Bachelor of Science in Political Science

at Grand Valley State University USA

Integrative studies majors are passionate doers and critical thinkers. No one course of study is the same. Our faculty will help you create a one-of-a-kind experience that provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to find innovative solutions to real-world, complex problems and become a leader in your profession, community, and the world.

Why Choose Integrative Studies At Grand Valley?

• Create an individualized course of study in partnership with an advisor, drawing from courses across the university, resulting in more than 300 majors.
• Flexible degree pathways for traditional and adult learners with course formats designed to fit your busy schedule. Plus, many transfer courses count toward degree completion.
• Gain real-world work experience while creating networking opportunities that result in job connections.
• Strengthen intercultural and interpersonal skills through collaboration, problem-solving, leadership training, and adaptation.
• High-touch, place-based experiential learning opportunities on all of GVSU's campuses - Traverse City, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Allendale.

Grand Valley's unique combination of practical skills training within the context of a liberal arts education prepares graduates for a wide range of careers. The following degrees are offered to criminal justice majors:

• The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• The Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Minor in Juvenile Justice or Criminal Justice

Why Study Criminal Justice At Grand Valley?

• Grand Valley has one of the largest criminal justice programs in the country and faculty who are nationally recognized for contributions in the discipline.
• Students have the chance to complete an internship in the agency or organization of their choosing.
• Faculty members bring diverse interests and practical experiences in the profession to the classroom.
• There are opportunities to assist faculty with fieldwork, gathering and analyzing data on community issues and programs.
• Grand Valley is known as a leader in the state for police academy training and continually sets the bar for law enforcement education.

The photography program offers high-quality, student-centered, production and theory courses aimed at developing liberally educated professionals able to thoughtfully adapt and thrive in a variety of professional and creative environments.

A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree is offered. A minor is also available.

Why Study Photography At Grand Valley?

• A dedication to the education of intelligent image-makers that is neither constrained in a vocational training program, nor a narrow studio art emphasis alone, is what makes the photography program at Grand Valley distinct and valued in the state and region.
• The school has many ties with business, community, and cultural organizations, and has contacts with experts in a variety of areas in communications, which serve as outstanding resources both within the classroom and for internships.
• The diversity of courses offered allows students the opportunity to explore a variety of photographic methods and applications as they develop their personal expertise and interests.
• The program prepares students to engage graduate studies in fine art programs.
• Faculty members in photography have a broad range of professional experience and a dedication to teaching.

Students are prepared for engineering careers and leadership roles through programs that integrate academic studies with hands-on learning and paid professional experiences in actual engineering companies. Grand Valley also offers a graduate program in engineering for those who want to expand their knowledge and skills.

Why Study Engineering At Grand Valley?

• Program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, abet.org.
• Extensive hands-on and project-based learning in small, student-focused classes.
• Three semesters of paid cooperative-education work experience prior to graduation in recognized domestic and international engineering companies.
• Strong support from industrial partners who fund many engineering scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students, as well as sponsor Capstone design projects.
• A nearly 100-percent placement rate into work or graduate school for our graduates.

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in health informatics and bioinformatics is a Professional Science Masters (PSM) program. The medical and bioinformatics program has strong data analytics, teamwork, business, communication, project management, and ethics components, and includes an intensive health or life science internship.

Why Study Health Informatics And Bioinformatics At Grand Valley?

• One of five professional science masters (PSM) programs at Grand Valley. The demand for professionals working in all of the PSM fields is high, with income and job projections continuing to trend upward in the coming years.
• The program is tailored toward working professionals, offering flexible class schedules with evening meetings.
• Innovative program designed to integrate university coursework with business and health industry internships to educate informatics professionals for the future.
• Access to a high-performance computing lab for health informatics and bioinformatics needs.
• Qualified faculty members with a breadth of industry experience lead in the classroom and collaborate in ongoing research.

