David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Curriculum
This program is jointly housed in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Core coursework provides students with industry-specific competencies in event management and marketing, broadcasting and production, communications, content creation, entrepreneurship, strategic communications, and visual and media design.
- The Business of Esports
- Esports Event Management
- Topics in Communications for Esports
- Design and World Building for Esports
- Race, Gender, and Diversity in Sport Organizations
- Esports Event Production
Personalize your education to fit your career interest by choosing from three tracks of study:
- Esports Business and Management: Learn promotion, venue management, and finance for emerging enterprises related to esports and entertainment. You’ll learn about sponsorship contracts, business and analytics, and the financial and managerial aspects of working with players, organizations, teams, and companies. You’ll understand the resources required to produce and manage everything from events and products to a successful team.
- Esports Communications: Learn about public relations and social media tactics in the esports world. You’ll learn the complexities of content creation and strategy, and how to run and broadcast an esports event for the public. The program includes event production, directing, shoutcasting, and promotion.
- Esports Media and Design: Learn how to produce a game with enticing visuals and develop cosmetics, animations, and other attributes that impact the gameplay experience. You’ll have classes in 3D animation, game experience design, and virtual production, and you’ll learn how to create visually dynamic and creative games, influenced by psychology, statistics, broadcasting, and marketing.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Experience the Global Esports Industry
At Syracuse University, you’ll learn in state-of-the-art production and gaming facilities where the esports program will host events for the campus community and with other colleges and organizations. You’ll have the opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals; intern at prominent companies; and explore the esports industry around the world, including potential experiential learning trips to cities such as London, Seoul, and Amsterdam.
Work With Competitive Esports Teams
Syracuse University competitive esports teams compete at varsity, club, and recreational levels. These competitive esports teams give you a place to practice your craft and get involved with event production and management. Whether it’s shoutcasting and player interviews, or event advertising and social media promotion, you’ll learn all aspects of producing an esports broadcast and event. Syracuse's competitive esports teams have staff roles such as managers, statisticians, analysts, and casters, which are available to you as an esports student.
Promote Community Esports Engagement
As part of the student-run Esports Club, you can engage in professional development and community building. You and your fellow club members will organize your own events, engage with professionals in the industry, travel to work at professional esports events, and more. You'll host local community events on campus, especially working with the Smash Bros. community and help grow esports offerings across campus and the Syracuse community. Those offerings include new efforts in chess, iRacing, and other projects developed by you and the Esports Club.
Practice in Gaming Facilities on Campus
The esports program features growing spaces that foster virtual and in-person experiences for both seasoned competitors and first-time gamers:
- With 38 state-of-the-art PCs, the Barnes Center at the Arch offers gaming amenities available to all students.
- In Schine Student Center, the Gaming and Esports Center scheduled to open in spring 2025 will include 34 PCs, console and tabletop gaming, VR booths, sim-racing stations, and a full suite of broadcast and event production elements.
- The future academic and competitive home for esports is in the Marley Building. The finalized 20,000 square foot space will include a stage for esports competition and will be equipped with broadcast and production spaces, exclusive team rooms, classrooms, and viewing areas that can host up to 250 spectators.
Learn more about this program