Universities in the UK and the United States now have degrees aimed at those who want to excel in esports.
Schools Offering Esports Programs
At the University of Staffordshire, students play first-person shooter video games as part of the introduction to a degree in esports. The university, one of the schools that offer these programs, launched its bachelor and master's esports programs last year. Students enrolled in these courses primarily learn marketing and management skills tailored to the industry.
Other schools that debuted esports degree courses include Chichester University in Britain, Shenandoah University in Virginia, Becker College in Massachusetts, and The Ohio State University. Schools in Singapore and China also offer similar courses that aim to capitalize on the booming industry.
Booming Industry
According to research firm Newzoo, the global esports market could surge to $1.1 billion in 2019, a $230 million increase from last year's ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorship.
It also predicted that global esports audience will increase to about 454 million amid increasing popularity of livestreaming platforms such as Twitch and Microsoft's Mixer.
Esports tournament have also become a cultural phenomenon in recent years and now rival traditional sports events. Professional gamers' competitions are now held in arenas attended by thousands of fans with lucrative prizes at stake.
Not Just About Playing Video Games
Schools say that the programs are not just about playing video games. They also aim to address increasing demand for industry professionals who know how to organize esports tournaments.
"People are unaware of the industry that goes behind esports," said Staffordshire University's Digital Institute London lecturer Matt Huxley, who teaches about organizing tournaments. He said that learning about esports is similar to studying sports management.
"If you were to go and study to be a director of football you're not playing football, you're learning the business behind how (player) transfers work, how you run a stadium and all those kind of operational things."
So, how much does it cost to pursue these degrees? Standard tuition fees in Britain are 9,250 pounds ($11,430) a year. These programs cost as much as $36,000 a year in the United States.
