Grand Valley International Relations

Welcome to International Relations (IR) at GVSU!

Are you interested in international events and trends? Can you envision a career in global affairs, international business, or law? Have you imagined working for a multinational corporation or an international non-profit institution? The IR program is a good place for you to start.

IR equips majors and minors with the tools they need to understand global and international trends. Our students seek to understand issues of global importance, including development, the environment, security, human rights, migration, and the interconnections between  governance, economics, power, and identity.

Our curriculum includes a strong interdisciplinary core, enhanced by a flexible set of electives that allow you to configure your studies to meet your own interests. 

Please explore our website and contact our Program Director, Professor Polly Diven, ([email protected]) for additional information.

Events

Global Laker Story Slam INT 100/201 APPROVED

November 12, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

GVSU students & alumni who studied abroad or are international will be sharing their stories from around the globe! Are YOU a GVSU student or alumni who participated in a study abroad?...

Love is a Battle: James Baldwin's Patriotism featuring Nicholas Buccola

November 12, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:45 PM

What does it mean to love a country when it does not necessarily love you back? Join the Political Science Department as Professor Nicholas Buccola discusses the role love plays in James Baldwin's...

Diwali Celebration - Indian Student Association

November 15, 2025 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

The Indian Student Association invites you to their annual Diwali Celebration! Join us for prayer, performances, dinner, and dancing.

Thinking Globally: Cultural Meanings of Food (Approved INT 100/201)

November 17, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Join us for a cultural conversation exploring food, language, and cultural identity. We'll dive into the cultural history behind various international dishes, discovering how culture, language,...

Fellowships Information Session: Planning to apply for the Gilman? Exploring Fulbright? Interested in the NSF Goldwater for students planning on graduate research in STEM? Curious about fellowship opportunities generally?

November 20, 2025 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...

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News

Ozinga Starting Law School at Case Western

Ozinga Starting Law School at Case Western

IR alum Kyla Ozinga is starting law school at Case Western

Sep 16, 2025

IR and PLS Alumni Starting Law School

IR and PLS Alumni Starting Law School

PLS, IR and Human Rights alum Taylor Bessinger is attending the University of Illinois College of Law

Sep 12, 2025

Salam Attending Harvard Law

Salam Attending Harvard Law

IR alum Shireen Salam is attending Harvard Law School.

Sep 9, 2025

Diven Honored with Award

Diven Honored with Award

Professor Polly Diven received the 2025 Hillman-Orr Award from the World Affairs Council of West Michigan.

Jun 23, 2025

Avabella Madison awarded the Batchelder Political Science Scholarship

Avabella Madison awarded the Batchelder Political Science Scholarship

The Political Science Department is pleased to recognize Avabella Madison as our Batchelder Scholar for the 2025-2026 academic year.

May 13, 2025

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Spotlights

Amanda Miralrio Spotlight

Amanda Miralrio

Compliance Office for U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control

Megan Murphy Spotlight

Megan Murphy

Project Manager at Community Research Institute

Meghan Ramil Spotlight

Meghan Ramil

Senior Program Specialist, American Geophysical Union

Patrick Miller Spotlight

Patrick Miller

Patrick Miller, Special Investigator for Perspecta

Claudia Hasbun Spotlight

Claudia Hasbun

Global Law Scholar at Georgetown University Law School Secures Position with London Law Firm

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Page last modified August 29, 2022