After tense competition, CSU Dominguez Hills’s Esports Overwatch 2 Team claimed victory in the second annual
Cal State Cup on May 6, 2024. The Toro Esports Academy at CSUDH erupted in cheers from fans and competitors alike, as the team toppled the bracket featuring 12 of the CSU’s top esports teams.
The Toro Esports Academy is a new facility created to meet the needs of CSUDH’s flourishing esports community. Its establishment follows a trend of competitive esports becoming more prevalent across the CSU. As esports continues to grow as a global phenomenon, CSUs are taking advantage of its potential to equip students with career-readiness skills and academic resources.
Beyond just competitive gaming, the CSU’s increased support for its esports programs and facilities has provided students with more opportunities for hands-on learning experiences in event planning, broadcast, marketing and game design—preparing them to step into future careers.
Meeting Students Where They Are
Like with most sports, it can be hard to make a sustainable income or career just by playing esports. But as one of the first CSUs with an official
esports department featuring full-time staff, CSU Dominguez Hills can offer students specialized guidance on how to use their passion for esports to drive their studies and future careers. The program allows students to get involved with esports in different ways like supporting events, media production and livestreams.
“A large majority of the content, whether it's graphics, Twitch streams, Instagram posts, Discord posts—anything that's content-driven—have a huge student hand in it,” says Kevin Buchmiller, director of esports at CSUDH.
As part of CSUDH’s support for students, the
Toro Esports Academy opened in the campus library in April 2023. Students can utilize the facility’s 38 powerful computers for casual play and for learning how to use professional, resource-intensive programs like Adobe Creative Cloud or Unreal Engine.
“We have a lot of underrepresented groups present on campus,” says Buchmiller. “So, part of [our goal] is making sure they have access to anything that they need to be successful and that includes playing games at a high level."
In the last year, the academy has held workshops on healthy gaming practices and hosted gaming panels with industry experts, including YouTuber JayzTwoCents. In the future, Buchmiller hopes to offer an esports minor with new classes held in the academy.
“We need to meet students where they are, and esports allow students to feel like they belong,” says Buchmiller. “They learn the most when they're excited about what they're working on. So, when we're able to meet them in a digital space—and that can also be an in-person space—and do that through the lens of esports, you have the trifecta of setting students up for success."
Tournaments like the
Cal State Cup 2024 and the
CIF Championship Finals were also held at CSUDH’s Toro Esports Academy. Students played a large role in these events’ success by setting up and monitoring equipment, managing crowds and serving as hospitality staff.
Incoming senior Jennifer Gutierrez works as a student assistant for the department, participating in pitch meetings, helping with broadcasts, creating event graphics and maintaining the academy space. She says the experience has given her a new perspective into a field she hadn’t imagined exploring before.
“I study medical technology, and all of the skills I have learned [while working with the academy] could be transferable to create a better environment in my career,” says Gutierrez, who is also president of CSUDH’s Esports Club.
CSUDH student working in the broadcast room with broadcast software.
Students in the Toro Esports Academy listening to a guest speaker.
Broadcast and Branding
Inspired by the rising interest in gaming and content creation, San Francisco State Professor Dina Ibriham developed and taught the first content creation and esports studio tournament course through SF State’s
Department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) in 2019.
Ibriham says that creating courses around esports is important because they help dispel the idea that esports are just a hobby. “I tell students: ‘If video games are a passion of yours, let’s try to figure out a way to translate that into an actual job.’"
“Those business skills and passion for the industry are what employers are seeking,” she adds.
The course structure is thoughtfully designed to teach hands-on creative, business and technical skills. Students set up their own channel on Twitch, a livestream platform, and stream content they create. They learn to operate streaming software, optimize internet bandwidth and set up video and audio equipment. To pass the class, students must brand their channel and employ marketing efforts to meet the required minimum of 50 followers and $5 in earnings.
“The whole point is to monetize the content that you’re creating and the fun you’re already having,” Ibriham says, adding that most students livestreamed themselves playing video games. “What I try to do is just provide structure and expectations around the fun."
The culmination of the course involves the class working together to host a live esports tournament utilizing the BECA department’s new state-of-the-art production
studios and invite competitors from across the Bay Area. The events have turned into huge successes, and some students have even received sponsorships through the event. Past competitors have included professional esports teams like SF Shock, Evil Geniuses and Team Liquid.
Austin Oliver, SF State business alumnus (’21) and former president of the Gaming Gators, says events like these helped him build his resume.
“Through this event, I gained immense experience on how to communicate effectively with outside companies for sponsorship opportunities, as well as extensive event management [experience],” says Oliver, who received a full-time position as a business analyst with Evil Geniuses after graduation. “In my short time [with the Gaming Gators], I was able to gain experience in a variety of career areas that I would have never gotten otherwise."
In the future, Ibrahim hopes to organize a systemwide esports community and develop additional new courses that could engage students in various opportunities available in esports.
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SF State studio prepared for the class's esports tournament.
Audience watches the class's esports tournament, called the Gator Gauntlet, as large cameras broadcast the event.
Learn more about the CSU's esports
programs and clubs.