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.
April 30, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
This spring, we are thrilled to celebrate the newest class of Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy Fellows. As our 2026 graduates prepare to enter the next season of life, we will gather to celebrate...
May 6, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Come test out your trivia knowledge with fellow Lakers! Join us for a fun evening of trivia and connecting with other Grand Valley alumni. Question topics will cover both GVSU and pop culture. Two...
May 13, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 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...
May 19, 2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Join us for the 6th Annual GVSU Cornhole Tournament! Registration is free — just pick a teammate and a team name. All GVSU faculty, staff, and students are eligible to participate. The first...
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
Program Evaluator for Government-funded Programs
Educational Policy Analyst
Senior Staff Attorney for the Benefits Review Board at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Director of Leadership Giving at Farm Sanctuary
Brand Manager, Meijer
1L at MSU College of Law
Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, NATO
