E-Commerce Foundations

Are you eager to step into the exciting world of online business and commerce? The E-Commerce Foundations Certificate is your gateway to understanding the core principles and practices of running a successful eCommerce venture. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an existing professional looking to expand your skillset, this comprehensive program will equip you with the knowledge and expertise needed to thrive in the digital marketplace.

The E-Commerce Foundations Certificate is a certification program designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts involved in running a successful online business.

Program Overview:

The E-Commerce Foundations Certificate is a carefully curated program designed to provide participants with a solid foundation in eCommerce fundamentals. Through a combination of engaging lectures, interactive workshops, and practical exercises, you will gain a deep understanding of the key components that drive online businesses to success. To earn the eCommerce Foundations Certificate, participants must complete all course requirements, assignments, and a final project that demonstrates practical application of the learned concepts.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the E-Commerce Foundations Certificate, learners will:

1.    Possess a comprehensive understanding of E-Commerce principles, terminologies and practices.

2.    Be equipped with the skills to set up and manage an online store effectively.

3.    Knowhow to drive traffic, engage customers, and increase sales through digital marketing.

4.    Understand the significance of data analytics in making informed business decisions.

5.    Develop a customer-centric mindset to foster brand loyalty and improve customer retention.

 

Student Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this program, students will:

1.    Discover the evolution of E-Commerce and its impact on modern business.

2.    Learn how to select the right eCommerce platform for your business.

3.    Understand the art of product sourcing and selection.

4.    Implement robust security measures to protect customer data and build trust.

5.    Develop a customer-centric approach to create an exceptional shopping experience.

6.    Utilize web analytics tools to track performance and identify areas for improvement.

7.    Understand of the key components that drive online businesses to success.

 

Benefits of the E-Commerce Foundations Certificate:

Completion of the E-Commerce Foundations Certificate will open up new opportunities for your career or business, including:

1.    Pursuing E-Commerce-related roles in marketing, sales, or management.

2.    Initiating your online business venture with confidence and expertise.

3.    Enhancing your existing eCommerce business by implementing industry best practices.

Based on the LMIreport provided by LARC, there appears to be a supply gap for the websitedevelopment occupation in the region. The report shows the five-yearoccupational demand projection to be 9307 jobs available annually in the regionof Los Angeles due to new job growth and replacements. Los Angeles SouthwestCollege Computer Science projects a minimum of 30 learners per semester willenroll in this pathway.

 

The following table illustrates enrollmentdata for all required existing courses for the last two years to validate theneed for this program in the college service area.  Include course department number, coursetitle, annual sections, and annual enrollment total:

 

	<Year 1>	<Year 2>
CB01: Course Department Number	CB02: Course Title	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Total	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Total
CIS 101	INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND THEIR USES	6	240	6	240
CIS 104	Microcomputer Application Software	1	40	1	40
CIS 124	Data Analytics (Advanced Excel and Access)	1	40
CIS 164	Security Awareness			1	40
CIS 171	Business Systems Design			1	40
CIS 190	E-Commerce Essentials			1	40

*Use as manyrows as required to provide requested data.

 

This certificate can be attained in one yearinstead two years by taking the first set of three courses in Spring term andthe second set of three courses in the Fall term. 

The E-Commerce Foundations Certificate of Achievement Goals and Objectives are consistent with the mission of the community colleges under Education Code section 66010.4which states “A primary mission of the California Community Colleges is to advance California’s economic growth and global competitiveness through education, training and services that contribute to the continuous work force improvement.”

The goal of this program is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the foundational principles and technologies that drive successful e-commerce ventures. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on exercises, the program aims to equip learners with the skills required to excel in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape. The focus will be on technology-driven solutions, which are crucial in building and maintaining competitive online businesses. Some of the program goals are:

1.   E-Commerce Fundamentals: Participants will grasp the core concepts and principles of E-Commerce, including the types of e-commerce models, market trends, consumer behavior, and the overall e-commerce ecosystem.

2.   Web Technologies: Learners will gain proficiency in essential web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, enabling them to create and customize e-commerce websites.

