Latest News

West Virginia University has launched an online Bachelor of Arts in Esports Business and Entertainment through the College of Applied Human Sciences, expanding access to a career-focused program in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global entertainment industry.

The fully online program is housed in the School of Sport Sciences and covers event management, governance, marketing, communications, and business development, with coursework that also reflects broader shifts in the digital sports landscape, including sports gambling and fantasy sports. Courses are designed to keep pace with an industry that evolves rapidly, incorporating current events and emerging trends alongside foundational skills.

The College of Applied Human Sciences will celebrate commencement on Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m. at the WVU Hope Coliseum. Here is a look at several graduates from the college who will earn their degrees this spring.

Madison Zink served in the U.S. Navy before trading her uniform for a student teacher's classroom, earning a degree in Elementary Education and plans to continue into a master's in Literacy Education. Jordyn Lovett completed her degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology in three years and heads to the University of Illinois-Chicago to pursue a master's and her certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

Paige Grove came to WVU partly because of how welcoming the campus felt on visits, and partly because her mother is an alumna. She found her direction in Youth and Family Sciences, with a focus on child life, a healthcare specialty centered on supporting children and families through serious medical experiences. Hands-on time at WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital put that training into practice and pointed her toward a master's degree in child life at the University of Georgia this fall.

Ethan Waugh grew up in Morgantown, which made choosing WVU easy. What took more thought, though, was figuring out how to turn his passion for esports into a career. The Sport Leadership program gave him that framework, and he further molded his path with minors in Esports Management and Strategic Social Media. While completing his degree fully online, Waugh worked full-time at a sports complex and competed on the WVU Esports team, making multiple NACE playoff runs along the way. He graduates this spring with his sights set on a full-time role in esports operations.

As part of West Virginia University’s May 2026 Commencement celebration, Emma Halstead, an elementary education major from the College of Applied Human Sciences, shares a thank you note to one of the faculty members who had a significant impact on her: Johnna Bolyard.

Noah Miller grew up surrounded by the gold and blue. His father has worked for WVU Medicine since before Miller was born, so choosing WVU felt less like a decision and more like a given. What wasn't predetermined was his path once he arrived. Miller started in exercise physiology before finding his footing in physical education, ultimately earning both a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Kinesiology and a master's in Physical Education Teacher Education. Along the way, he logged more than 1,000 hours of hands-on teaching experience and was named the SHAPE America Major of the Year.