Professor aims to convey American history through a video game.
Beginning January 20, 2026, students at the University of Tennessee will have the unique opportunity to examine American history through the cultural and societal themes presented in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto (GTA).
Grand Theft America
American historian and history professor Tore Olsson decided to teach his next course in a very unique way. Instead of relying solely on traditional media for his college history class, he combines it with something more accessible for students – a video game.
The college class will be called "Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games" and will cover social, cultural, and political topics of the United States from 1980 to the present by using GTA as a meaningful educational tool for exploring critical societal issues, such as immigration, policing, capitalism, drugs and government policies.
I'm the professor who's been teaching and writing about American history through Red Dead Redemption. I'm thrilled to announce my new Spring '26 class @UTK, HIST 150, "Grand Theft America: US History since 1980 through the GTA Video Games." Full interview: https://t.co/2H6BVJA2vC
— Tore Olsson (@ToreCarlOlsson) September 19, 2025
Tore Olssons' Approach To Learning
It’s not a first for the historian and professor Tore Olsson to use this kind of teaching mechanism. In the past, he already implemented a Red Dead Redemption history class and even published a book named "Red Deads History". In an interview with IGN, Tore Olsson mentions to turn the GTA class into a book called "Grand Theft America" as well, to reach a wider audience.
He explains his vision on the class, saying that he wants to "use that world as the framing device for a serious history class that examines what’s actually taken place in the United States".
He also emphasizes that it is important to him that the course remains professional, even with the inclusion of GTA and its satire.
"And from day one, I’ll take great pains to establish that this is a serious college class that will handle weighty and difficult topics, which we’ll always approach with sensitivity and respect." – Tore Olssen (Interview with IGN)
Who thought there would even be a college history class about GTA before we get GTA 6?