Online Degrees in E-Commerce

Dedicated e-commerce degrees are available at all educational levels:

1. Certificates and diplomas: Offering a targeted, basic education, e-commerce coursework can take about one year to complete. An e-commerce certificate can be used to complement a degree in a related field such as business, sales or IT.
2. Associate degrees: Another common e-commerce degree option, the two-year program offers a focused education that can lead to more training.
3. Bachelor's degrees: Although they are less common than associate degrees in e-commerce, bachelor's degrees are available in e-commerce and related disciplines and are designed to take a more intensive look at the field.
4. Master's degrees: Most master's degrees in e-commerce come in the form of an MBA with a concentration in e-commerce. A master's degree allows professionals to focus on management or research.

In addition to dedicated e-commerce degrees, related degree programs such as management information systems (MIS), business administration and information science degree programs often blend e-commerce education in with other instruction.

E-commerce training offers a mix of business and technical training. Take a look at the coursework students find in typical traditional and online e-commerce degree programs:

• E-commerce and technology
• Basic tools for Web programming
• Crafting the e-business model
• Advanced strategies for commercial websites
• Financial planning and budgeting

The courses above are just a sampling of what students are likely to find in an e-commerce degree program. Thanks to the broad scope of e-commerce training, students graduate with the ability to lead a team through the specialized process of selling a product or service online.

Graduates can use their skills to secure different positions in the e-commerce world, ranging from programming-intensive IT jobs to business-focused management positions. Recent job listings from GSI Commerce, Inc., a prominent e-commerce company, include jobs for account managers, computer engineers, business analysts, database programmers, marketing developers, financial analysts, Web developers and marketing managers.

One benefit of studying e-commerce online is that students have a chance to experience the Web medium they'll eventually work within. This unique mix of hands-on training and online accessibility can benefit students in their job search, as potential employers look for facility with online technology.

Online e-commerce degrees are structured much the same as their campus-based counterparts, with students completing individual assignments and working together to discuss concepts and complete projects. Faculty may be available by phone, email or Web chat to help students navigate coursework and gain a fuller sense of new opportunities within the expanding e-business model.

• Common career paths: database administration, computer systems design, sales, marketing, systems analyst
• Salary range: $75,500 - $122,720
• Alternative degree options: computer science, information science, management information systems (MIS), business administration
• Recommended education: bachelor's or master's degree
• Personality profile: high-tech, sales oriented, customer savvy

(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008-2010)