General
Temple University Pioneer in Esports Education
Discover how Temple University in Philadelphia is spearheading the development of esports by offering a dedicated esports club, competitive teams, and a cutting-edge esports certificate program. This article explores the university’s commitment to esports education and its profound impact on students’ career prospects in this rapidly growing industry.
Temple’s Esports Evolution
Temple University, has had a special focus on developing esports in recent years. Temple has an esports club, a competitive gaming organization and a dozen teams that compete in different games. Esports teams at Temple University practice regularly, and there is a dedicated gaming room with equipment for their use. The club also hosts virtual and in-person gaming events for students, and they can purchase Temple-branded esports gear.
Esports Certificate Program
The university also now has a specialized certificate in esports, which seeks to equip students with the necessary tools to tackle the challenges of this growing industry. The students get the chance to learn from industry pros and professors as well as guest speakers who have experience in this field and share their knowledge about events, merchandise, sponsorship, endorsements, marketing, technology, human resources, social media, governance, legal issues, celebrity culture and athlete well-being. The program consists of four subjects: two mandatory and two electives.
The courses featured in this certificate program are:
Required Courses
- Esports Management and Industry Trends
- Esports: Legal and Ethical Challenges
Elective courses
- Special Topics in Sport and Recreation Management
- Esports Social Media Management and Fan Engagement
- Esports Revenue Production
Esports Law and Ethics
In courses such as the esports law and ethics class offered at Temple University, students are provided with a comprehensive education that delves into the intricacies of the esports industry. This specialized course equips students with essential knowledge and skills related to various aspects of the industry.
Students gain a profound understanding of the legal agreements and arrangements in the industry. This includes dissecting player contracts, team contracts, sponsorship agreements, and other legal documents crucial to the operation of esports organizations.
Students delve into the legal technicalities specific to the gaming industry. The course offers insights into the unique legal challenges that esports face, such as issues related to tournament structures, licensing, and intellectual property protection. Students gain insights into how intellectual property rights are created, registered, and enforced within the esports and gaming industries.
A significant emphasis is placed on understanding the intricacies of gaming competitions. Students learn how these competitions are structured, organized, and regulated from a legal and ethical perspective.
Students Impressions
Students have shown enthusiasm for this program, saying that this program helps with the professionalization of the industry as well as helping them land jobs in esports and gaming companies and showing them different ways to make a profit out of this industry.
Image by: Ryan S. Brandenberg
