Esport Class

Careers in Gaming is a hands-on high school course that turns a passion for gaming into real creative and technical skills. Students explore careers in game design, video production, streaming, influencing, and digital forensics—roles that power the games they love.

Through game development in Scratch and/or Unreal Engine, gameplay recording and editing, live streaming, and solving a cybercrime, students learn by doing. They also build a digital portfolio and personal brand that lets them keep creating—and showcasing their skills—long after the course ends.

Esports II is a hands-on, project-based course that builds on students’ passion for gaming while developing real-world technical, creative, and cybersecurity skills. Through the lens of esports and digital gaming culture, students explore how games, platforms, and online communities function—and how to protect them. Topics include password security, malware prevention, network defense, and digital safety, with a strong emphasis on securing personal devices, gaming accounts, and online environments that students use every day.

In addition, students explore a wide range of careers that support the gaming and esports industry, including game design, streaming, video production, content creation, influencing, and digital forensics. Using tools such as Scratch and/or Unreal Engine, gameplay capture software, and live streaming platforms, students learn by doing while building a digital portfolio and personal brand. The course is aligned with industry-recognized pathways such as the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) and CompTIA A+ foundations, preparing students for future coursework, certifications, and careers in IT, esports, and digital media.

This introductory course equips high school students with the fundamental skills needed to start a career in game design and development using an industry-standard tool like Unreal Engine. Students explore key concepts such as collision detection, 3D world-building, animation, user interfaces, and scripting while learning about the game development lifecycle, from concept to post-launch maintenance.

Throughout the course, students engage in hands-on projects inside Unreal Engine where they develop high-demand technical skills and are introduced to different career options in the sphere of gaming, animation, simulations, and virtual production. In addition to technical skills, the course focuses on building career readiness, guiding students in building portfolios, and developing employability skills.

The Unified Esports Program provides students with an inclusive opportunity to compete in Special Olympics–style esports competitions alongside peers from across the state. Students participate during the school day in the esports lab and compete asynchronously throughout the year in the Garden State Esports Unified League. Competitions focus on accessible and engaging titles such as Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and Nintendo Entertainment Championships. Unified esports promotes teamwork, sportsmanship, confidence, and social connection while ensuring all students can experience the excitement and benefits of competitive gaming in a supportive environment. 

After successfully completing Esports II, select junior and senior students may apply to return to the program as Esports Interns, gaining hands-on leadership and real-world experience. Interns support the instructor with daily classroom operations, assist in teaching and mentoring students, help manage teams, and work directly with esports technology and lab setup. Students also learn how to manage a learning environment, support esports events, and assist with team logistics and organization. This experience emphasizes leadership, responsibility, communication, and professionalism, preparing students for careers in education, coaching, event management, and the esports industry.