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.
December 5, 2025 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Drop-in Days of Service are on-campus opportunities for students to "drop in" and complete service projects for service hours. At these days of service, students will learn more about different...
December 6, 2025 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Show your Laker pride and enjoy the spirit of the season, all wrapped up in one event! Join fellow alumni and families for a holiday brunch. There will be crafts for the little Lakers, photo opportunities...
December 16, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lead with Love: The Habit that Elevates People, Profit, and Purpose In today’s complex and uncertain workplace, leadership rooted in love — not transaction — is a true differentiator. Whether...
January 3, 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...
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
Lobbyist, Obsidian Advocacy Group
Parks Planner for Metro Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee
Sales account manager at Learning Care Group in Novi, Michigan
Campaign Fundraiser Founds Consulting Firm
Research Analyst at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Community Outreach Program Manager for Ready for School
Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School
