2025-2026 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Welcome to Grand Valley State University
- About Grand Valley
- Academic Excellence
- Grand Valley Equals Grand Value
- University Facts
- Visiting the Campuses
About Grand Valley
A strong liberal education serves as the foundation for Grand Valley's wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs, fostering critical thinking, creative problem solving, and cultural understanding that prepares students for responsibility as local, national, and global citizens. Through personalized learning enhanced by active scholarship, we accomplish our mission of educating students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies.
We're so glad you have decided to join our community of Lakers for a Lifetime.
There is a spirit at Grand Valley that bonds students, faculty members, staff members, and alumni. You'll discover it in our campus traditions. You'll find it in our classrooms and corridors. You'll carry it with you as you go through life. It is this bond, this spirit, that makes you a Laker for a Lifetime.
If you ask our alumni what it means to be a Laker, you'll consistently hear that all Lakers share traits, such as a diverse perspective and a willingness to embrace new ideas. They also have a curiosity and passion for learning, which is often inspired by working closely with a professor who became a personal mentor. You'll also hear about the value of service to others and giving back, learned as much outside the classroom as in it, through the West Michigan community, clubs or organizations, study abroad experiences, or simply engaging in campus life.
The roots of this spirit run deep, back to our founding in 1960. Grand Valley was started by visionary entrepreneurs and West Michigan citizens who wanted to make a difference in the community. Our first students were educational pioneers, willing to take a chance on a different type of college so they could make a difference in the world.
Now it's your turn to contribute to our campus with your talents and your passions, to be fully engaged in your communities, and to care for those around you, your Laker family.
Then, when it is time for you to graduate and give back, you'll be prepared to carry the torch for the students who will follow you. You'll lead by example, so that they can look to you and say, "That's what it means to be a Laker."
Thank you for choosing to be a Laker and for your commitment to being a Laker for a Lifetime.
Mission
At Grand Valley State University, we empower learners in their pursuits, professions, and purpose. The university enriches society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, advancement of equity, and public service.
Vision
Grand Valley State University will prepare globally minded citizens for the future they face and the communities they shape. Our community of educators will create and employ innovative approaches to liberal education and professional programs that center on and prepare students for a lifetime of continual learning and growth.
Values
Innovation: Puts ideas into practice, drives us toward excellence, and represents our forward-thinking mindset. We value entrepreneurship, risk taking, and interdisciplinary collaboration that solve local, regional, and global problems and advance the common good.
Integrity: Drives us to be accountable to ourselves and to others. Integrity moves us to actively pursue and sustain quality educational experiences rooted in research and evidence, and to be excellent stewards of our communities, resources, and planet.
Inclusive and Equitable Community: Fosters and sustains a sense of belonging, promotes diversity and respect, and addresses systemic issues that impact outcomes for those who have been historically excluded from higher education. Inclusion and equity are experienced through our physical campuses and in digital environments, as well as our interpersonal, institutional, and community engagements.
Inquiry: Encourages active questioning and problem solving to improve lives and strengthen communities. Building on our strong foundation of a liberal education and commitment to teaching excellence, we strive to provide opportunities that integrate theory and practice toward personal transformation and career success. Active scholarship, creative expression, and relevant co-curricular experiences drive learners toward fulfillment, prosperity, and justice.
International Perspectives: Support people, planet, and prosperity. We think and act on a global basis. Our efforts at supporting the well-being of individuals, groups, and ecosystems are important locally, nationally, and globally - all of which are interconnected and interdependent.
Antidiscrimination: Grand Valley State University does not discriminate against students, faculty, or staff in any of its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities. Grand Valley State University is guided by values for inclusiveness and community, which are integral to our mission to educate students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies, and to enrich the community through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service. The university is an antidiscrimination, equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. Members of the university community, including students, employees, faculty, staff, administrators, Board members, consultants, vendors, others engaged to do business with the university, candidates for employment or admissions, and visitors or guests have the right to be free from acts of harassment and discrimination, including sexual misconduct, as defined by this policy. In accordance with applicable federal and state law and this policy, acts of discrimination or harassment by members of the campus community are prohibited if they discriminate or harass on the basis of age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, veteran or active duty military status, or weight.
In addition, Grand Valley is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to ensure that none of its education programs and activities discriminate on the basis of sex. Sex includes sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, and pregnancy or related conditions. The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX serves as a resource for the GVSU community and assists individuals who may have been impacted by discrimination, harassment, or misconduct in connecting with resources, imposes measures that protect or support access to programs and activities, and oversees the university's grievance process for allegations of discrimination, harassment, and misconduct. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may be referred to Kathleen Vanderveen, Title IX Coordinator: 4015 Zumberge Hall, vandervk@gvsu.edu, (616) 331-9530.
Notice: All material in this catalog applies to the 2025-2026 academic year and reflects information available on the publication date. Grand Valley State University reserves the right to revise all announcements contained in this publication and, at its discretion, to make reasonable changes in requirements to improve or upgrade academic and nonacademic programs.