Choose from the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree after completing 42 major-specific credits. The curriculum allows students to determine their own course of study, balancing creative and professional writing interests. Students also complete an internship to enhance their writing skills.

For students who wish to add to their current major and enhance their writing, the department offers the option to minor in writing.

Why Study Writing At Grand Valley?

• The writing major involves liberal arts training in which students become critical readers, careful thinkers, and skilled writers.
• The department offers one of the few independent undergraduate writing majors in the country.
• Students who want to focus on professional or technical writing can do so in a program that exposes them to the latest technologies for print and web environments.
• The department offers students a variety of extracurricular writing activities including a student-run literary journal, a visiting writing series, a student reading series, an organization for professional writers, a student-produced department newsletter, and opportunities for travel to writing conferences.
• Students may choose to complete a Distinction in Writing, a program that encourages them to pursue excellence beyond the classroom.

German is the most widely spoken language in Europe, with around 100 million native speakers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The languages listed below count toward the Bachelor of Arts third semester language requirement:

• Majors in French, German, and Spanish
• Minors in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish
• Three years of language and culture courses in Japanese
• Two years of language in Italian

Why Study Modern Languages And Literatures At Grand Valley?

• Study of the German language prepares students for multicultural career settings in the U.S. and abroad.
• German complements majors in many other fields, such as international relations, international business, history, political science, as well as the sciences and fine arts.
• The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures works closely with the Padnos International Center to make many opportunities for study abroad available.
• The study of the language and people of Germany broadens a student's knowledge and understanding of cross cultural communication, intercultural competence, interpersonal skills, and analytical skills.
• German is the second most commonly used scientific language. Germany is the third largest contributor to research and development and offers research fellowships to scientists from abroad.

The program requires a minimum of 36 credits. Requisite courses, from statistics, computer science, and professional science, provide students with a strong foundation in data science. This is an applied program for the working professional.

Why Study Data Science And Analytics At Grand Valley?

• Job postings for data science grew 57 percent for the first quarter of 2017. Data-related jobs are expected to grow by 11 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• This flexible program is designed with the working professional in mind, offering evening classes.
• The program offers experiential learning through field experiences and collaborative assignments and projects.
• First-rate faculty members are trained professionals with advanced degrees in data science.
• The program features a strong emphasis in the fundamentals of data science.

Students are prepared for engineering careers and leadership roles through ABET accredited programs that integrate academic studies with hands-on learning and paid professional experiences in actual engineering companies. Grand Valley also offers a graduate program in engineering for those who want to expand their knowledge and skills.

Why Study Computer Engineering At Grand Valley?

• Personal attention in small classes and complete hands-on and project-based learning in our student-focused, state-of-the-art teaching, laboratory, and project facilities.
• Opportunity to specialize in areas such as embedded system design, digital system design, computer architecture, software engineering and operating systems.
• Collaborate with our industry partners who sponsor capstone design projects, fund engineering scholarships and provide career opportunities.
• Three semesters of paid cooperative-education work experience prior to graduation in recognized domestic and international engineering companies.
• Join a group of successful graduates who have achieved a nearly 100% placement in industry-based careers or graduate school.

Majoring in geography provides students with the knowledge and technical skills to find long-term, place-based solutions that are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable.

Both a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees are offered. In addition to the general geography degree, there are four distinctive areas of emphasis:

• Climate change mitigation, adaptation and resiliency planning
• City and regional planning
• Environment and global development
• Geospatial technology using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite imagery

Why Study Geography At Grand Valley?

• Coursework includes research and community engagement opportunities that provide hands-on, real-world experience and networking connections.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and planning are in the top 10 hot jobs in the country.
• Students acquire skills in research and analysis using the latest technology, leading to exciting, well-paid jobs both foreign and domestic, all while enhancing graduate school admissions.
• Career preparation and skills for academia, business, government and non-profits.
• The 2019 median pay for a geographer with a bachelor's degree was $81,540 per year and $39.20 per hour.