Minor in Esports Industry Professions
Esports is more than fun and competitive: It’s a growing and thriving billion-dollar industry in need of professionals to manage and expand the business. Millions of people are watching, thanks to lucrative broadcast deals, and the world is noticing. NIU’s new minor in Esports Industry Professions, housed in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, will provide you with a distinctive preparation in the field — just a handful of U.S. colleges are doing this — and most are only offering certificates, not minors. The program is open to all majors, offers coursework choices from four NIU colleges and is sure to complement majors such as communication studies, computer science, psychology, physical education, sport management, kinesiology and those delivered by the College of Business.
A Solid and Unique Foundation
After you minor in Esports Industry Professions, make yourself even more marketable with an NIU master’s degree in Sport Management. Our faculty bring their real-world experience to the classroom and connect you to leading industry professionals here on campus and in their world-class facilities. You’ll also take valuable MBA-level courses through the College of Business in areas such as finance, marketing and operations management and information systems. You also might consider our minors in Sport Management or Sport Sales.
NIU Esports is home to Huskie gamers of all backgrounds, abilities and skill levels who play video games and have fun together. Any registered NIU student is welcome to join in the fun and competition in the Esports Arena in Altgeld Hall.
These venues and their equipment also provide an exciting setting for faculty, graduate students and undergraduates to teach about esports or conduct esports-related research in their fields of study.
NIU Esports hosts the Career Lecture Series, where professionals around the industry speak about their experiences and journey to finding a career.
Required Courses (6 credit hours)
- LESM 202 Introduction to the Esports Industry (3 credits)
- LESM 302 Strategies and Issues in the Esports Industry (3 credits)
Elective Courses (13-16 credit hours)
One of the following:
- KNPE 151 Esports: General Gaming (1 credit)
- KNPE 152 Esports: Real-time Strategy Gaming (1 credit)
- KNPE 153 Esports: Sports Gaming (1 credit)
- KNPE 154 Esports: Online Battle Gaming (1 credit)
Four of the following from at least two different departments:
- ARTD 273 Introduction to Time Arts I (3 credits)
- ARTD 303 Video Art (3 credits)
- ARTD 373 3-D Animation (3 credits)
- ARTD 466 Intermedia Arts (3 credits)
- COMD 330 Neuroscience of Communication and Associated Behaviors (3 credits)
- CSCI 240 Computer Programming in C++ (4 credits)
- CSCI 241 Intermediate Programming Credits (4 credits)
- CSCI 360 Computer Programming in Assembler Language (4 credits)
- ETT 211 Technology in a Diverse Society (3 credits)
- KNPE 310 Psychological Aspects of Sport and Exercise (3 credits)
- LESM 360 Sport Event and Facility Management (3 credits)
- LESM 365 Communication Strategies in Sport (3 credits)
- LESM 442 Promotion and Marketing of Sport Programs (3 credits)
- LESM 452 Advanced Experience in Sport Management (3 credits)
- LESM 453 Advanced Experience in Esports Industry (3 credits)
- LESM 492 Special Topics in Sport Management (3 credits)
- MGMT 217 Legal Environment of Business (3 credits)
- MGMT 333 Principles of Management (3 credits)
or - MGMT 335 Managing Individuals, Teams, and Organizations (3 credits)
- MKTG 295 Principles of Marketing (3 credits)
- PHIL 337 Business Ethics (3 credits)
Other minor-coordinator approved electives.
Contact Us
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
Anderson Hall 221
DeKalb, IL 60115
P: 815-753-1407
F: 815-753-1413
knpe@niu.edu
