Shenandoah University has positioned itself as one of the nation’s premiere leaders in esports academia with the creation of its new esports major, which will be rolled out in fall 2019.
Shenandoah will be one of the first universities in the country and the first in Virginia to offer an esports major.
The major not only provides a general esports education, but also uniquely offers not one, but three tracks that students can choose from:
Through the major, students can learn about esports consumerism, how to run an esports event, performance and physical training in esports, streaming esports, and coaching esports teams.
The esports industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the commercial entertainment industry and stands to become a billion-dollar industry by 2020. We are working to prepare students to enter this field as highly qualified individuals with a unique bachelor’s degree that will place them ahead of other people wishing to enter the field. Shenandoah has positioned itself at the forefront of the esports industry by offering students an environment to participate in and study esports in a number of different ways.”
Joey Gawrysiak, Ph.D. | Director Esports and Sport Management
In esports, competitors face off in video games, such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch and Madden NFL. Streaming services like Twitch—a live feed service where fans can watch from their home or at live events while their favorite gamers play video games—has five million active daily users. Popular gamers often have millions of fans and can make up to six figures playing the games they love.
The esports industry is growing and is projected to be valued at $1.4 billion by 2020. According to the World Economic Forum, the global audience for esports is expected to reach 380 million this year.
Shenandoah’s esports major will help prepare students and alumni to be an integral part of the action in a field that values quick and strategic thinking, mental agility, intellectual curiosity and creativity.
Students majoring in esports at Shenandoah will earn a Bachelor of Science. The major will roll out in fall 2019, but students can apply now and the university is currently accepting applications.
All esports majors will take 30 general education credits, as well as one slate of core courses:
- Introduction to Esports
- Contemporary Issues in Esports
- Esports Performance
- Esports Ergogenic Aids
- Esports Physical Training
- Injuries & Rehabilitation
- Esports Consumerism
- Esports Structure and Governance
- Esports Event Management
- Experiential Learning
Each track requires 120 credits.
Students may also choose to minor in the field of Esports:
Students may also earn a certificate in the field of Esports:
Esports is a rapidly growing industry that spans business, sport management, exercise science and media and communications. Shenandoah’s depth and breadth of expertise in each of these areas enable us to offer a strong, multidisciplinary approach to this emerging field.”
Adrienne Bloss, Ph.D. | Provost
Varsity Esports Team
Shenandoah currently has a varsity esports team, which started competition this year through the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), with 25 team members playing five esport games. So far, the team has played Penn State and Maryland in Rocket League, Clemson in Paladins and Arizona State in Overwatch.
The Shenandoah esports team also has plans to be the first NACE institution to have a varsity-level virtual reality (VR) esports team. This team will plan on competing in Echo Arena and Onward. With this addition, Shenandoah will compete in:
- Overwatch; League of Legends
- Smite
- Rocket League
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- Echo Arena (VR)
- Onward (VR)
The team’s on-campus home is in the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCIL) in the Health & Life Sciences Building, where university students produce 360-degree videos, along with augmented and virtual reality experiences to enhance learning.
The competitive team and students in the degree program will work hand-in-hand, allowing both groups to have the best esports experience possible, which will help them in both college and their post-graduate careers.
Shenandoah is currently discussing future partnerships with major companies.
For more information, contact Joey Gawrysiak, Ph.D., Director Esports and Sport Management, at jgawrysi@su.edu.
