Graduation in gaming: The first 10 students majoring in esports at the University of New Haven are just months away from earning their degrees. The university's academic esports program aims to prepare students for real-world gaming and jobs in emerging markets.
“Growing up, I wasn't much of a sports person. So I was always playing games,” said Connor Linkavix, an esports management major and captain of the Halo team.
“My parents always told me, 'Do this for fun,' but when it comes time for college, look at other things,” Linkavix said.
The University of New Haven then reached out to Linkavix and recruited him for their esports varsity Halo team and academic esports management program. He joined the company in 2020.
“It’s crazy because I always thought gaming was a hobby, but now I’m not only playing it competitively in college, but also for my major,” Linkavix said.
His arena is a stable.
“We are Charger Horses, so this is our home stable and this is where we compete,” said UNH Esports Director Rob Holub.
The esports gaming and tournament venue features 26 PCs along with a console area where 75 members of the esports program will practice and compete.
Holub said the program is a spinoff of UNH's long-standing sports management program.
“As the industry started changing, we pivoted to adding bachelor's and master's degrees in esports,” he said.
Holub said all instruction is industry-based and prepares students for a variety of jobs they may find in the future, from content creation to competition and commentary to event and talent management.
“If you look at the NFL, you might say, 'Well, the only job you can get is head coach or general manager,'” Holub said. “Then we realized there were thousands of people dealing with everything the Super Bowl went through.”
The Business Research Company's new Esports Global Market Report predicts the industry will grow more than 16% from $1.6 billion in 2023 to $2.8 billion by 2027. According to the report, this is due to increased demand for video games and increased awareness of esports and live streaming.
“This is a really impactful industry,” Holub said. “What we're looking at is essentially entertainment and all the elements that go into it.”
When it comes to the first group to graduate from the gaming industry this spring, including Linkavix, the idea of a career in esports is quickly moving from virtual to real.
“I feel like there are more careers in esports,” Romsevaks said. “I just want to talk to people, whether it's about running a program or partnering with an organization. I just want to talk to people, whatever is needed, people promoting their products. I want to stand in front of you.”
