologies, can prepare graduates for roles as entrepreneurs in the electronic marketplace, web designers and developers, and more. Four important areas for jobs are web design and development, marketing, data analytics, and customer relations. A degree opens careers in a field of sales and marketing that has global scope and a history of dynamic growth.
Those in this field use advanced technology to support the transfers of goods, provision of services, and the movement of funds. Within a given organization, this requires people skilled and trained in management, marketing, design, development, leadership, and technology management skills.
Typical Degree Requirements
Associate degree programs in require a high school diploma or GED. This field is based on understanding sales, marketing, and the workings of the internet. Colleges and schools offer associate degree programs on campus, online, and a mix of on-campus and online coursework. Math and science are helpful backgrounds, and writing is a strong tool for learning and applying E-commerce business concepts.
Bachelor’s degree programs require a high school diploma or a GED. Applicants should demonstrate an acumen for writing, communications, and any technical field they wish to pursue such as information technology, computer management, and web design. Programs and schools may prefer candidates with strong backgrounds in science, math, computers, software applications, and the Internet. Students who wish to earn a master's or higher will need to at least have completed a bachelor's program.
Typical Certifications
Several professional organizations offer certifications in specific E-commerce categories, demonstrating a commitment to self-improvement and professional excellence. An undergraduate certificate in E-commerce management focuses on a series of courses that provide specialized knowledge and skills in the field. These programs allow non-IT managers, project team members, and other employees working on projects related to digital sales to enhance their skills, equipping them with the practical knowledge needed to organize and manage these initiatives within a company.
An E-commerce management certificate program equips managers with expertise and experience needed to develop strategies, focus on organizational structure, improve control systems, and develop customer service infrastructure.
Academic Standards
An associate degree in E-commerce is a two-year program requiring about 60 credit hours, split between general education and business coursework. General education covers subjects like science, math, and writing, while business-related studies include topics such as business fundamentals, management, web design, and data analytics. This degree provides excellent preparation for internships and practical learning experiences.
An online bachelor’s degree in E-commerce is a four-year program requiring about 120 semester hours, divided between general education, technology, and business courses. General education includes writing, math, science, and some computer-based courses. Business courses cover accounting, marketing, and finance, while technology subjects focus on web administration, web analytics, and mobile interaction.
An online master’s in this field is a one or two-year degree that requires a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field. The master’s level involves advanced studies in multimedia, marketing, finance, and business management. Master’s study prepares graduates for leadership roles and thought leadership in addition to organizational management.
Exam or Experience Needed
There is no specific exam for a career in E-commerce, but experience is a key element for entry and advancement. The essence of this field involves electronic marketing, and websites are a consistent and common factor in successful electronic sales and marketing. Employers value hands-on experience and a demonstrated level of capability to perform the required tasks, functions, and processes.
This field is relatively new, being a product of the Internet and information technology. As such, the models for success are also relatively new, such as AMAZON, a young company that has grown into a leading global E-commerce retailer.
Important Questions to Ask
How long does it take to earn a bachelor's degree?
An online BS degree is a four-year degree that students can pursue entirely or partially online. If attending on a full-time basis, students can complete the bachelor’s degree in four years, particularly if taking summer session courses. Online students can graduate on time and still have a focus or concentration in an E-commerce specialty.
How much does a bachelor’s cost?
Tuition expenses for an E-commerce bachelor’s degree will depend on the school. Each school sets tuition and fees for its students. Online students can save or avoid living expenses such as food, housing, and local travel, but they will pay tuition generally at the same rates as other students. Based on national averages, the below-listed items describe tuition costs.
- Public four-year school in-state average tuition cost is $9,970
- Public four-year school out of state tuition average cost is $25,620
- Private four-year school average tuition cost is $34,740
E-Commerce Bachelor's Degree Coursework
An E-commerce specialty is usually part of a business degree program. It combines economic principles with software and technology for use on the Internet and other electronic business systems. These degrees open a wide range of career possibilities. The opportunities include working with existing online businesses and entrepreneurship to develop a new venture.
