To make change, understand power. 

Our lives are affected by politics every day, and political events are happening all around us. Political Science is the study of politics and power in its many forms, including protest movements and revolutions, law-making and criminal justice, war and international conflicts, human rights violations and efforts to stop them, campaigns and elections in the U.S. and around the world, and competing political ideas and ideologies.

Our courses provide the tools to analyze and understand all of these things and more, and they also help students develop skills in research, analysis, writing, and speaking that are necessary for success in a variety of professions. Our graduates work in nonprofit organizations, international affairs, law, business, education, advocacy groups, and in local, state, and national government.

The GVSU Political Science Department offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science. We also host an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations.


Events

Virtual Info Session: Harry S. Truman Scholarship

September 26, 2024 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Are you committed to public service and transformative leadership in your chosen field? Are you a current junior (and thus eligible to apply in this academic year) or a first-year or sophomore student...

Virtual Gilman Writing Workshop - Workshopping your Essay Drafts - Approaching the Finish Line!

September 26, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Gilman Program Application Is Now Open!  You'll have thoughtful, engaging essay drafts developing at this point - Now is the time to reflect, revise, consider voice and audience!...

Drop-in Days of Service

September 27, 2024 2:00 PM

Drop-in Days of Service are on-campus opportunities for students to "drop in" and complete service projects for service hours. They are located on GVSU's Allendale Campus in Kirkhof...

JCPenney Suit Up - Fall 2024

September 29, 2024 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

All Grand Valley students and alumni are invited to attend a GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event! This event will include options to participate virtually or in-person. In-person: Come to JCPenney at RiverTown...

GVSU Votes! Tabling Downtown

October 1, 2024 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

GVSU Votes! tabling to help get students registered to vote, know their plan to vote, and check where they are registered to vote. We want to get the downtown campus engaged and excited! RSVP...

Virtual Gilman Writing Workshop - Putting the Finishing Touches on your Gilman Essays!

October 1, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Gilman Program Application Is Now Open!  The Gilman October deadline is approaching! You'll have thoughtful, engaging essay drafts developing at this point - Now is the time to...

One Small Step Listening Event & Reception APPROVED INT 100/201!

October 1, 2024 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

One Small Step is an effort to remind the country of the humanity in all of us, even those with whom we disagree. In collaboration with StoryCorps and a coalition of community organizations, including...

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News

Professor Zinman Publishes New Book

Professor Zinman Publishes New Book

Professor Zinman's new book, America's First Wartime Election, is set to release this November. This will be his second book published with the University Press of Kansas.

Sep 25, 2024

PLS and IR Alumni Starting Law School

PLS and IR Alumni Starting Law School

PLS Alum Charlotte Doran is one of the GVSU Political Science and International Relations alumni starting law school this fall. Charlotte is attending the University of Michigan Law School.

Sep 18, 2024

Hoogwerf Presents Research at APSA Annual Conference

Hoogwerf Presents Research at APSA Annual Conference

GVSU student Nancy Hoogwerf attended this year's American Political Science Association conference to present climate policy research with Professor Schneider.

Sep 9, 2024

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Spotlights

Natalie Cleary

Natalie Cleary, Buyer for Meijer

James Spaanstra

Energy and Natural Resources Attorney

Shaun Brodie

Shaun Brodie, Senior Staff Attorney for the Benefits Review Board at the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Joe Gordon

Product Technician at Sydex Computing Systems

Richard Damstra

Richard Damstra, Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Riga, Latvia

Jeanine Anderson

Senior Legal Counsel at Equinix

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Page last modified October 31, 2023