GTA History Class Launching in 2026 Marks First in Academia

• University of Tennessee (UTK) will teach U.S. history through Grand Theft Auto in 2026.
• Professor Tore Olsson, who uses games for history teaching, will now use GTA to study American society.
• The course blends game content with serious historical analysis, marking a potential milestone in video game studies.

In what may be a landmark moment for the intersection of gaming and education, the University of Tennessee (UTK) is slated to launch a history course in January 2026 that teaches U.S. history through the lens of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) video game series.

Titled Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games, the course is being billed by the media as the “world’s first” college-level history class centered on GTA.

The course, designed by Professor Tore Olsson, who previously taught history using Red Dead Redemption, will use the fictional narratives, characters, and settings of GTA games to explore real historical trends: social change, economic shifts, political corruption, urban-rural divides, media and culture, and evolving tensions in American society since 1980.

Olsson, an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in American History at UTK, stated in an interview with IGN that students will not need to own or play the games. The game worlds will be treated as cultural texts, like novels, films, to examine how depictions of crime, race, inequality, media influence, and urban decay reflect or exaggerate real American experiences.

The course is expected to begin in 2026, corresponding with UTK’s semester commencement on January 20, 2026.

The choice of Grand Theft Auto for the course is not without debate. Known for its satirical take on violence, crime, consumer culture, and urban life, the series has often stirred controversy. Olsson says he takes GTA’s fictional worlds seriously, using its characters, urban landscapes, and storylines as a “framing device for a serious history class” that examines real events in the United States.

In the interview, Olsson explained how he plans to use the games to teach history. “I’ve invested more hours than I care to admit in playing these games, and I’m eager to use their plots and characters to teach big historical topics,” he said. 

Olsson notes the story alludes to the 1992 L.A. Riots, a turning point in U.S. history. “Explaining the origins and meaning of this violent convulsion is a key goal of my class,” he said. While many see the riots as a reaction to the police beating of Rodney King and the officers’ acquittal, Olsson emphasizes the broader context, including immigration, policing, capitalism, drugs, and government policies. GTA serves as an entry point to explore these issues in a fresh, timely way for students.

With GTA 6 expected in 2026, the course launches just in time. While innovative, it must balance GTA’s fictional and sensational elements with historical analysis and maintain academic rigor without becoming fan-focused. If successful, it could strengthen the legitimacy of video game studies and encourage wider use of nontraditional teaching materials.