Herkimer College Announces New Esports Management Degree

The State University of New York school's new program will help students enter the professional gaming scene with skills like event management, public relations, broadcasting, and marketing.

Published on March 24, 2023

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Published on March 24, 2023

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The associate degree will either help students continue at a four-year institution or enter the workforce.
In 2020, Herkimer began its esports athletic program, which competes in the NJCAAE, the largest two-year college esports governing body.
Herkimer is also planning on constructing an esports arena on campus.

Esports continues to expand its reach in academia at Herkimer College in New York, where students will soon be able to earn an esports management degree.

Herkimer, part of the State University of New York system, announced last month an associate of applied science in esports management program, starting in fall 2023.

Students in the two-year program can gain skills to help them pursue employment in event management, broadcasting, facilities, game-day management and operations, public relations, marketing, and sales.

"What is unique about our program is that it not only prepares students in esports management, event planning, and sports governance, but it provides learners with a critical business foundation, providing for unlimited opportunities," Steven Boucher, a Herkimer business professor, said in the announcement.

In 2020, the college began the Generals esports athletic program, which competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE). The NCAA doesn't govern esports, so the NJCAAE has taken the mantle as the largest governing body for two-year college esports.

Herkimer's esports team has won a "Call of Duty Gunfight" championship and ranked high in other games.

The college hopes to complete the initial phase of a campus esports arena by fall 2023.

"I look forward to working with our students not only as their coach but also as their teacher in the classroom," Joshua Lanza, esports coach for Herkimer College, said in the announcement. "By including Esports Management as a recognized major, we are showing the community that there is so much more to esports than just playing video games. It is amazing to see my alma mater get on the cutting edge of such a burgeoning field."