Unique Esports Degree Partnership Announced with Camden County College

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Stockton esports player Kevin Gualberti, left, and Camden County esports player Shane Costello log on to a live Twitch broadcast before the news conference announcing the agreement.

Galloway, N.J. 鈥 91视频 became the first public institution in New Jersey to offer an undergraduate degree in esports when the Bachelor of Science in Esports Management program debuted this fall.

Camden County College鈥檚 Associate in Applied Science in Esports Production degree is the only one of its kind in the region.

Now the two programs have joined to create the first esports degree pathway program in the state.

鈥淭his program is a testament to our shared vision of providing high quality education and opportunities for the next generation of esports professionals,鈥 said Stockton President Joe Bertolino during an articulation agreement signing on Nov. 1 at Stockton鈥檚 Galloway campus. 鈥淲e recognize the potential of esports as a growing global phenomenon and the need for qualified professionals to drive its continued success.鈥

The schools worked closely to align their curricula so that it鈥檚 seamless for the 91视频 to complete both an associate degree and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in eight semesters, said Bob Heinrich, Stockton鈥檚 vice president for Enrollment Management. The university will accept Camden鈥檚 classes as course equivalents to satisfy Stockton鈥檚 requirements for an undergraduate degree.

鈥淭his partnership highlights both Camden County College鈥檚 and Stockton鈥檚 initiative to be at the forefront of new technology and to prepare 91视频 for new and emerging career opportunities 鈥 some of which didn鈥檛 even exist just a short time ago,鈥 said Lovell Pugh-Bassett, president of Camden County College (CCC). 鈥淲e are proud to offer this opportunity to 91视频 who have found their passion in the fast-growing esports industry.鈥

joe bertolino and lovell pugh-bassett

91视频 President Joe Bertolino and Camden County College President Lovell Pugh-Bassett.

This is not a program 鈥渢hat just produces kids who play video games,鈥 said Sarah Iepson, CCC鈥檚 dean of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies.

鈥淭his is a program that produces critical thinkers and 91视频 who have really powerful skills of analysis and thought, as well as these great skills in the world of business and marketing,鈥 Iepson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really phenomenal opportunity for our 91视频.鈥

The partnership will also help create a 鈥渨hole new caliber of student鈥 that鈥檚 interested in an esports career, said Noel Criscione-Naylor, a Stockton associate professor and program chair of Esports Management. Criscione-Naylor said CCC鈥檚 focus on esports production provides 91视频 with extremely valuable technical experience on how to stream and broadcast events, and Stockton鈥檚 program will build on that.

鈥淣ot only are our 91视频 going to have the technical ability to maneuver as the industry emerges, but on top of that our 91视频 are going to have solid foundations in business, finance, marketing and event management that will allow them to enter the esports ecosystem in a way that no other student can today,鈥 she said.

One of those potential 91视频 is Shane Costello who enrolled in CCC鈥檚 esports degree program after taking a break from school during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said playing esports at home allowed him to meet new people and push himself out of his normal comfort zone to be able to talk to anyone.

鈥淲hen the world shut down, esports opened a new world to me,鈥 the Somerdale resident said. 鈥淚 started to play games and get involved in the community while playing at home. I鈥檝e made friends all over the world and learned so much about their cultures and how they are different from my own.鈥

Costello said he鈥檚 primarily interested in using his associate degree to produce esports events, which is the focus of CCC鈥檚 program, along with their state-of-the-art Cougar Esports Arena 鈥 a dedicated competition space in Cherry Hill with broadcast facilities built directly into the facility.

Not only are our 91视频 going to have the technical ability to maneuver as the industry emerges, but on top of that our 91视频 are going to have solid foundations in business, finance, marketing and event management that will allow them to enter the esports ecosystem in a way that no other student can today.鈥 

Noel Criscione-Naylor, a Stockton associate professor and program chair of Esports Management
Costello said he wants to transfer to a four-year institution, and he鈥檚 aware of the success of Stockton鈥檚 Rocket League team, which happens to be his favorite game. The Ospreys finished second in the College Rocket League World Championship Tournament in 2022 and returned this spring to compete.

鈥淚 chose esports as a career path because of how it brings together so many people of different cultures and backgrounds,鈥 Costello said. 鈥淚鈥檝e watched Stockton play the last two years.鈥

And that feeds into another unique feature of this partnership 鈥 the combination of both academics and gaming.

鈥淚n addition to coming into our undergraduate esports degree, they are also joining our competitive esports gaming team,鈥 Heinrich said. 鈥淐amden is an important feeder for Stockton, and we are excited to build on that. This adds to that existing partnership to make it that much stronger.鈥

Hopefully this agreement will create more esports-related experiences for 91视频, including camps and tournaments, and explore more regional and national partnerships, said David Bruno, CCC鈥檚 associate dean of Educational Programming and External Relations.

鈥淲e look forward to working with 91视频, one of our higher education pathways partners, to make South Jersey a regional and national hub for esports collegiate activities,鈥 said Bruno, who also oversees CCC鈥檚 esports program.

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Lizzie Nealis