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Esports Management Minor

Level up your future with Manchester Universityโ€™s esports management minor. Gain hands-on experience in event planning, marketing, and team operations while exploring the booming world of competitive gaming. With expert faculty, real esports competitions, and access to scholarships, this program prepares you for careers across the global esports industry.

Esports four male students gaming

Build a Career in the Growing Field of Esports Management

Manchester Universityโ€™s Esports management minor prepares students to succeed in one of the worldโ€™s fastest-growing industries. With coursework focused on marketing, event coordination, team management, and digital media, this program provides the practical skills and business knowledge needed to thrive in esports. Whether youโ€™re interested in coaching, event planning, operations, or sponsorship management, youโ€™ll gain real-world insights from faculty experts and industry professionals. Pair this minor with majors like business management, digital media, or sport management to open diverse career paths in competitive gaming and beyond.

Moreover, Manchester boasts a successful Esports team, competing in National Association of Collegiate Esports and winning the Great Lakes Esports Conference championship for four consecutive seasons. While not mandatory for the esports minor, this team presents added opportunities to pursue your passion for esports. We also offer scholarships of up to $3,000 per year to team members.

Program Information:

Minor

  • 18 Credit Hours

Location

  • North Manchester
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I plan on teaching English abroad. Video games are everywhere; and for me specifically, it’s just another way I can go into these different cultures but have that one thing that connects me to them.

Adrian Allen, Educational Studies Major

Why Choose MU for Esports Management?

Esports female student gaming

What You Can Do with Your Esports Management Minor

Event manager

Plan and manage esports tournaments, livestreams, and fan experiences.

Marketing Manager

Create promotional strategies for esports teams, products, and events.

Esports coach

Design and lead training programs that enhance player performance.

Operations manager

Oversee daily logistics of esports teams or gaming facilities.

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Average Starting Salary for Esports Management Degree Holders

Esports offers strong earning potential across a variety of roles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals in advertising, promotions, and marketing management can earn a median annual salary of up to $138,730, with a projected job growth rate of 6 percent over the next decade. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, job function, and location, but the outlook for esports management careers remains promising in todayโ€™s fast-growing industry.

Esports five male students talking

How the Esports Management Program Supports Your Growth

Explore Courses for the Esports Minor

Our esports minor curriculum provides a comprehensive, hands-on understanding of the esports industry. Youโ€™ll go beyond basic business principles to explore topics like marketing, sponsorships, event and facility management, and the latest issues in esports. In the Esports Performance Management course, students dive into team leadership, coaching strategies, communication, player well-being, talent development, and budgeting across youth, collegiate, and pro levels.

Capitalize on a Booming Industry

The esports industry is projected to grow by 21.9% over the next eight years, reaching $12 billion in annual revenue. Manchesterโ€™s esports management minor prepares students to navigate this fast-paced world with confidence. Through targeted coursework and hands-on learning, students build the skills to pursue careers across the esports ecosystem, from game marketing to operations and talent management.

Student Groups and Competitive Team Involvement

Manchester Universityโ€™s championship-winning Esports Team offers students additional opportunities for engagement beyond the classroom. The team competes in six major titles, including Super Smash Bros., Fortnite, and Overwatch. Students can receive up to $3,000 annually in scholarships while developing their skills in a professional esports arena equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Pathway to Graduate Study with the 3+1 MBA Option

Students in the esports minor can pursue Manchesterโ€™s 3+1 MBA Management Trackโ€”earning both bachelorโ€™s and masterโ€™s degrees in just four years. This streamlined pathway is open to students of any major and equips them with advanced business knowledge to lead in esports organizations, marketing firms, or entrepreneurial ventures.

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FAQs About Manchester Universityโ€™s About the Esports Management Minor

What is the Esports Management minor at Manchester University?

The Esports Management minor at Manchester University is a dynamic degree program that prepares students to thrive in the fast-paced world of competitive gaming. As the esports industry continues to growโ€”projected to reach $12 billion globallyโ€”Manchesterโ€™s program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the esports ecosystem, from business operations and event coordination to marketing and team leadership.

Students take core courses in areas such as esports event management, digital branding, and sponsorship strategy, while also learning project management skills critical to coordinating large-scale esports events. The minor also integrates team management theory and practice, allowing students to develop leadership and decision making skills applicable across industries.

Participation in Manchesterโ€™s championship-winning Esports Team is optional but encouraged. Students gain hands-on experience managing teams, assisting with live events, or contributing to streaming content. With access to the universityโ€™s state-of-the-art esports arena, students can apply their academic training in real time.

Ideal for business, sport management, digital media, and computer science majors, this degree program offers actionable suggestions for future employers seeking talent in gaming companies, marketing firms, and esports organizations. Itโ€™s a full program that builds resume-ready skills in a rapidly evolving market.

Who should consider an Esports Management minor?

Esports management students are often driven by a passion for gaming, digital media, and strategic business thinking. This minor in esports is an excellent choice for students across many disciplinesโ€”especially those majoring in business administration, marketing, sport management, communication studies, or computer science.

If youโ€™re looking to enter the gaming industry or want to work with esports organizations, this program provides an ideal foundation. Students interested in human resource management, business operations, project coordination, or team leadership can benefit greatly from the targeted coursework and real-world applications.

The minor is also ideal for those who want to manage esports events, develop digital fan engagement campaigns, or run facilities like esports arenas. Itโ€™s designed to encourage growth in both creative and strategic thinking while giving students the skills needed to excel in roles that require problem-solving, collaboration, and effective communication.

