Rockstar GamesStudents at the University of Tennessee will soon be able to study American history through the lens of Rockstar’s iconic open-world series. On January 20, 2026, the university will host the world’s first Grand Theft Auto college history class.
The course, titled “Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games,” was created by history professor Tore Olsson. It follows his previous Red Dead Redemption history course, which also inspired his book ‘Red Dead’s History’ and its accompanying audiobook narrated by Arthur Morgan actor Roger Clark.
Olsson originally planned to launch the GTA course with Grand Theft Auto 6 included in the curriculum. However, Rockstar’s delay of the highly anticipated title to May 2026 means students will begin the semester before the game’s release.
Rockstar GamesHow GTA will be used in class
Olsson told IGN the class will examine the social, cultural, and political history of the United States from 1980 to the present. Each GTA entry will serve as a framework, with titles like Vice City Stories (1984), San Andreas (1992), and GTA 5 (2013) reflecting distinct eras.
While the franchise is known for its satire, Olsson said GTA offers a useful entry point into real-world issues such as immigration, inequality, media polarization, and policing. For example, San Andreas’ storyline referencing the 1992 Los Angeles riots will be used to discuss the deeper historical context of the event.
Students will not be required to buy or play the games, but class sessions will include gameplay footage and screenshots. Olsson said his goal is to use the series’s fictionalized America as a way to engage with contemporary history in new ways.
