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.
February 3, 2026 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Join NPR correspondent Emily Feng for an exploration of identity and belonging in China, highlighting the intersection of politics, ideology, and everyday life under Xi Jinping, based on her on-the-ground...
February 4, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Sharing our Perspectives and Experiences EVENT REGISTRATION At this moment in our country and world, change is happening at a rapid pace. Some are excited by what they see as positive movement...
February 10, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Welcome! Join us to explore the world of nationally competitive fellowships. Planning to apply for the Gilman to help defray the cost of GVSU undergraduate study abroad? Exploring Fulbright or another...
February 10, 2026 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Gain inside information on career paths, resumes, interviewing, networking, and other career-related concepts that you can start using TODAY as a student by rotating between stations led by GVSU alumni...
Olivia Robach (PLS and IR double major) earned a scholarship to join student scholars from around the US to attend the annual conference of the World Affairs Council in Washington, DC in November 2025.
Dec 3, 2025
This spring, Dr. Whitt Kilburn, Associate Professor of Political Science at Grand Valley State University, published Introduction to Political Analysis in R through Chapman and Hall/CRC.
Sep 12, 2025
Vice President of Government Affairs, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
Business Development Manager at Custer, Inc.
Associate Attorney at Jenner & Block
Manager, State Government Affairs, Charter Communications
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
Program Manager for the American College of Cardiology.
Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, NATO
