The Department of Government, Criminology, & Sociology provides students with opportunities to study criminology, paralegal studies, political science, public administration, and sociology. Our curricula prepare students for a variety of careers in government service, law and law enforcement, and social service and non-profit organizations.
Ashley Woodiwiss
Department Chair
864-388-8136 | awoodiwiss@lander.edu | Carnell Learning Center M51
The study of politics can’t be confined within classroom walls. To fully grasp this discipline, you need to get out in the real world – in congressional offices, on the campaign trail, in political party headquarters. You’ll have opportunities to take it all in firsthand through internships. We can make arrangements for you to spend a summer or semester working in the Washington, Columbia or local offices of your congressional representatives. You could also intern with businesses, television stations, and political, professional and nonprofit organizations.
Washington Semester ProgramLander students are able to spend a semester living in Washington, D.C., through the prestigious Washington Semester Program coordinated by the Honors College of the University of South Carolina. Students are placed within federal government offices or in nongovernmental offices (think tanks, media organizations, etc.) to benefit their educational experience in the nation's capital.
Department Awards
Awards are granted annually to outstanding university students from all disciplines during a ceremony each spring.
For senior political science major Citlali Avila-Cabrera, spending a semester in Washington, D.C., was not a hard decision. Where she would complete an internship, however, proved to be a difficult choice.
Deciding what to study in college is a difficult choice for many people, but not for Carleisha Gilliam ’15. Since early childhood, she knew that she wanted to go into law enforcement.
When U.S. President Joe Biden needed a U.S. Marshal for South Carolina, he chose Lander University alumna Chrissie Cofield Latimore ’11.