Whether you aspire to work for gaming companies, or marketing firms, or start your own esports programs, this minor supports your ambition with the practical knowledge and professional connections needed to stand out. Itโ€™s also a great step toward graduate study in business or media-related fields.

What kinds of careers can I pursue with an Esports Management minor?

The career opportunities in esports are both vast and varied, with new roles emerging as the esports industry matures. Students who study esports management at Manchester graduate with the management skills and business insight needed to thrive in this dynamic world.
Career paths include:

  • Esports Coach โ€“ Lead competitive teams through structured training and performance development.
  • Marketing Manager โ€“ Promote esports events, teams, or gaming products to global audiences.
  • Team Manager โ€“ Oversee scheduling, budgeting, and logistics for professional or collegiate esports teams.
  • Event Coordinator โ€“ Manage esports events, from streaming setups to tournament infrastructure.
  • Facility Manager โ€“ Operate and optimize esports arenas for player and spectator engagement.
  • Project Manager โ€“ Handle production timelines and stakeholder communication in game development or league administration.

The minor enhances career preparation in areas like business administration, sports marketing, content production, and digital entrepreneurship. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, related fields such as marketing and promotions management offer a median salary of $138,730, underscoring the financial upside of these careers.

Whether your focus is strategy, operations, or audience development, this minor provides the organizational structure and applied experience needed to succeed.

What kind of hands-on experience will I get in this program?

The Esports Management minor offers immersive, hands-on learning that allows students to develop skills in real-world scenarios. Unlike traditional programs that rely solely on classroom instruction, Manchesterโ€™s esports curriculum emphasizes experiential learning through its competitive team, events, and dedicated esports arena.

Students can plan and manage esports events, lead tournament operations, and gain exposure to project management skills by working with esports organizations and faculty advisors. Courses like Esports Performance Management train students in coaching strategies, player wellness, communication, and leadershipโ€”essential components for managing teams and events effectively.

Optional involvement in Manchesterโ€™s Esports Team allows students to take on strategic roles like content production, analytics, and social media coordinationโ€”bridging the gap between gameplay and business strategy. This real-time experience builds resume-ready skills that future employers value in the gaming industry and beyond.

Guest lectures and industry workshops from nationwide experts further expand learning, connecting students with decision-makers in professional esports. Whether managing teams, coordinating logistics, or designing marketing campaigns, the hands-on focus prepares you for both entrepreneurial ventures and roles in large gaming companies.

How does the Esports Management minor support graduate study or advanced business careers?

Manchesterโ€™s esports program provides students with a robust business background, making it an ideal launchpad for graduate education or leadership roles in esports and beyond. The curriculum supports the universityโ€™s 3+1 business administration program, allowing you to earn both a bachelorโ€™s and masterโ€™s degree in just four years.

This path is perfect for students interested in business operations, marketing management, or organizational leadership within gaming companies or sports organizations. Coursework emphasizes strategic planning, team management, event logistics, and digital brandingโ€”skills that align closely with the expectations of employers in business administration and project management roles.

Students develop strong decision-making skills, analytical thinking, and effective communications through team projects, presentations, and research assignments. These transferable skills are valuable in graduate programs focusing on marketing, sports administration, or even data analytics.

Whether you’re launching an esports startup or entering a corporate management pipeline, Manchesterโ€™s program gives you both the technical foundation and leadership insight to compete. As the esports industry continues to professionalize, a degree that combines gaming knowledge with business acumen gives you a unique edge.

How does the esports management minor complement a business administration program?

Manchester Universityโ€™s esports management minor is a smart, career-aligned option for students enrolled in a business administration program who want to specialize in one of todayโ€™s most rapidly growing industries. By combining core courses in business with targeted esports programs, students gain a unique edge in fields like business operations, project coordination, marketing, and team leadership.

This full program is designed to integrate smoothly with majors like business, marketing, sport management, and digital media. Students take classes that mirror many business school essentialsโ€”like strategy, finance, branding, and operationsโ€”but within the unique context of the esports industry. Topics such as team management, esports arena logistics, and digital sponsorships allow students to see how traditional business models are adapted for competitive gaming.

The minor also reinforces critical business outcomes such as decision-making, leadership, and communication, making it ideal for students pursuing roles that bridge gaming companies and corporate environments. Whether you plan to work in esports marketing or general business administration, this program equips you with resume-ready skills that translate across industries.
Students looking to study esports management as part of a well-rounded business education will find this minor highly relevant, flexible, and aligned with real-world employer expectations.

Esports Management Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate that they possess the core business knowledge generally expected of all business students and the depth of knowledge generally expected of students in their particular major or minor areas of study.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of fundamental business principles, including accounting, finance, marketing, and management.
  • Students will apply specialized knowledge in their major or minor areas of study to practical and real-world scenarios.

2. Students will demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will gain hands-on experience, allowing them to apply their academic knowledge in professional settings and develop practical skills that are essential for their career.
  • Students will demonstrate their ability to apply business concepts to real-world situations, thereby bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

3. Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically and to communicate effectively.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically by identifying, analyzing, and resolving unstructured business problems, and by making evidence-based decisions.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

    Non-Discrimination in the Admission Process

    Manchester University is committed to non-discrimination in campus life. The University does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, ancestry, race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, religion, disability or veteran status in admissions or any area of campus life, including its educational programs, scholarships and loan awards, residence life programs, athletic programs, extracurricular programs, promotion and tenure policies and practice, and alumni affairs.

    Manchester University is committed to carry out the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act, which provide for accessibility of University programs to the physically disabled.