Starting in January, students at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville will have the opportunity to enroll in an American history course centered on the Grand Theft Auto series. The curriculum was originally intended to incorporate GTA 6, but this changed following the game`s release delay to May 26, 2026.
In an interview with IGN, history professor Tore Olsson discussed his course, officially titled “Grand Theft America: US History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games.” He explained how popular video games, much like Ghost of Tsushima for feudal Japan, can shape our real-world perspectives. Olsson emphasized that the class focuses primarily on American history, with GTA games serving as a framework for exploring the past. He hopes that students will gain a fresh perspective on both these games and modern America after completing the course.
Olsson is particularly enthusiastic about using San Andreas as an educational tool from the GTA series, given its setting in a fictional Los Angeles. He noted that the game`s narrative echoes the real-life Los Angeles Riots of April and May 1992, a pivotal yet often misunderstood event in contemporary U.S. history. A core objective of his class is to elucidate the origins and significance of this violent societal upheaval.
Actual gameplay of GTA titles is not a prerequisite for this history course. Professor Olsson aims to avoid imposing a financial burden on students and will instead feature gameplay demonstrations during class sessions. He also believes this collegiate offering is unique, with Wilfred Laurier University in Canada previously offering a GTA-related course, though not one focused on history.
This is not Olsson`s first venture into integrating popular gaming franchises into his history curriculum. Previously, he utilized the Red Dead Redemption series to explore U.S. history from 1899 to 1911.
Looking forward, Rockstar anticipates GTA 6 will achieve “the largest game launch in history,” a prediction that is far from implausible. Last year, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella suggested that GTA 6 could be the most significant release ever for the gaming industry as a whole.