video game controller

Esports Management Certificate Program

Thank you for your interest in this program from UCI Division of Continuing Education. UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education is excited to partner with our sister campus to expand our offerings to you. Students will enroll, register and pay all fees for this program through the UCI Division of Continuing Education. Upon completion of the program, UCI will provide a certificate of completion as well as an official course transcript.

Program at a Glance

  • 3-6 months
  • Online
  • $2,725

Overview

Turn a passion for gaming into a viable esports career. Learn from industry experts how to work and grow within an esports organization. As business opportunities flourish, the industry will create demand for professionals with the right mix of training, passion, and knowledge.

Explore the history of esports. Discuss global issues and current trends. Understand developers, athletes, fans, sponsors, and media. Examine relationships in esports communities and understand how their different roles affect each other. Apply effective communication strategies and presentation tactics to specific esports scenarios. Learn essential components in the building, managing, and closing of esports related events and projects. Discover organizational structure, brand building, and promotion and funding opportunities.

Who Should Enroll

Individuals aspiring to launch or already beginning their career in the business of esports. This program suits game developers, finance professionals, community managers, marketers, and project managers.

What You'll Learn

Our industry expert instructors will help you:

  • Speak knowledgeably about the history, community, and business of esports with future employers and other stakeholders in the industry.
  • Develop actionable suggestions to encourage growth or improvement in the esports industry.
  • Develop effective communications geared towards fans and decision makers within the esports industry.
  • Create social media content that entices esports fan interaction.
  • Apply project management skills and tools to initiate, plan, execute, and close an esports live event.

According to a market report by Newzoo, global esports revenues have reached $906 million in 2018, a year-on-year growth of +38%.

Earn a Certificate

Apply to become a candidate for the program: A Declaration of Candidacy is required to establish candidacy in this program. Complete the application and pay the application and candidacy fee of $125 (non-refundable). Learn more about the benefits of becoming a candidate. Candidacy is not required to enroll into individual course in a program.

A candidate in the program is awarded a certificate upon the successful completion of four (4) required courses totaling 12 units, each with a letter grade of “C” or better. All requirements must be completed within five (5) years after the student enrolls in their first course. To receive the Certified Digital Certificate after the completing all the program requirements, students must submit the Request for Certificate to initiate the certificate audit process. Students not pursuing the certificate are welcome to take as many individual courses as they wish.

  • Program cost: $2,725
  • A one-time, nonrefundable candidacy fee of $125 must be paid before completing this program for individuals who wish to be awarded a digital certificate.

Required Courses

Course Title Online Enroll Start Date
  • Overview of Esports
  • Go on a journey through the history of Esports and gain vantage points from developers, athletes, fans, sponsors and media. Examine relationships in the Esports communities and understand how their different roles affect each other. Explore Esports from behind the scenes and learn what it means to be involved in Esports. Learn the structures of what an Esports organizations might look like and build the groundwork for an understanding of the Esports industry.

    Esports is an emerging as a global industry; Overview of Esports will introduce learners to the roles and influences that game developers have in the industry. Learners get a glimpse into the structures of an organization and how it builds a brand. Learners will also be informed of the jobs available in Esports and where to get started in order to be involved. (3.00 units)
 check mark Notify Me
  • Effective Communication in Esports
  • Effective communication is essential in every industry. It is particularly important in esports because practitioners and decisions makers are often at different levels of knowledge and sophistication in this relatively new industry. According to our research, one of the most highly desired skillsets that esports industry leaders want from an esports professional is to have effective communication skills. In this class, you will learn how to present effectively to decision makers so that you can make the next big esports move for your organization or yourself. This is hands-on course practice and hone all major types of communications: emails, written proposals, and presentations. Learn how to apply effective communication strategies and presentation tactics to specific esports scenarios. (3.00 units)
 check mark Enroll Now
  • Esports Project Management: Live Events
  • Project management is a skill that carries across multiple industries. This course will teach you what it means to be a project manager in an emerging esports field. Learn essential components in the building, managing, and closing of esports related events and projects. Understand the techniques used to analyze and categorize different risks that comes with planning a project or event. Gain skills in managing different stakeholders and learn how to distinguish expectations in relations to scheduled tasks and budgets. Esports Project Management: Live Events is a great course to network with your peers and provides an opportunity to access a future career into the esports industry. (3.00 units)
 check mark Notify Me
  • Esports Operations
  • To work for an esports organization or more specifically a team, you’ve got to have a well-rounded view of organizational structure and common roles, how different departments work together to accomplish shared goals, an interest in developing and executing promotion and funding opportunities, and a finger on the pulse of global esports issues and trends. This course will prepare students to work and grow within an esports organization. (3.00 units)
 check mark Enroll Now

Also of Interest

Course Title Online Enroll Start Date
  • Esports Marketing
  • Do you hear the word “marketing” but aren’t sure what marketing really is or why esports needs it? This course covers the concepts and tools you need to navigate through this emerging media and digital culture through multiple scenarios. Through the development of a go-to market plan, we’ll explore the different components from the target audience to the different key stakeholders and potential partners in esports. We’ll also be hearing from industry experts in different key areas, sharing their personal experiences and perspectives on the current landscape. (3.00 units)
 check mark Notify Me

Course schedules are subject to change. Individual courses may be taken without enrolling in the full certificate.