Amanda Fortino
Director of Leadership Giving at Farm Sanctuary
Programs Offered
The GVSU Political Science Department:
- Offers a major (BA or BS), a minor and a teachable minor in Political Science.
- Offers a dual degree: BA or BS in Political Science and a JD from Michigan State University School of Law.
- Is the home department for the interdisciplinary International Relations major (BA) and minor.
Major and Minor Requirements
- Political Science major (BA or BS)
- Political Science minor
- Political Science teachable minor
- LEAP (Legal Education Admission Program). Dual degree:
BA or BS from GVSU political science. JD from Michigan State University College of Law. - International Relations major (BA)
- International Relations minor
Student Learning Outcomes
Advising Resources
PLS Alumni Spotlights
Andrew Wilson
Senior Director of Episode Development Analytics at Signify Health
Jeanine Anderson
Senior Legal Counsel at Equinix
Erik Lazdins
Lobbyist for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Hannah Patrick
Contracts Administrator for Integrated Health Partners
News
Robach attends the National Conference of the World Affairs Council as a Student Scholar
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
Kilburn Publishes New Book
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
PLS and IR Alumni Starting Law School
PLS alum William Thompson is attending law school at the University of Michigan
Sep 12, 2025
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
The Political Science Department is pleased to recognize Avabella Madison as our Batchelder Scholar for the 2025-2026 academic year.
May 13, 2025
Events
Fulbright US Student Program - Virtual Information Session
January 15, 2026 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad? Are you curious about studying for a Master's degree abroad? The Fulbright program might be for you! Join me to learn more! For more Information...
Open Minds Book Club: I, Robot
January 21, 2026 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
For the January 2026 session of Open Minds, we will be reading and discussing I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. "I, Robot, the first and most widely read book in Asimov’s Robot series,...
GVSU Detroit Sports Days
January 25, 2026 All Day
Join fellow Lakers for two days of sports in Detroit! Cheer on the Red Wings and Pistons and score limited-edition, co-branded merch! Each ticket sold through this special package includes a donation...
Director of Alumni Relations Meet & Greet - Detroit
January 25, 2026 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Meet Mike Przydzial '12, the new Director of Alumni Relations! Please join us for a meet-and-greet reception as we celebrate Mike’s arrival and look ahead to the future of our Laker...
Show Me the Money: Investing and Income in Retirement
January 27, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Transitioning into retirement can be a big change. One of the most common questions is “how do I replace my paycheck?” During this session, we will discuss how your investment strategy...