Esports and Gaming Administration degree
Esports and Gaming Administration
Down-throw, up-air, Up-B! Down-throw, Down-air, Up-air, Up-B! GG, buddy, GG.
If this sounds like your world, then majoring in Esports and Gaming Administration at Aquinas might just be the perfect combo for your success. While it may seem like it’s all “fun and games,” the Esports industry is booming, reaching millions of viewers and creating new jobs every day.
Whether your goal is to become a live event producer, business operations analyst, integrated marketing manager, or any other role behind the scenes, we’ll equip you with the skills you need to contribute meaningfully to the communities you already love.
What Classes Can I Take?
Games sit at the intersection of technology, art, and culture, so success within the games industry requires an understanding of all three. This course explores why we love games, the role they play in society, and the industry that produces them. You’ll also learn the basics of game development.
Esports is one of the fastest-growing industries, attracting 450 million viewers and generating more than $1 billion in revenue in 2020. This course introduces the history of competitive gaming and explores the esports ecosystem. You will learn how to navigate esports leagues, teams, players, publishers, tournament operators, media, and affiliate organizations.
Esports and gaming companies rely heavily on conventions for marketing. Shows like TGS, PAX, and E3 attract audiences from 60,000 to 300,000 and create tremendous opportunities for companies to generate excitement and drive sales. This course will teach you how to turn a gaming convention into a big win. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how to manage planning, marketing, and logistics for a corporate presence at a major convention.
The role of a publisher in the games industry is to ensure a game successfully reaches its audience. To do that, publishers must consider a variety of distribution strategies and channels. This course will teach you how publishers promote games and bring them to market.
Browse the catalog for Esports and Gaming Administration Courses
Why choose Aquinas for Esports and Gaming Administration?
You get the best of both worlds: a robust education in a highly sought-after field and a cozy campus right on the edge of opportunity-rich Grand Rapids.
Here are a few additional benefits to consider:
- Esports-Focused: This is one of the few programs in the country that prepares students for in-demand roles in esports.
- Real-World Experience: Students in this program will have opportunities to intern with game development studios and corporations in business roles and gain hands-on experience working with esports companies.
- Industry Growth: Esports and gaming are growing at a rapid pace, creating new career opportunities across event management, marketing, game development, and business strategy.
- Shape Gaming Culture: Graduates have the chance to influence the future of gaming, from developing esports business strategies to supporting inclusive and sustainable gaming communities.
- Versatile Skill Set: The program builds skills in esports management, marketing, data analytics, and leadership, preparing students for a wide range of roles in the gaming industry.
Be part of a team!
Aquinas has esports teams for Rocket League, Valorant, and Overwatch 2.
Plus, you get to learn in Grand Rapids!
College is more than a place to earn your degree. Here, you’ll find career opportunities, meaningful experiences, and a community that quickly feels like home.
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What will you learn in this Program?
At Aquinas College, our mission is to turn your love of gaming into a rewarding career—running competitions, organizing events, marketing for brands, and analyzing business results. Learn to harness your creativity, engage audiences, and shape the future of one of the world’s fastest-growing industries: esports and gaming.
What are the career outcomes for Esports and Gaming Administration Majors?
An Esports Broadcaster provides live play-by-play and color commentary for competitive gaming events, bringing energy and expert analysis to the audience. They serve as the voice of the action, helping viewers understand gameplay strategies and storylines while keeping the broadcast entertaining and engaging.
Average salary (Med Exp): $25,000 (Esportslane)
Develop and implement marketing strategies tailored to the esports audience, including digital campaigns, influencer partnerships, and brand activations.
Average Salary (No Exp): $69,000 (Glassdoor)
An Esports Analyst studies gameplay data, team strategies, and opponent tendencies to help competitive teams gain a performance edge. They break down matches through film review and statistical analysis, providing coaches and players with actionable insights to improve decision-making and in-game execution.
Average Salary (No Exp): $49,000 (Glassdoor)
An Esports Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a competitive gaming team or organization, handling logistics, scheduling, contracts, and player welfare. They serve as a bridge between players, coaches, and upper management, ensuring the team runs smoothly both on and off the virtual battlefield.
Average Salary (No Exp): $65,000 (Glassdoor)
To learn more about careers like this, make an appointment with the Advantage Center.
Certain courses within this program are offered online through a partnership with Rize Education. All courses are evaluated, approved, and assessed through Aquinas College’s standard governance processes and taught by participating faculty within a national consortium of accredited institutions. Students who successfully complete these courses earn Aquinas College credits that are applied toward their degree.
