Overview

As a political science student at Calvin, you'll have the opportunity to study the political foundations of a variety of nations and historical periods. You'll also be challenged to explore the ways in which your faith can impact policy and promote justice in society.

Careers in Political Science

• State Representative
• Police Officer
• Judge
• Federal Program Administrator
• Special Interests Advocate
• Reporter
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Study abroad for a semester in Washington D.C.; participate in Model UN or Amnesty International; run for Student Senate; write for or edit the Chimes.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Political Science major

(33 semester hours)

• POLS-101 American Politics
• POLS-207 Introduction to International Politics
• POLS-240 Political Ideas in Historical Perspective
• POLS-251Methods in Political Analysis
  • As a supplement to POLS-251, MATH-143 Introduction to Probability and Statistics is strongly encouraged.
• One course from:
  • POLS-102 Canadian Politics
  • POLS-271 Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective
  • POLS-272 Global Democratization
  • POLS-275 European Politics
  • POLS-276 Latin American Politics
  • POLS-277 Asian Politics
  • POLS-279 African Politics
• Eighteen additional semester hours from the department, which may include one interim course
• A maximum of six semester hours of internship credit may be applied to the major.

Political Science minor

(21 semester hours)

• One course from:
  • POLS-101 American Politics
  • POLS-202 American State and Local Politics
  • POLS-208 Urban Politics
  • POLS-209 Public Administration
  • POLS-212 American Public Policy
  • POLS-310 Constitutional Law and Judicial Process
  • POLS-312 Men, Women, and the Law
  • POLS-314 The President and Congress
  • POLS-317 Parties and Elections
  • POLS-318 American Politics and Mass Media
• One course from:
  • POLS-102 Canadian Politics
  • POLS-207 Introduction to International Politics
  • POLS-271 Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective
  • POLS-272 Global Democratization
  • POLS-275 European Politics
  • POLS-276 Latin American Politics
  • POLS-277 Asian Politics
  • POLS-279 African Politics
  • POLS-304 International Peace and Security
  • POLS-307 Terrorism
  • POLS-308 Principles of American Foreign Policy
  • POLS-309 International Organizations and Law
  • POLS-319 International Political Economy
  • POLS-328 The Global Politics of Human Rights
• One course from:
  • POLS-110 Persons in Political Community
  • POLS-240 Political Ideas in Historical Perspective
  • POLS-306 History of Modern Political Thought
  • POLS-312 Men, Women, and the Law
  • POLS-320 Contemporary Political Thought
• Twelve additional semester hours from the department, which may include one interim course

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Bere' Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $950
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.50+
• planning to attend law school; financial need secondary factor; Christian character, motivation, potential for service as a lawyer
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Ronald Buikema Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• senior pursuing a pre-law program or graduate program in politics or government
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need not required; preference to graduates of any Chicago are high schools
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Thomas F. Caldon, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• first-year
• HS GPA 3.3+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

DeKryger-Monsman Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• freshman, sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; demonstrate academic excellence
• apply through the political science department

Honorable John Feikens Memorial Pre-Law Scholarship

• award amount: $3,600
• junior or senior
• financial need considered; pursuing a pre-law program or a degree in political science;planning to attend law school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Peace and Justice Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need not required; be actively involved with global peace and justice issues
• apply through the political science department

Dr. James Penning Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.2+
• financial need not required; be interested in a career in state and local government
• apply through the political science department

Kenneth L. Ryskamp Scholarship

• award amount: $4,400
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required; demonstrate Christian faith and indicate how their Christian faith will be used in the practice of law and how they plan to use their law degree to benefit the Kingdom
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Charles Strikwerda Scholarship in Political Science

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the political science department

Jacob and Rena Van Dellen Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Lyle and Barbara (Duimstra) Voskuil Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those interested in international and global relationships
• apply through the political science department or the economics department

Wallace (Dutch) and Olive Waalkes Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to seniors
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Johan and Wilma Westra Scholarship

• award amount: $900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those who are active in volunteer work and with a career goal in public service
• apply through the political science department

Dr. Bernard Zylstra, S.J.D., Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the history department, the philosophy department or the political science department

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

LaTasha Chaffin Instructor Department of Political Science DeVos Center 273B lyc2@calvin.edu 616-526-7023 Kevin den Dulk Associate Professor Paul Henry Chair in Christianity and Politics Department of Political Science DC 261K krd33@calvin.edu (616) 526-6234 Simona Goi Associate Professor Department of Political Science DCC 261J sgoi@calvin.edu (616) 526-6459 Pamela Hoekwater Instructor Department of Political Science DeVos Center 273C pjh3@calvin.edu 616-526-6218

Mikael Pelz Assistant Professor Department of Political Science DC 261-I mlp23@calvin.edu (616) 526-6232 Sheri Rogers Instructor Department of Political Science DeVos Center 273C ssikke89@calvin.edu (616) 526-8769 Joel Westra Associate Professor Pre-law advisor Department of Political Science DCC 261H jhw3@calvin.edu (616) 526-6727

Teach This

Interested in teaching? You can gain certification in Political Science as a:

• Political science Minor to teach at the Secondary level - see program requirements

• Social studies Group major to teach at the Elementary, secondary level - see program requirements

Calvin's teacher education program also contains education-specific course requirements that you must complete prior to certification. See course requirements for:

• Elementary education
• Secondary education