Course Outline: This independent study will provide students with an overall understanding of the effect of search engines on the success or failure of e*commerce sites. The course content explores the complex relationship existing among Web search engines, on-line marketing organizations, Web site optimization companies, and the e*commerce companies that provide information, content, and service. Emphasis will be placed on the knowledge and skills required for designing and implementing e*commerce Web sites that leverage the informational technology of search engines and the Internet. The prerequisite for this course is IST 331 and junior status of IST.

The course will cover the following topics:

• Information searching and retrieval
• Basics of search engine technologies.
• The effect of search engines on Web commerce
• The effect of the Web on information seeking
• Web marketing strategies
• Web business models

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to do:

• Communicate an understanding the basics of Web commerce via written reports and verbal presentations.
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the e*commerce business model that incorporates service providers, search engines, SEO, and "pay-per-click" companies by analysis of particular Web business.
• Analyze a Web commerce site and make appropriate recommendations for improvement.
• Present an understanding of privacy and security issues inherent in managing an e*commerce Web.