About Us: Our Students

Student Distinctives

Political science students at Calvin maintain a high level of involvement in campus life, both academic and extracurricular, and pursue higher levels of education after graduating.

Extracurricular involvement

» Over the past five years, political science or international relations majors have served Chimes, Calvin's student newspaper, as follows:

• 3 of 6 editors-in-chief
• 8 of 12 news editors
• 3 of 7 national/world news editors

» Political science and international relations majors regularly become involved in Student Senate, Calvin's student government.

» A political science student founded Calvin's branch of the national student organization, Democracy Matters.

Academic involvement

» Model United Nations: At the 2008 AMUN Conference, the Calvin delegation won the Best Delegation award (Dan Holtrop and Ana Stutler). At the 2007 Model UN, the Calvin delegation won Best Resolution and Best Delegate awards.

» Michigan Conference of Political Scientists, 2008 Annual Meeting: Two political science students presented papers at this professional conference.

» Paul Henry Institute 2008 Symposium on Religion and Politics: Five POLS/IR majors presented papers at this professional conference, with one featured at the opening session.

» In the summer, typically 2-3 political science and international relations majors are involved in research with a political science professor as part of the McGregor Summer Research Fellowship program.

Internships

» White House internship program: Over the past year, two political science/international relations students—Nate Knapper and Rachael Willett—have served as White House interns.

» U. S. State Department internship program: Over the past two years, three political science/international relations students— Mark Cox, Phil Jackson, and Abby Skeans—have served as State Department interns, one in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and two in the Office of International Religious Freedom.

» Over the past five years, virtually all of the students who have enrolled in the Henry Semester in Washington, DC, and who have sought employment in Washington, DC, upon graduation, have found such work.

Our Alumni

Graduates from department have attended:

Law schools: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Chicago, Michigan, Columbia, and Virginia law schools.

Professional schools: Johns Hopkins University’s Paul Nitze School for Advanced International Studies; the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University; and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Graduate programs: Yale University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, and the University of North Carolina.

Graduates from our department have worked in:

Government: The U. S. Congress (as staff in House and Senate offices), U. S. Department of Labor, U. S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Federal Reserve Board, U. S. Social Security Administration, Peace Corps, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Michigan legislature (as staff and as elected members)

Non-Profit Work: Legal Aid of West Michigan, International Justice Mission, Institute for Global Engagement, Teach for America, Mennonite Central Committee, Campus Crusade for Christ, Association for a Just Society, Sunshine Gospel Ministries in Chicago, World Vision

See what our recent graduates are doing.