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

Credit Reports & Scores

October 8, 2024 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Join Christopher Rusche '08 and Casey Byers to learn the tools to understand what a credit score is, how to read a credit report and why it is so important. We will equip you with the tools to...

Virtual Info Session: Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) - Arabic Info Session

October 8, 2024 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Interested in intensive language study abroad? Join CLS Program Officers and an alumni ambassador to learn about CLS Arabic offerings. The CLS Program provides opportunities for American college...

JET Program Information Sessions (Detroit Consulate of Japan and JET alumni)

October 8, 2024 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

The JET Program USA – The Experience of a Lifetime is a competitive, honorific fellowship (much like the Fulbright U.S. Student ETA program), administered by the Government of Japan. Might you...

GVSU Fall 2024 Career and Internship Fair

October 9, 2024 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

The Fall Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni of...

Virtual Info Session: Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) - Chinese Info Session

October 9, 2024 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Interested in intensive language study abroad? Join CLS Program Officers and an alumni ambassador to learn about CLS Chinese offerings. The CLS Program provides opportunities for American college...

Democracy 101: Your Voice Matters | Voter Education

October 9, 2024 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Democracy 101 is a series of civic engagement informational seminars. Our third event will educate students on how to vote, what a ballot looks like, how to get registered to vote, and other ways...

How President Bill Clinton's Campaigns Reshaped Modern Presidential Politics

October 10, 2024 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

President Bill Clinton's 1992 (and 1996) campaigns reshaped modern electoral politics by implementing various innovative election tactics. In some ways, these tactics returned campaigns to...

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News

Victor Cardenas '00 2024 Alumni Service Award Recipient

Victor Cardenas '00 2024 Alumni Service Award Recipient

Victor Cardenas' life has been characterized by service to the public and Grand Valley. Cardenas graduated from GVSU in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He earned a master's degree in public affairs from Indiana University and executive

Sep 30, 2024

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

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Spotlights

Andrea Haverdink

Andrea Haverdink, Digital Director at Americans For Tax Fairness and Creative Director for Unfiltered Media

Shaun Brodie

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

Natalie Cleary

Natalie Cleary, Buyer for Meijer

Steve Smith

Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Worldwide Digital Content, Advertising, and Corporate Development

Dorothy Sewe

Aids Refugee Relocation Efforts

Erin (Meteer) Hendges

Campaign Fundraiser Founds Consulting Firm

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Page last modified October 31, 2023