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.
June 10, 2026 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
For our 30-year anniversary of the Occupational Science & Therapy department, we are hosting a Summer Speaker Series. Our first guest speaker will be Denise Hoffman, Michigan's Occupational...
June 11, 2026 5:30 PM
Enjoy an evening of baseball, food, beverages, and Laker connections as the Kalamazoo Growlers take on the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. It is also Military Appreciation Night, and you can enjoy a post-game...
June 17, 2026 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
FROM SKILL TO BUSINESS: TRADES, FOOD, AND SERVICE ENTREPRENEURS Wednesday, June 17th | Northwest Activities Center | 4:00pm – 6:00pm Facilitator: Vaughn Arrington, President of Human...
June 23, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Join us for a virtual “Ask an Advisor” session designed specifically for alumni seeking general career support and guidance. This open Q&A format offers the opportunity to ask questions...
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
Product Technician at Sydex Computing Systems
Campaign Fundraiser Founds Consulting Firm
Director of Leadership Giving at Farm Sanctuary
Senior Director of Episode Development Analytics at Signify Health
Associate Attorney at Jenner & Block
Master's Student Working for State Department
Director of Economic Development, DTE Energy
