Electronic-Commerce Education: Insights from Academicians and Practitioners

The e-commerce marketplace is creating tremendous career opportunities, and business schools and accounting programs nationwide are redesigning their curriculum to provide adequate e-commerce education for accounting/business students. This study gathers opinions of both academicians (accounting faculty) and practitioners (practicing CPAs) regarding the importance, relevance, and delivery of e-commerce education. Results reveal that (1) the demand for and interest in e-commerce education is expected to increase; (2) more universities are planning to provide e-commerce education; and (3) the majority of the 36 suggested e-commerce topics should be offered or required for accounting majors in one or a combination of ways: (1) required core curriculum, (2) optional specialized courses, and/or (3) e-commerce degree programs. Only minor differences of opinion were found regarding which of 36 e-commerce topics should be covered in e-commerce education.