EA SPORTS ACADEMY

Whether they’re recent grads or early-stage professionals looking for a career change, our EA SPORTS Academy program helps build a strong foundation for a diverse range of talent through its cohort-based model, knowledge-building workshops, mentorships, and hands-on experience. This program helps to set participants up for success, so they can confidently hit the ground running as they begin their journey with EA SPORTS and build a thriving career in gaming. EA SPORTS Academy currently has three different cohorts:

Development Director (DD) Cohort

DDs are responsible for making sure our games are ready to launch on time and at quality for hundreds of millions of players to enjoy worldwide. During the program, participants engage in two weeks of “classroom” training delivered by subject matter experts; enjoy a mix of in-person, self-guided, and hybrid training sessions; attend supplemental sessions and networking opportunities throughout the year; and receive regular support and check-ins with their manager and cohort.

Producer Cohort

Producers are responsible for having their eye set on the vision of the game and motivating their team members towards making that vision a reality. Similar to the DD Cohort, participants of the producer cohort engage in two weeks of dedicated training, in-person, self-guided, and hybrid sessions, have the opportunity to attend supplemental sessions and networking opportunities throughout the year; and receive regular support and check-ins with their manager and other members of their cohort. This is all to ensure participants have a solid foundation by the close of the program, so they're prepared for a future career in the exciting world of game development.

Software Engineer (SE) Cohort

Our SE cohort is open to those based in Vancouver, Canada and Orlando, USA and aims to bring engineering talent into the organization -- giving participants an in-depth and immersive professional development experience, as well as a supportive network of peers and leaders. Following an initial three-week onboarding, including two weeks onsite at the EA campus in Vancouver (one of the largest game development studios in the world!), participants' will transition into their full-time role on one of our world-class development teams, receiving hands-on experience in game development, while continuing to attend monthly Academy learning sessions (both in classroom and online) with their cohort throughout the remainder of their first year. Candidates do not need to have prior professional experience working as an SE or working within the games industry, however desired skills include technical aptitude (i.e. a working knowledge of C++ or equivalent, along with a basic understanding of databases (SQL)), problem solving, communication, and time management.

HEAR FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

“[EA SPORTS Academy] provided the time, support, and training I needed to get comfortable and acclimated to my new role.” Joseph, EA SPORTS College Football

“EA SPORTS Academy offered me the chance to enter an industry and company I had always dreamed of, but seemed difficult to access otherwise. Our training was designed for individuals new to the industry, making it easy for us to ask questions and allowing us to contribute our unique perspectives to the discussion.” - Mariana, EA SPORTS UFC

“Amazing mentors and members of the company that were fully committed to helping me be successful from day one. Even today, as I continue to grow in this industry, I revert back to some of the training lessons and guides I went through during the program.” - Rod, EA SPORTS Madden NFL

“Tapping into the program alumni network was perhaps the highlight of the program for me. It really helped me build my network at EA SPORTS and gather lots of tips and tricks. I’ve continued those relationships and some of the alumni are now my mentors!” - Vinu , EA SPORTS UFC

Additional Emerging Talent Programs

In addition to our EA SPORTS Academy program, we offer several other programs to support emerging talent:

EA MADDEN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In John Madden's honor, we created the EA Madden Scholarship in partnership with the United Negro College Fund to support students at Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

EA SPORTS STEAM CAMP

Launched in 2018 at EA Orlando, the EA SPORTS STEAM Camp supports rising 11th and 12th-grade young women and non-binary students in Central Florida who are interested in pursuing careers in STEAM or related fields in the video game industry – and is part of EA’s ongoing commitment to using video games to connect and engage students in STEAM education.

BEAT THE BIAS

Based on COPA90 and EA SPORTS FC's commitment to making changes within our own organisations and across the whole creative industry, Beat the Bias is a paid internship that aims to knock down barriers and create pathways for people from ethnic backgrounds to achieve whatever they want to within football.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Our internship and co-op program helps current students and recent graduates gain hands-on experience and contribute to the games we make for millions of sports fans all around the world – with EA SPORTS providing interns with additional mentorship and learning opportunities, as well as meaningful work and lasting connections.

HEAR FROM FORMER EA SPORTS INTERNS

"Whether or not you play video games, being a part of this team will show you what it’s like to be a part of a passionate company culture. You will develop a unique technical skill set here that is hard to find anywhere else." - Ahad, EA SPORTS Summer 2024 Intern

"In a time where technology is exponentially growing and innovating, there is truly no better time to be a part of a company that leverages tech to create incredible game experiences for their players. And if you’re waiting for a sign, consider me waving one in front of you right now – and it says 'GET IN THE GAME!'" - Angelina, EA SPORTS Summer 2024 Intern

We are also proud to partner with several organizations committed to the next generation of sports, STEAM, and gaming professionals in Canada. This includes partnerships with Ethos Lab, Arts Umbrella, and Hope and Health – along with ongoing partnerships with post-secondary institutions, including our partnership with the University of British Columbia (UBC) on our joint Geering Up Software Engineering Camp and much more.