The bachelor’s degree coursework is divided equally between general education and E-commerce related subjects. This side of the curriculum is a mix of business and technology subjects including web development, coding, digital content, and Internet operations. Some advanced concentrations include project management and Internet marketing in emerging media.
Many bachelor’s candidates benefit from applied education in real-world settings. Students gain an advantage for jobs and careers when schools offer internship opportunities and emphasize projects for individual students or student teams.
Does the school have the major(s) you’re considering?
It's important to align a student’s career goals with the choice of a school, college, or university. Each school shapes its major and minor courses and degree programs to the subjects and academic focuses they regard as important. Students should look beyond the labels to be sure that the program has elements needed for their career path. E-commerce is a specific application of business education. Career learning for this field is newer than traditional business studies.
In traditional business education, people have entered the fields of retail or marketing through work experience as well as formal education. In the field of E-commerce, students can use a two-year or four-year degree to enter the field, and a master’s degree to open up mid-level and leadership positions. When selecting a program, students can look for the major and for concentrations that will put them in the roles they prefer.
How many students graduate “on time,” in four years?
On-time graduation is an important statistic for students when selecting a program. The experiences of other students are not always a good predictor, but when looking at the entire student body, the graduation rate and on-time graduations stand out as vital considerations. The costs of a degree in E-commerce can increase by 25-33% for each additional year beyond the on-time graduation date.
The four-year graduation rate at public schools is 35%, and the four-year graduation rate at private schools is 53%. By contrast, the six-year rate is 58.8% for public schools and 65.6% for four-year private schools. The trends towards longer attendance are clear, and it has consequences for college costs and college debt. When selecting a program, students can use the Department of Education’s College Scoreboard to review graduation rates. They can also look at school publications of graduate and student satisfaction surveys.
What kind of accreditation does the program hold? How is it regarded in the field?
Accreditation has two major categories. There is regional accreditation, which measures a school or school program by the high standards of the leading schools in the region. And there is national accreditation, which uses a nationwide standard.
Employers and educational institutions widely accept regional accreditation; regional accreditation applies to entire schools and particular programs. The regional and specific program accreditation are important for business and E-commerce students.
Professional Business Organizations
EPA
E-Commerce Professionals Association
Link: https://ecommerceprofessionals.org/
The ePA is a community of professionals engaged in e-commerce or a related field or business line. Services provided to members include mentors, career development assistance, and a jobs board. The community promotes networking with regular conferences and special events that follow important industry and market trends and refresh members information.
The ePA promotes opportunities for students to learn and network with top online retailers and leaders in strategy, management, digital marketing, and web operations. They promote innovation and the creative use of technology. Students can use the ePA to get information on jobs, internships, and scholarships. As graduates, they can seek mentorship relationships that can accelerate the early career learning curve.
TEF
The E-commerce Foundation
Link: https://www.ecommercefoundation.org/
This organization has affiliates in the leading economies around the globe. The group promotes global digital trade. They seek to promote global digital commerce by working to remove barriers, increase cooperation, and promote consumer confidence. The organization has internships and can be a source of information and networking opportunities.
WP
WebProfessionals.org
Link: https://webprofessionals.org/
For more than 20 years, WebProfessional.Org has advocated for those working in the web development profession, including designers, marketers, and technical professionals. The organization provides certifications and promotes high levels of professionalism through standards for conduct. Because the Internet evolves, the web developer must also evolve and adapt to new technology, innovation, and other challenges. The organization helps teachers, students, and other new entrants to the field by aligning resources and promoting digital literacy at all levels of education. They provide career technical training and information technology websites, conferences, and awards.
ENL
E-Commerce Network on LinkedIn
The National Association of Black Accountants began in 1969. It has promoted the development of minority professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. This group has performed valuable advocacy, education, and networking for businessmen and women from minority groups