Academics & Research
We’re committed to providing students from all walks of life the comprehensive esports-integrated academic experience they desire — enhancing their education while developing tomorrow’s esports leaders. Looking to teach a class in the arena? Fill out the Esports Arena Teaching Intake Form! Have an idea for collaborating on a research project? Fill out the form at the bottom of this page and let us know!
Level Up Your Education
Videogaming & Esports Studies Minor
The interdisciplinary minor in gaming and esports prepares students to engage in these industries by providing a broad understanding of videogames and esports, with skills gained from both critical reflection and hands-on experience. Electives are offered in a diverse range of departments, including Art, Communication Studies, English, Music, and Religious Studies.
Non-Credit Certificate Program in Esports
- A digital esports certificate program focused on career preparation for the competitive gaming industry that perfectly complements professional undergraduate degrees.
- Students will develop skills around competitive gaming tournament design, coaching and training, sponsorship, and fan engagement.
Esports Management Concentration
- The esports concentration is housed within the Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality, and Tourism Management.
- Students are prepared for careers in esports administration, management, and operations, including event management and marketing, destination management, and strategic planning.
Network for the Cultural Study of Videogaming
UNCG’s Network for the Cultural Study of Videogaming (NCSV) connects cross-disciplinary faculty and students from across campus and beyond, creating a hub of research and learning around video games and their cultures.
Our events, programming, and curriculum place UNCG at the forefront of this cultural landscape.
Unreal Fellows
The UNCG Unreal Fellows were selected by their unit heads to lead the integration
of Unreal Engine technologies in their research and teaching. With the shared goal
of improving the student experience, increasing student exposure to cutting edge
industry standards, and raising the bar for interactive media at UNCG, these Unreal
fellows are fully supported by Innovate UNCG in collaboration with the Network for
the Cultural Study of Videogaming.
NCSV Leadership
Gregory Price Grieve
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gregory Price Grieve is the Executive Director of the Liberal & Professional Studies Department and professor of Religious Studies at UNC Greensboro. Grieve researches, teaches as well as provides service, at the intersection of Asian religions and popular culture. He specializes in digital religion, particularly the emerging field of religion and video games, and his current research uses video games to explore the category of evil in contemporary life.
John W. Borchert
DIRECTOR
John W. Borchert is the Social Innovation and Public Scholarship Lead for Innovate UNCG and affiliated faculty in the Department of Religious Studies. Borchert is interested in how religious practices and media technologies intersect across American religious histories, particularly their impact on embodiment and death. He serves on the board of the gamevironments, the only journal on religion and video gaming.
Research on Esports Athlete Well-being
The UNCG Center for Athlete Well-Being is driving research on the physical and mental health of collegiate esports student-athletes, launching a survey called The Esports Athlete Mental well-being Study – or TEAMS – to better understand the scope of esports athlete wellness.
Topics include academic experiences, relationships with coaches, mental health, the gaming environment, and substance abuse. The aim is to translate findings from research into behavioral interventions and education that can help gamers, and there’s momentum and interest in the industry to positively impact the esports environment.