Academics and Programs
Academic Programs
With over 200 areas of study to choose from, a liberal education emphasis, excellent faculty, and hands-on research opportunities, you're sure to find what you're looking for at Grand Valley.
First-Rate Faculty
Grand Valley's faculty members are highly accomplished and love to teach. Our faculty members know you by name and will help you succeed. Our faculty is also respected nationally – Grand Valley ranks second in our category for faculty Fulbright Scholars. More than 55 Grand Valley faculty and staff members have earned Fulbright awards since 1964.
Graduate Assistantship
Graduate assistantships are work opportunities offered to graduate students. Graduate assistantships provide graduate students a tuition waiver and part-time, paid work experience. There are a limited number of graduate assistantships available for qualified students.
A Great Investment
A Grand Valley education is a great investment. The return on that investment ensures graduates are uniquely prepared with the knowledge, skills, and understanding that employers seek and reward. You will have the skills to succeed wherever your career and life take you.
Even better, Grand Valley supports your success by providing a full range of academic, career, and other support services, such as the GVSU Career Center, designed to help you achieve your goals. The Career Center will host free sessions such resume writing and interviewing workshops. Also, over 1600 employers participate in job fairs, on campus interviews and other on campus events every year.
Grand Valley offers over 200 areas of study, all of which are taught by passionate faculty members who are leaders in their fields and come from all over the United States and the world.
We are proud to offer our undergraduates research opportunities that are generally only available to graduate students at other universities. Grand Valley even sponsors research grants for undergraduate students. The Students Summer Scholars program provides $8,000 grants for summer research with Grand Valley faculty members.
There are great opportunities for graduate students at Grand Valley. Many of our graduates have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty or pursue internships at local companies, providing a wide range of professional experiences. Graduate students can receive research grants from Grand Valley as well as funding to attend professional conferences. In addition, students who conduct research may participate in our annual Graduate Showcase.
Living on campus will provide learning resources to enhance your education. Visit the housing website for more information.
Real Research: Real Impact
At Grand Valley, we don’t require you to wait until you are pursuing an advanced degree to conduct the kind of research that has impact -- both on you and society. Undergraduates study everything from Parkinson’s to antibiotic resistance to disease in bats, giving them crucial real-world experience and making discoveries that affect their field.
- Dedicated faculty members who relish the opportunity to work with students in their laboratories or in the field will lead your learning.
- You also have a chance to conduct independent research with the helpful-but-not-intrusive guidance of a faculty member.
- Grand Valley regularly showcases students’ research, allowing them a venue to share their findings with the academic community.
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REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
Hands-on learning and other fieldwork not only deepen your mastery of your discipline but also give you the edge employers will seek. As a Laker, you will have the knowledge, the real-world experience, and the tools to make it all work together. Your education will prepare you to thrive in in-demand industries like engineering, business, and life sciences.
- Nearly 8,400 students gain experience in internships and co-ops every year.
- Fieldwork is built into the curriculum for many degrees, so your hands-on work and coursework effectively complement each other.
- Advisors, faculty members, and others actively work to find you the best fieldwork opportunities.
- There are many options for paid internships and co-ops, giving you some help financially while learning.
MICHIGAN'S 2ND LARGEST CITY
- Grand Valley is located in the heart of Grand Rapids, providing students and graduates access to a variety of industries from health professions, engineering, business, and more.
- Grand Rapids has the fastest growing economy in the U.S.
- Find internships, co-ops, volunteer, and research opportunities, all easily accessible from downtown Grand Rapids.
- Be part of a growing city, with emerging businesses and industries, include over 130 international companies.
THE HEART OF HEALTHCARE
- Located on the "Medical Mile", Grand Valley's Health Campus is a catalyst for healthcare partnerships and joint research ventures.
- This location places students within walking distance of clinical and unique learning experiences at organizations such as Spectrum Health and the Van Andel Institute.
- The Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS) and Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall are state-of-the-art facilities housing classrooms, laboratories, and hospital simulation labs.
- The new DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health (opening in May) will be the flagship of the Health Campus, allowing interaction between students from all nursing and health professions programs.
A LEADER IN STEM
- 7,318 GVSU students did student teaching, clinical, fieldwork, co-op, internship, and practicum in 2020-2021.
- Grand Valley remains the leading provider of health care professionals in our region with over 9,300 students enrolled in our 65 health-related programs.
- The Padnos School of Engineering was ranked one of the best undergraduate engineering programs in the country in U.S. News and World Report's "2022 Best Colleges" rankings.
- Students in Grand Valley's Nursing and Engineering programs boast a 100% pass rate on licensure exams.
- Grand Valley's Engineering programs were rated one of the best in the midwest in U.S. News & World Report's "2022 Best Colleges" rankings.
- Grand Valley was ranked 16 among "Most Innovative Schools" in U.S. News & World Report's "2022 Best Colleges" rankings.