Academy of Art University

Academy of Art University has a strong and established esports program that has grown significantly since its launch in 2016. **Key Aspects of the Program:** - **Competitive Teams:** We have competitive esports teams that participate in top titles like Valorant, League of Legends, and Overwatch. Students also form teams for other games like Hearthstone, Super Smash Bros., Rocket League, and Fortnite. - **Facilities:** The university provides an Game Lounge (also known as the Knight Arcade) equipped with top-tier PCs and console systems available for student use. - **Education and Career Development:** The esports program integrates with the university's academic offerings, allowing students to apply skills from their various degree programs (e.g., game development, communications, music and sound design, illustration) to esports productions and events. We offer an esports studio class for students interested in careers in esports production and broadcasting, partnering with industry companies. - **Community:** The program fosters a strong gaming community through events, tournaments, and a welcoming environment in the esports lounge. - **Partnerships:** Academy of Art University has partnered with organizations like the San Francisco Shock, providing students with unique opportunities to learn from and interact with professional esports players. - **Recognition:** The program has gained national recognition, being ranked among the top 12 collegiate esports programs in the country by Tespa.