Exploring the programs, initiatives, and grads that make up the world of esports and sports at Full Sail University.
Full Sail has been teaching sports media since 2009 with the launch of our Sports Marketing & Media degree program. Students in this program gain real-world experience through a variety of partnerships in the sports industry, such as the United States Tennis Association, Florida Citrus Sports, the Daytona 500, and many more. Grads of the Sports Marketing & Media program have gone on to work all over the sports landscape with organizations like the WWE, the Atlanta Braves, and ESPN.
Sports at Full Sail University
Full Sail has been teaching sports media since 2009, and in 2018, launched the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting – a degree program that came out of a successful collaboration with sportscasting icon Dan Patrick. In 2019, the school celebrated the first graduating class of sportscasters.
Full Sail Program Director and four-time Emmy-winner Gus Ramsey has helped bring real-world professionals and experiences directly to students. Over the years, guest faculty like ESPN's Sage Steele, Jay Harris, Kraig Kann, Dave Ryan, Nicole Brisco, and Kevin Negandhi offered expert advice directly from the industry.
The degree program's special guests throughout the years have also included sports anchors, analysts, and journalists like Scott Van Pelt, Bill Simmons, Michael Wilbon, and Chris Mortensen.
Students have had other real-world opportunities in sportscasting for nearby Rollins College, calling games and reporting from the sidelines. Sportscasting grads have already gone on to impressive roles in their field as sports anchors, sports directors, and reporters.
Full Sail's sportscasting students have also made a splash in the world of esports, winning awards like ESEA's Next Big Caster Competition.
Esports at Full Sail University
As a school that has offered gaming degrees for over 25 years, Full Sail was a natural home for esports. Combining both gaming and live entertainment, it only made sense for the campus to invest in an impressive, tech-rich esports venue, The Fortress.
Clocking in as the largest collegiate esports venue in the US, The Fortress has been host to special events like the Hearthstone Collegiate Championship Fall Finals, the NBA 2K League’s “The Ticket,” a Red Bull Conquest regional qualifier, and the Bolts Chel Challenge.
It would also become home to Full Sail's collegiate esports organization, Full Sail Armada. With varsity teams in games students choose and try out for themselves, Armada has played in competitions for games like Call of Duty, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League.
As a classroom, The Fortress has given Full Sail students a variety of opportunities to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes with experts in the industry. Alumni from Blizzard Entertainment, eUnited, and DreamHack have all returned to campus to give students an inside look into their career opportunities.
And with more opportunities for virtual events and communities coming together digitally, the Armada and esports has played an even bigger role for the university. Stay tuned on the Armada Twitch channel to keep up with the latest.