Academic Excellence
The university's highest priority is to offer outstanding teaching grounded in the liberal tradition in all undergraduate and graduate programs and vigorous engagement of students in the classroom and other learning environments. Grand Valley is known for excellence in student-centered teaching and learning. Ninety-four percent of regular faculty members have earned doctoral degrees or other appropriate terminal degrees. They are supported by a high-quality nonteaching professional staff and Grand Valley's exceptionally fine teaching facilities. The quality of instruction is enhanced further by small class size, individual student advising, and career counseling.
Our instructional offerings encompass more than 350 areas of study, including 107 undergraduate and 44 graduate programs.
Grand Valley Equals Grand Value
At Grand Valley State University, we recognize that the more quickly students complete their degrees the less their education will cost. Grand Valley has a long-standing practice of supporting and helping students make regular progress toward graduation, making the excellent education they receive at Grand Valley also a "Grand Value."
Nearly all of Grand Valley's undergraduate degrees can be completed in four years of full-time study.* Full-time students who select a degree program requiring completion of 120 credit hours will be able to count on a four-year graduation when they
- tell their advisor that they plan to study full-time and intend to graduate in four years;
- obtain a list of prerequisites and required classes and fulfill it;
- visit regularly with their advisor to ensure their course selections are timely and correct;
- maintain the same major and minor; and
- successfully complete at least 30 credit hours of coursework every academic year without repeating courses.
*Some undergraduate programs, primarily in education and select professional fields, require more than 120 hours for the baccalaureate degree, usually to meet state or national accreditation requirements. Please consult our catalog for degree requirements, which are listed by department in the Academic Programs section of the catalog.
University Facts
Visit gvsu.edu/quickfacts for facts about Grand Valley State University.
Visiting the Campuses
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus and talk with staff members in admissions or financial aid. The Admissions and Recruitment Office is happy to make arrangements to tour the campus and meet with an admissions recruiter.
Prospective students should make an appointment with the Admissions and Recruitment Office, especially for Saturday visits, by contacting:
Grand Valley State University
Admissions and Recruitment Office
300 Lubbers Student Services Center
Allendale, Michigan 49401-9403
NEED ASSISTANCE?
Pease submit questions or comments via email at admissions@gvsu.edu or by phone at:
- (616) 331-2025
- Toll free: (800) 748-0246 (for Admissions and Recruitment, Financial Aid, Housing, and Records and Registration)
VIRTUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS
For an interactive virtual tour of campus, visit gvsu.edu/360tour-index.htm.
Allendale, Michigan
Grand Valley's 1,300-acre Valley Campus is located 12 miles west of Grand Rapids and is home to state-of-the-art facilities that include classrooms, research laboratories, teaching labs, lab prep rooms, computer labs, and the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Valley's City Campus totals 71 acres in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. The principal buildings on the City Campus are the Richard M. DeVos Center, L.V. Eberhard Center, John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering, Fred M. Keller Engineering Laboratories, Innovation Design Center, and the L. William Seidman Center. Their state-of-the-art facilities include classrooms, computer labs, laboratories, and the Steelcase library.
The Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences is located at the top of Grand Rapids' Medical Mile, on our Health Campus, next to Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, which was completed in 2018. The newest addition downtown is the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health. Together, the buildings provide classrooms, computer labs, teaching and research labs, and a Simulation Center.
Holland, Michigan
The Meijer Campus in Holland, located at 515 Waverly Road, Holland, is now home to the Police Academy program.
REGIONAL CENTERS
Battle Creek, Michigan
Grand Valley State University at the Battle Creek Innovation Hub (BCIH) serves as the university's regional center for Southwest Michigan, supporting GVSU programs and partnerships across 13 counties. Located in downtown Battle Creek, the facility includes classrooms, along with dedicated spaces for K12 after-school and weekend programming. The hub includes an event space, a culinary instructional kitchen, lobby seating, café with seating area, and a nursing room.
BCIH also supports entrepreneurship and small business development. To meet with an advisor in-person, virtually, or by phone, please email gvsubattlecreek@gvsu.edu or call/text (616) 331-7610. Information on our campus in Battle Creek can be found at gvsu.edu/battlecreek/bcih.
Detroit, Michigan
The GVSU Detroit Center, located at 163 Madison Street in downtown Detroit, is the central hub for university activity in the heart of Michigan's largest city. The center hosts workshops, seminars, professional development, and other large gatherings.
Are you a Detroit-area student and need a place to work on a project, write a paper, study for tests, or read in a quiet, academic setting? The Detroit Center is available for personal study sessions or computer lab use for all your study needs with rooms available to reserve; you can reserve a space right now in a classroom or lab.
Muskegon, Michigan
The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, housed in the Lake Michigan Center on Muskegon Lake, conducts research with a primary focus on the water quality of Michigan and the region. The Muskegon Innovation Hub, located in the Muskegon Lakeshore SmartZone on Muskegon Lake, is a business innovation center that provides coaching, funding, networking, and a synergistic work environment to help businesses and entrepreneurs.
Traverse City, Michigan
Grand Valley's Traverse City Regional Center, located at the Northwestern Michigan College University Center, offers undergraduate degrees in allied health and integrative studies, as well as graduate degrees in education and physician assistant studies. In addition to degree programs, the center also provides certificate programs and a full range of student support services. For more information about GVSU in Northern Michigan, contact (231) 995-1785 or visit gvsu.edu/traverse.