University of Tennessee to Offer ‘Grand Theft Auto’ History Class, Using Games as a Lens on Modern America

In a sign of the ever-evolving academic landscape, a major U.S. university is set to offer a history course that uses the Grand Theft Auto series as its central framework. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has announced a new class titled “Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games,” taught by history professor Tore Olsson. The course, which is scheduled to begin in January 2026, will explore the social, political, and cultural transformations that have shaped the United States over the past four decades, using Rockstar’s satirical and critically acclaimed franchise as a powerful teaching tool. This move not only solidifies the series’ status as a cultural phenomenon but also highlights how far video games have come in being recognized as a legitimate medium for academic study.

Professor Olsson, who previously taught a popular course based on Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption series, is a pioneer in using video games to engage students in a way that traditional historical methods often cannot. He has stated that the class is “much more about American history than the games themselves,” with the GTA games serving as a “window for understanding” a chaotic and transformative period. The course will not require students to own or play the games, as Professor Olsson plans to use curated video clips, screenshots, and academic texts to structure the lectures and discussions. This approach ensures that the class is accessible to all students, while using the familiar settings of Liberty City, Vice City, and Los Santos as a compelling entry point for historical analysis. The course’s curriculum promises to be a deep dive into the historical events and social issues that the games satirize, from the LA Riots of the 1990s to the excesses of Wall Street greed.

The Curriculum: A Blend of Pop Culture and Historical Scrutiny

The course curriculum is a fascinating mix of pop culture and academic rigor. By using the fictional worlds of the GTA series as a springboard, students will be encouraged to examine real-world events and themes. The syllabus is set to cover a wide range of topics, including:

• The Deregulation and Cultural Shifts of the 1980s: Using Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as a backdrop, the course will explore the social and political climate of the decade, from the rise of consumer culture and media sensationalism to the “War on Drugs.”
• Urban Unrest and Police Brutality: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be used as a lens to understand the Los Angeles Riots of 1992, a major turning point in American history. The game’s depiction of racial tension and police corruption will serve as a starting point for discussions on systemic issues.
• The Post-9/11 Era and Wall Street Greed: Later titles like Grand Theft Auto V will provide a platform to discuss the culture of fear following the 9/11 attacks, as well as the financial crisis and the greed of corporate America. The in-game satire, from the parody of talk radio to fictional corporations, will be used to analyze how pop culture reflects societal anxieties.

A Nod to a New Era of Academic Study

The creation of this class is a powerful validation of video games as a form of art and social commentary. It’s an acknowledgement that the GTA franchise, with its detailed open worlds and sharp satirical writing, offers a unique and valuable perspective on modern history. Professor Olsson has noted that, much like the “history of rock ‘n’ roll” courses that were once unthinkable, classes built around digital media are becoming more and more common. This is a testament to the influence and reach of the gaming industry, which has now fully entered the mainstream of popular culture.

The timing of the course is also notable, as it begins months before the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI in May 2026. While the curriculum will focus on previous titles, Professor Olsson has expressed a desire to incorporate the new game into the syllabus once it is released. This flexibility shows a commitment to keeping the course relevant and up-to-date. The announcement has already generated significant interest and is a major source of high-CPC keywords and discussion within the academic and gaming communities alike. It serves as a reminder that the line between entertainment and education is becoming increasingly blurred, and that the greatest works of pop culture can often provide the most insightful look into our own history.