3.   E-commerce Platforms: Participants will explore popular e-commerce platforms and learn how to set up and manage online stores effectively. The program will cover platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or others depending on the latest industry trends.

4.   User Experience (UX) Design: Understanding the significance of user-centric design, participants will learn to create intuitive and engaging interfaces that enhance the customer shopping experience, ultimately leading to higher conversions and customer retention.

5.   Payment Gateway Integration: Participants will become familiar with various payment gateways, their functionalities, and the process of integrating secure payment options into e-commerce websites.

This certificate intent is to help filling the anticipated supply gap within the field. 

The following tableoutlines the sequence of course requirements of the E-Commerce FoundationsCertificate of Achievement:

 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
CIS 101	INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND THEIR USES	3	Y1, Spring
CIS 104	Microcomputer Application Software	3	Y1, Spring
CIS 124	Data Analytics (Advanced Excel and Access)	3	Y1, Spring
CIS 164	Security Awareness	3	Y1, Fall
CIS 171	Business Systems Design	3	Y1, Fall
CIS 190	E-Commerce Essentials	3	Y1, Fall

 

TOTALUNITS:                     18units

 

Proposed Sequence: 

Year 1, Spring = 9 units 

Year 1, Fall = 9 units

TOTAL UNITS: 18 units

CIS 101	INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND THEIR USES	3	Y1, Spring
CIS 104	Microcomputer Application Software	3	Y1, Spring
CIS 124	Data Analytics (Advanced Excel and Access)	3	Y1, Spring
CIS 164	Security Awareness	3	Y1, Fall
CIS 171	Business Systems Design	3	Y1, Fall
CIS 190	E-Commerce Essentials	3	Y1, Fall

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)

TOTALUNITS:                     18units

 

Proposed Sequence: 

Year 1, Spring = 9 units 

Year 1, Fall = 9 units

TOTAL UNITS: 18 units

 

 

1.CIS 101

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND THEIR USES                                    3 Units

This is a basic course in computer literacy concepts. It provides an overview of computer networking, hardware and software (including operating systems and file management). The student will assess the implications of computer technology on society.

 

2. CIS 104     
Microcomputer Application Software                                                3Units

This course covers applications and development software for microcomputers. Topics covered include basic operating systems, file management, wired and wireless networks, Network Applications Providers (NAP), Network Service Providers (NSP), and Internet Service Providers (ISP). The course also covers the relationship between HTML, XHTML, HTTP, URLs, browsers, and Web servers and application processing of digital video and 3-D animation. It provides an overview of enterprise-wide information systems, basic database concepts and object-oriented programming.

 

3. CIS 124     
Data Analytics (Advanced Excel and Access)                               3Units

Analytics and data-mining using Excel spreadsheets and Access databases.  The course includes: using databases, spreadsheets and other systems to gather information, research, analyze, and interpret complex data, loan amortization schedules, automatic update of spreadsheets with data downloaded from other sources, database management and reporting, and automating processes with VBA. Recommended for Business Majors.

 

 

4. CIS164     
Security Awareness                                                                                        3 Units

This course presents a basic introduction to practical computer security for all users, from students to home users to business professionals. Topics include Privacy and Property in Cyberspace, E-mail Vulnerabilities, Web-browsing Vulnerabilities and other cyber vulnerabilities and land mines. This course provides cyber advice to reduce the risk of internet attacks and clearly explains how to work defensively to safeguard a computer system, how to keep alert, how to prepare for attacks, and what to do when attacks occur.

 

 

5. CIS171     
Business Systems Design                                                                               3Units

This course is subtitled 'Systems Analysis, Design & Documentation.' It covers the five phases of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Specifically, it deals with the process of analyzing, designing, and implementing business information systems. Emphasis is placed on the role of the systems analyst. The student learns to apply the tools and techniques of the analyst to study, design, update, implement, document and transfer modern day information systems. The case study approach is used throughout the course.

