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.
November 14, 2024 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Step Afrika! 101 is an energetic, educational introduction to the art form of stepping. Merging the steps and strolls created and still practiced by Black Greek-letter organizations with the sounds...
November 15, 2024 2:00 PM
Drop-in Days of Service are on-campus opportunities for students to "drop in" and complete service projects for service hours. They are located on GVSU's Allendale Campus in Kirkhof...
November 15, 2024 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Come out and hang with us for a fun night of dancing, food, and of course, jamming to K-pop! Pizza will be provided and there will be a photo opportunity. This is a "prom" event, so feel...
November 18, 2024 All Day
You're invited to learn about the research projects, innovative designs, and assessments that students in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENS) Program have been working on this semester. Starting...
November 18, 2024 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Learn about classical Arabic music through the journey of Simon Shaheen & sample international cuisine!
November 19, 2024 All Day
You're invited to learn about the research projects, innovative designs, and assessments that students in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENS) Program have been working on this semester. Starting...
November 19, 2024 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Join us for a cultural conversation exploring food, language, and cultural identity. We'll dive into the cultural history behind various international dishes, discovering how culture, language,...
Victor Cardenas' life has been characterized by service to the public and Grand Valley. Cardenas graduated from GVSU in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He earned a master's degree in public affairs from Indiana University and executive
Sep 30, 2024
Professor Zinman's new book, America's First Wartime Election, is set to release this November. This will be his second book published with the University Press of Kansas.
Sep 25, 2024
PLS Alum Charlotte Doran is one of the GVSU Political Science and International Relations alumni starting law school this fall. Charlotte is attending the University of Michigan Law School.
Sep 18, 2024
Studying Abroad in Ghana
Rebakah Bailey, Partner at Nichols Kaster in Minneapolis
Political Science Professor
Mayor of Tirana, Albania
City Planner/Zoning Administrator for the City of Norton Shores, Michigan
Keeping the Community Warm
