Esports.edu: An Inventory and Analysis of Global Higher Education Esports Academic Programming and Curricula

The aim of this study was to discuss the purpose of a higher education esports academic program, offer the first known comprehensive worldwide inventory and overview of these programs, and conduct an analysis of these programs’ focus areas and curriculum. Data was collected through structured internet searches, global esports academic research networks, and personal correspondence. Underpinned by Diffusion of Innovations Theory’s construct of innovation adoption, data was analyzed through a systematic iterative comparative content analysis. Findings revealed 80 esports bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, technical degree (i.e., diploma), certificate, or undergraduate minor programs delivered by 62 different higher education institutions globally, primarily located in North America and Europe. The vast majority of these programs (77.5%) focused on esports business (e.g., management, marketing) and, on average, these programs required 6.1 (SD = 3.5; range 1-15) esports-specific courses (i.e., modules). Moreover, findings also revealed that there are numerous higher education institutions that provide stand-alone esports courses that do not also offer esports academic programs were also revealed. Current trends and ideas regarding future directions of esports academic curriculum are presented. Implications discussed are important for esports industry job hiring decision-makers, prospective esports students, esports faculty members, esports researchers, and higher education administrators.