 

 

6. CIS 190     
E-Commerce Essentials                                                                                  3Units

Students learn to develop a dynamic, interactive electronic commerce (E-Commerce) websites to conduct business over the Internet and World Wide Web using software such as PHP and MySQL. This course introduces electronic commerce including history, E-Commerce concepts and technology, development and integration of PHP and MySQL into an E-Commerce website, online catalog, shopping cart development, payment systems, website security, and Search Engine Optimization. This course also focuses on the development of dynamic, interactive website pages for all aspects of E-Commerce. 

This program does not replace any of the college’s existing programs. The creation of this program will address the need for entry level courses in website development pathways. a) No active inventory records need to be made inactive or changed with the approval of this program. b) This program does not replace an existing program in the college inventory. c) As an expansion of the programming courses being offered, this certificate of achievement is related to and shares courses with other certificates offered by Los Angeles Southwest College Computer Science.

According to the LMI prepared by LARC: • There are 24 community colleges in the greater LA/OC region that issue awards related to e-commerce, conferring an average of 382 awards annually between 2018 and 2021. • Between 2017 and 2020, there was an average of 676 awards conferred annually in related training programs by non-community college institutions throughout the greater LA/OC region. Exhibit 6: Regional community college awards (certificates and degrees), 2018-2021 shows Community Colleges offering similar degrees—refer to the table below that shows the annual and three-year average number of awards conferred by community colleges in the related TOP codes: E-Commerce (Business emphasis) (0509.70), Website Design and Development (0614.30); World Wide Web Administration (0709.00). The colleges with the most completions in the region are: Long Beach, Santiago Canyon, Santa Monica, and Mt. San Antonio. In the non-community college awards, between 2017-2020 University of La Verne awarded three degrees on yearly average. E-Commerce / Electronic Commerce (52.0208). Exhibit 6: Regional community college awards (certificates and degrees), 2018-2021 TOP Program College 2018-19 Awards 2019-20 Awards 2020-21 Awards 3-Year Average 0509.00 Marketing and Distribution Cerritos 25 18 14 19 Compton 1 - - 0 East LA 9 5 8 7 El Camino 14 6 9 10 Glendale 1 1 3 2 LA City 12 15 15 14 LA Pierce 4 8 8 7 LA Trade 3 3 7 4 LA Valley 28 19 24 24 Long Beach 6 5 15 9 Mt San Antonio 5 5 12 7 Pasadena 3 6 3 4 Rio Hondo 2 9 11 7 Santa Monica 20 28 54 34 West LA 1 1 1 1 LA Subtotal 134 129 184 149 Cypress 4 5 4 4 Fullerton 2 4 8 5 Golden West 2 6 4 4 Orange Coast 83 69 48 67 Saddleback 16 27 15 19 Santa Ana 3 - 2 2 Santiago Canyon 17 18 57 31 OC Subtotal 127 129 138 131 TOP Program College 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 3-Year Awards Awards Awards Average Supply Subtotal/Average 261 258 322 280 0509.70 E-Commerce (Business emphasis) Long Beach - 4 7 4 LA Subtotal - 4 7 4 Supply Subtotal/Average - 3 4 2 7 4 4 3 0614.30 Website Design and Development LA Pierce Mt San Antonio 9 7 6 7 Pasadena - 1 1 1 Santa Monica - 2 3 2 LA Subtotal 12 12 14 13 Coastline 1 1 1 1 Fullerton 3 - 1 1 Irvine 3 - 5 3 Orange Coast - 9 7 5 Saddleback 7 2 7 5 Santa Ana - 2 1 1 Santiago Canyon 24 3 6 11 OC Subtotal 38 17 28 28 Supply Subtotal/Average 50 6 29 7 42 10 40 8 0709.00 World Wide Web Administration Glendale LA Pierce 9 - 2 4 Long Beach 22 24 34 27 Santa Monica - - 16 5 West LA 13 9 6 9 LA Subtotal 50 40 68 53 Fullerton - - 1 0 Saddleback - 2 2 1 OC Subtotal - 2 3 2 Supply Subtotal/Average 50 1 42 1 71 1 54 1 0709.10 E-Commerce (Technology emphasis) East LA LA Subtotal 1 1 1 1 Saddleback 6 1 - 2 OC Subtotal 6 1 - 2 Supply Subtotal/Average 7 2 1 3 Supply Total/Average 368 335 443 382

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