Syracuse University is teaming up with Twitch to launch a new course focused on the rapidly evolving world of esports.
The class, called Esports & Media, will trace the historical roots of competitive video gaming to the current multibillion-dollar industry. Offered through the university’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse says it will be the first college course that explores the relationship between esports and mass communications.
“With the growing interest in and popularity of competitive gaming—not just in terms of participation, but also broadcasting and marketing—we made it a priority to offer our students a holistic look at esports and media,” said Olivia Stomski, director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center, in a statement.
The course was developed in close collaboration with Twitch, the Amazon-owned social streaming service that helped put esports on the map. Twitch is the leading social video service and community for gamers, with more than 15 million daily users. Its platform serves as a hub for both live and on-demand distribution for the gaming ecosystem. The company recently expanded into traditional sports as well.
Students will work with Twitch throughout the semester. They will examine the history, technologies and business models behind esports, along with the roles of teams, leagues and services such as Twitch, to get an understanding of how esports intersect with media and broadcast. They’ll also work directly esports organizations to produce written analyses, live broadcasts, and advertising plans. The course will have a dedicated Twitch channel that will host guest speakers.
Chris Hanson, a Syracuse assistant professor of English who has previously taught courses on gaming, says the course prepares students to enter the world of media and esports as the industry (and the number of careers associated with it) expands “at an astonishing rate.”
“By collaborating with Twitch, students in our course will have the opportunity to gain invaluable insights and cutting-edge experience from leaders in the field,” said Hanson.
Syracuse has been on the forefront of sports education. In 2016, the university launched the first undergraduate program in the country on sports analytics.
SportTechie Takeaway
With esports increasingly on the rise in mainstream culture, universities are working to develop both academic and extracurricular programs focused on competitive gaming. In the U.K. last year, the University of Leicester launched a college course in partnership with ESL UK, the local division of a global esports organization. The course focused on the business of esports and was offered to students working toward masters degrees in data analytics.
Other schools, such as Columbia College, are starting to incorporate esports into their athletic programs with scholarship opportunities. The Big 12 Conference discussed esports as part of a conference last month focused on the state of college athletics. Last November, Utah became the first Power Five school to create a varsity esports program.