Gamechangers: Esports Degree Program Enjoys Successful Launch
The University’s esports degree program employs a holistic, experiential learning-based approach that will prepare students for career success in various industries, leveraging the largest collection of faculty and staff members of any esports program on a college campus.
Beginning in the fall, Syracuse University鈥檚聽聽will welcome admitted students to campus for classes.
This past academic year served as 鈥淵ear Zero鈥 for the esports degree program, which employs a holistic, experiential learning-based approach that will prepare students for career success in various industries, leveraging the largest collection of faculty and staff members of any esports program on a college campus.
It鈥檚 an all-encompassing venture, including both the academic degree program and the competitive teams that vie for national championships in their respective games.
Academically, students who embark on this first-of-its-kind esports communications and management program, offered jointly by the聽聽and the聽, will pursue one of three tracks:
- esports business and management, covering such topics as sport promotion, sport venue management and finance for emerging enterprises;
- esports communications, including coursework in virtual reality storytelling, esports and advertising, public relations principles and sports in the metaverse; or
- esports media and design, focused on 3D animation, game experience design and virtual production.
Competitively, Syracuse University fielded its first varsity esports squad in January, with the Orange winning a national championship in the Counter-Strike game and experiencing plenty of success across other varsity and club sports teams.
Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of the esports degree program, was聽hired last August聽to bring his visionary research and skills to campus, helping Syracuse capitalize on the tremendous popularity of esports while continuing to offer students innovative career options in emerging fields.
鈥淪tudents will get a world-class education from esports-specific faculty that are at the top of their field in researching and teaching esports, with industry connections that will help you find an experience, a capstone, an internship and a job. That鈥檚 part of your educational journey,鈥 says Gawrysiak, who developed one of the first esports degrees in the country at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. He notes that the best-in-class esports facilities currently underway on campus will create standout opportunities for students to engage with esports and gaming.
On this 鈥溾機use Conversation,鈥 Gawrysiak discusses the evolution of the esports program on campus, the progress made in its first year, the expanded opportunities available to students and what鈥檚 planned for the future.
