Interested in an esports program that also offers college scholarships? Barton College may be the perfect fit! Students can hone their digital prowess in esports as they pursue their choice among a wide variety of challenging academic majors offered on campus.
Among Barton’s newest co-curricular programs is the increasingly popular Esports program. Launched in 2019, Barton Esports offers varsity and club competition, playing against some of the largest schools in the nation. The Barton Esports Arena provides a state-of-the-art gaming environment that allows its teams to compete at the highest level of competition. This includes competition gaming computers, virtual reality space, and dedicated space for console games. And, the arena is equipped with a dedicated gig from Greenlight Community Broadband, which ensures that Barton has one of the fastest connections in the country.
The 8th founding member of NACE and one of the first collegiate esports teams in the country, Barton competes in a variety of games in the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and other organizations. A full list of games, in addition to the Bold Board celebrating members’ notable successes, is available at esports.barton.edu.
Leading this impressive program is head esports coach, Dr. Paul Christianson. With a wealth of knowledge on the competitive esports industry, he also serves as an assistant professor of sport management and holds advanced coaching certifications from the American Sport Education Program, Australian Sports Commission, IMG Academy, and Titleist Performance Institute. He also leads the Barton Esports Academy that prepares future leaders in the esports industry.
Academy students are provided an opportunity to take a variety of courses to prepare for a career in the esports industry. A number of students choose to pursue a B.S. Sport Management degree with specialized coursework in Esports. Additionally, they have the opportunity to attain an advanced Coaching Certification from the American Sport Education Program and take a dedicated Esports Management course to help prepare for the career field. Student leadership positions within the College’s Esports program also include hands-on, real-world experience operating a collegiate esports team, preparing students for future leadership roles within the esports industry. For more det
ails, visit barton.edu.