Esports and Business Management, B.S.

Career Outlook

The explosive growth of esports and the games industry has created a demand for business professionals with a solid understanding of the nuances of the industry. Professionals skilled in marketing, distribution, research and sales are needed to support this emerging field in versatile jobs, from esports teams to technology corporations.

Possible careers in esports and business management include:

• Player manager
• Content producer
• Brand/product manager
• Market research analyst
• Marketing manager
• Event/convention planner

The average salary for an esports manager is $97,500; market researchers earn over $63,000; and marketing managers average $130,000 a year.

The program is also excellent preparation for Immaculata’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science in Strategic Leadership.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the business degree program, students will:

• Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and capabilities essential to business management
• Critically analyze and evaluate games as well as their themes, mechanics and other components
• Apply principles of marketing, sales and distribution to the specific conditions of the games industry
• Understand the history and cultural significance of games and esports
• Understand the balance between theory and practice as it applies to the various sectors of the world of business, accounting, finance, marketing and economics
• Exercise effective interpersonal, communication and analytical skills
• Use technology strategically to enhance their productivity and effectiveness on both individual and organizational levels
• Evidence professionalism, integrity and ethics

• Gain specialized industry knowledge through this program, created in collaboration with Unity Technologies, a leading platform for video game content.  
• Complete a required three-credit internship and acquire work experience in business, esports management and/or gaming administration.
• Build your portfolio as part of your coursework.

Curriculum

Major Courses

ESPT 201: Introduction to Games
Games sit at the intersection of technology, art, and culture, so success within the games industry requires you to understand all three. This course explores why we love games, what role they play in society and the industry that produces them. You’ll also learn the basics of game development. This course was developed in partnership with Unity and the IGDA to help everyone interested in the games industry start on the right foot.

ESPT 301: Introduction to Esports Management
Esports is one of the fastest growing industries, attracting 450 million viewers and generating over $1bn in revenue in 2020. This course will introduce you to the history of competitive gaming and will explore its ecosystem. You will learn to navigate esports leagues, teams, players, publishers, tournament operators, media and affiliate organizations. Furthermore, you’ll get firsthand experience in analyzing the space.

ESPT 303: Distribution of Games
The role of a publisher in the games industry is to ensure that a game can get in front of its audience successfully. To do that, a publisher must consider a variety of distribution strategies and channels. This course will teach you how publishers promote games and bring them to market. By the end of this class you will be able to plan a game’s launch and promotion.

ESPT 310: Convention, Event and Trade Show Planning
Esports and gaming companies rely heavily on conventions for marketing. Shows like TGS, PAX and E3 attract audiences from 60,000-300,000 and are 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 this course, you’ll understand how to handle planning, marketing and logistics for a corporate presence at a major convention.

Business Courses

• Business Computer Applications 3 credits
• Accounting Principles I and II 6 credits
• Business Law 3 credits
• Managing Business Information 3 credits
• Business Ethics 3 credits
• Global Business 3 credits
• Business Management 3 credits
• Strategic Planning 3 credits
• Business & Technical Writing OR Business & Professional Speaking 3 credits
• Principles of Macroeconomics 3 credits
• Principles of Microeconomics 3 credits
• Statistics 3 credits
• Introduction to Finance 3 credits
• Human Resource Management 3 credits
• Pre-calculus I and II OR Applied Calculus I and II OR Math Concepts for Managers I and II 6 credits
• Marketing Principles and Practices 3 credits
• Self-Awareness Through Groups OR Organizational Behavior 3 credits
• Sports Analytics 3 credits
• Sports Psychology
• Sports Administration
• Leadership Dynamics 3 credits
• Business Management Practicum 3 credits
• Fundamentals of Financial Planning 3 credits

Liberal Arts Core

• Composition (Writing) 6 credits
• Natural & Physical World (Lab Science) 3 credits
• Human Creativity (Art, Literature, Music) 3 credits
• Historical Consciousness (History) 3 credits
• Pursuit of Faith (Religion, Theology) 6 credits
• Pursuit of Wisdom (Philosophy) 6 credits