▲ Professor Tore Olsson giving a lecture with Red Dead Redemption

Starting January 20, 2026, students at the University of Tennessee will be able to attend a lecture that uses Grand Theft Auto (GTA) as a teaching tool. Designed by Professor Tore Olsson, the course aims to explore American history from the 1980s to the present day through the lens of the GTA series.

Professor Olsson explained: “Just as Red Dead Redemption allows us to meet people of the 19th-century American West, or Ghost of Tsushima helps us understand feudal Japan, the GTA series makes it possible to grasp American society from the 1980s to today. This will be a serious history course, examining what actually happened in the United States over the past half-century through GTA.”

▲ Poster to promote Professor Olsson’s lecture

Addressing the question of how a GTA-based class could be offered as a university course, Olsson said: “Some may be surprised or even shocked to find a college course built around video games, especially ones that blend raw realism and fiction. But with 20 years of experience teaching advanced history courses, and four years of lecturing with Red Dead Redemption, I’m confident this will meet expectations. Ultimately, I hope students come away with an understanding of why America is so divided today, and the possibility of a more harmonious future.”

▲ “If only GTA 6 could have been included!”

Olsson also expressed some regret that GTA VI could not be part of the curriculum. Since the course begins in January 2026 and GTA VI is scheduled to launch in May, it will not be included. “I had hoped GTA VI would be the highlight of the course, but the delay to May made that impossible,” he said, joking that he hopes the release will not distract students from their final exams.

Finally, when asked whether “playing or buying the games” would guarantee good grades, Olsson laughed: “It would be unfair to ask cash-strapped students to buy expensive consoles or gaming PCs just to take the class.” He added, “While we will certainly explore Los Santos and other settings in detail, don’t worry. There will not be exam questions about Trevor or Niko Bellic. I want students to find the course engaging and fun.”

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.