Rowan & WVU get new majors and FIU & St. Clair partner with Alienware

Colleges and universities around the country have embraced esports as administrators have sought to capitalize on the popularity of gaming. Hundreds of schools across the country have esports programs and teams, and the number of schools joining their ranks continues to grow.

From building a Localhost gaming and esports venue at Rowan University to hosting collegiate tournaments at our Localhost Philly and Denver locations, here at Nerd Street, we’re big supporters of collegiate esports. Every week, there are exciting developments in the collegiate esports space, which is why we want to keep you up to date on the latest: including new majors, venues, partnerships and other news. Here’s what’s new in collegiate esports over the past few weeks.

Want to bring an esports venue to your campus? Let us know!

Colleges announce esports majors

An esports class in session at Localhost Rowan. Photo credit: Nerd Street

Two universities recently announced that they would be offering esports majors. Rowan University, whom Nerd Street has partnered with to build and operate an esports and gaming venue (Localhost Rowan), was one of those universities, and West Virginia University was the other.

Rowan’s Bachelor of Arts in Esports will be offered through the Ric Edelman College of Communication and Creative Arts. It will require a concentration in communication, business or computing aspects. Esports Advisor Gina Gondos told The Whit that all classes will be held online and will generally have 15-25 students.

Localhost Rowan, which has hosted classes and has 50 PCs and ample space for 300 people, can be a key meeting place for students in Rowan’s esports program.

“I think the most important part about Localhost is that it is a space for everyone,” said Aaron Talasnik, Nerd Street’s Director of Marketing and Media. “From a casual gamer to a hardcore gamer, to someone who isn’t even sure if they want to game, but they’re curious about it, giving that to students is so valuable because I think a lot of students are looking for their home, right? Their home away from home and I think that’s what Localhost can and should be, and that should be the focus of it.”

At WVU, the major will be a Bachelor’s in Esports Management through the College of Intercollegiate Programs. It will feature concentrations in Esports Business Development and Esports Marketing. The new major enhances a program that already included a minor.

Big gaming venue coming to Texas

The University of Texas at Dallas is planning to open a 16,000 square foot gaming center next year including 70 PCs and 10 gaming console stations including Xbox Series S, Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch. There also are plans for a broadcast and production studio, team rooms, a stage area, and dining and entertainment spaces.

According to Community Impact, university officials hope the venue will boost student engagement and help them find their place on campus.

“What we’ve really tried to do with this facility is sort of treat it like a recreational center,” said Dan Goodwin, director of Student Union and Student Union Programs at UTD. “We’re trying to make esports for all, not just for the 30 to 50 varsity-level players that might be on campus.”

The hope is that the space services more than just the student body though.

“We want to enhance, you know, esports on our campus, but we want to provide access to communities in the DFW area that might otherwise not have those opportunities,” Goodwin added.

Alienware partners with two more colleges

Photo credit: FIU

Alienware has continued to show its support for collegiate esports over the past month as it helped open two new gaming spaces at St. Clair College in Canada and Florida International University (FIU).

St. Clair and FIU join Michigan State, Purdue, the University of Colorado, and the University of Texas, among schools who have opened new gaming labs over the past year with the help of Dell’s gaming PC brand.

St. Clair’s Alienware Gaming Lab is the company’s first foray into Canada and enhances the 15,000 square foot Nexus Esports Arena that opened at St. Clair in 2022. The Alienware Gaming Lab features 48 new PCs for casual gamers and 62 PCs to “enhance competitive gaming play for varsity and academy players.”

“Esports gaming technology at St. Clair College is more than just enhancing the skills of our competitive gamers,” Pam Pelletier, president of Dell Technologies Canada, told the Windsor Star. “It’s about igniting a passion for innovation and discovery.

“The collaboration between us will not only elevate our players but also nurture the next wave of innovators, engineers, and researchers that St. Clair College is renowned for cultivating.”

In September, FIU unveiled the 3,042-square-foot Alienware Esports Lounge in the university’s student union building which includes 39 PCs. This is Alienware’s largest facility that they have built in the U.S. as they look to bring high-tech gear to collegiate esports programs across the country.

“Innovation and creativity come together at FIU to accelerate our students’ success and provide opportunities for our 56,000 students and over 320,000 alumni to become leaders in their fields. This partnership with Alienware elevates our effort to offer the growing population of Panthers interested in the gaming industry – regardless of major – the chance to explore how they can combine their skills and interests to build rewarding careers in esports,” FIU Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth M. Béjar said according to FIU News.

New esports arena in Canada

Photo credit: Aryn Toombs / Livewire Calgary

Windsor, Ontario, wasn’t the only place in Canada seeing a new esports space open up in recent months. Bow Valley College opened Calgary’s first esports arena to much fanfare in September.

The 3,500 sqare ft arena will have 40 gaming stations, two full motion-rigged racing simulators, a broadcast suite and a varsity esports training room.

“We’re proud of the facility we’ve created here, but even more proud of the contribution it will make to the future of Calgary’s esports and digital entertainment industry,” said Dr. Misheck Mwaba, president and CEO of Bow Valley College, told the Calgary Herald. “We exist to give students the skills they need to take their talents and dreams and apply them to careers that grow our province.”

Lead photo credit: Nerd Street