Over the past year, there’s no denying that our lives have shifted primarily to online interaction. We’re going to school online, working online, shopping online—you name it and there’s most likely a virtual option. Something you may not have been as familiar with pre-pandemic is eSports. Right now, the eSports industry is booming! With most everything moving online over the past year, many people have realized the reality of where the future is headed—and eSports is a part of that future. If you’re interested in turning eSports into a career option, here’s a look at the place eSports is starting to have at colleges, majors you can consider, and scholarships to look into.
Finding the right college major
Any student who’s considered “undecided” has the flexibility to explore their options until they’re required to declare a major in college (usually the end of sophomore year). Oftentimes, students struggle with pursuing their passions despite having applied to and been accepted to a program. The ongoing dilemma for college students is to find a major they’re passionate about and interested in while still being confident that there will be demand for a job their major applies to postgrad. Upon graduation, it’s ideal to get involved in an industry that’s already large and/or swiftly growing. For students who love gaming, creating, and innovating, choosing a major that runs parallel to eSports is a great option.
Related: Top Questions About eSports and College, Answered
College majors related to eSports
Current and prospective college students who already loved video games and eSports prior to the pandemic may have already thought about majoring in something to do with computers or technology. However, now that eSports are becoming more and more popular since the pandemic, you may find yourself questioning how you can turn this hobby into a career. Some majors colleges and universities offer that pertain to eSports include but aren’t limited to:
- Computer Design
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
- eSports & Gaming (the most on the nose)
- eSports Management
- Information Technology (IT)
- Software Engineering
- Sports Management (with a focus on eSports if offered*)
* Be sure to look into what your college (or colleges of interest) has to offer in the computer field, because they don’t all have the same programs.
According to CBS News, “the University of Staffordshire has launched its bachelor’s and master's eSport programs, in which students mainly learn marketing and management skills tailored towards the industry.” Currently, many colleges and universities don’t offer eSports majors, but some of them do, and others are sure to follow in the University of Staffordshire’s footsteps in the near future with this growing industry.
eSports scholarship opportunities
Obviously, eSports aren’t as popular as traditional NCAA sports…for now. However, there are some colleges and universities that offer scholarships to play eSports for their school! This list of the 175 colleges and universities that have varsity eSports can help you narrow down which schools have teams for particular video games and what scholarship opportunities you can look into were you to attend one of those schools.
Related: How to Find Scholarships in Hidden Places
First and foremost, college students should always major in something they enjoy. Everybody has heard the saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Well, the first step to loving what you do is studying something you love. If what you love is something specific like eSports, then consider a broad major that incorporates what you love and gives you a variety of skills for life.
Search for colleges with Computer Science and eSports majors using our College Search tool!
