University of Tennessee to Launch First-Ever GTA College History Class

For the first time, a major U.S. university is using Grand Theft Auto as a teaching tool. The University of Tennessee has approved a history course titled "Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980," set to launch on January 20, 2026.

Professor Tore Olsson taking a GTA class at the University of Tennessee (Credit: IGN)

A Follow-Up to Red Dead’s Classroom Success

The new course is designed by Professor Tore Olsson, a historian already well known for his earlier class based on Red Dead Redemption. That course eventually led to his book Red Dead’s History and an audiobook narrated by Roger Clark, the voice of Arthur Morgan.

While Red Dead Redemption naturally lent itself to studying the 19th-century American West, Olsson told IGN that GTA captures contemporary America in satirical but revealing ways. "Millions of people imagine modern America through the lens of GTA," he explained, noting how the games’ fictional cities often mirror real-world landmarks in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

"The class is much more about American history than the games themselves, but GTA provides the framework that structures our exploration of the past," Olsson said. "My hope is that after the class, students will never look at these games or modern America the same again."

Using GTA as a Historical Framework

GTA-focused class will examine U.S. history from 1980 to the present, with each Grand Theft Auto entry serving as a lens for a different era. For example, Vice City Stories (1984) reflects Reagan-era America, San Andreas (1992) ties into the Los Angeles riots, and GTA V (2013) mirrors the financial crises and cultural tensions of the early 2010s.

Though GTA 6 was originally planned to be part of the course, Rockstar’s delay to May 2026 means it won’t be included this semester.

Olsson stressed that students don’t need to buy or play the games. Instead, he will use gameplay footage, screenshots, and occasional live demonstrations in class.

"Immigration, policing, capitalism, drugs, government policies - these are all towering dilemmas of contemporary America", he said. "And it’s my plan to use GTA’s allusion to them as the entry point for a history that I hope will be fresh and timely to many students."

Lessons Beyond Satire

Despite GTA’s reputation for exaggerated crime and satire, Olsson believes the series often reflects genuine social issues. For instance, San Andreas includes a narrative inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which he plans to use to contextualize the deeper history of policing, inequality, and civil unrest in the U.S.

Other aspects of the games, like polarized radio stations in GTA IV and V, or depictions of global trade through container ports, provide what Olsson sees as "accidental" but spot-on references to economic and cultural transformations in late 20th- and early 21st-century America.

What Comes Next

Though GTA 6 won’t appear in the inaugural semester, Olsson plans to incorporate it in future versions of the course. He also hinted that, like his Red Dead Redemption project, he may eventually adapt the material into a book or audiobook for a wider audience.