Dalhousie University. Faculty of Management. School of Public Administration

Corporate body (Dalhousie University)

Dalhousie University. Faculty of Management. School of Public Administration

• Dalhousie University. Faculty of Management Studies. School of Public Administration (1985-1989)
• Dalhousie University. Faculty of Administrative Studies. School of Public Administration (1975-1985)

CAN-NSHD/1614-01

1975-

The School of Public Administration was established on 1 July 1975, the same date as the new Faculty of Administrative Studies opened. However, the public administration tradition at Dalhousie goes back to 1936, when it became the first university in Canada to offer classes in public policy and public management. Between 1938-1949 the Faculty of Graduate Studies awarded 13 Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees to students through Dalhousie's Institute of Public Affairs. This graduate program fell dormant after 1951 and, in an effort to revive a degree course in public administration, in 1969 three programs were launched designed to meet the needs of practising and prospective civil servants, including the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. These were administered by the Department of Political Science, with decisions and structures shared with the Department of Commerce.

The school continues to provide foundational training in all aspects of public management and policy making to foster the development of future public sector leaders. Its Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Administration – Management (MPA/M) programs are accredited by the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA).

The School of Public Administration is located in the Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building on Dalhousie's Studley Campus.

The School of Public Administration offers programs of study leading to a Bachelor of Management with a Major in Public Sector Management (BMgmt) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA); as well as joint degrees: Master of Public Administration – Juris Doctor (MPA/JD); Master of Public Administration – Management (MPA M); and Master of Public Administration – Master of Library & Information Services (MPA/MLIS). The school also offers graduate diplomas in Public Administration (GDPA) and in Public Administration Management (GDPA M).

The school supports research in public policy and public sector management with both public and private-sector research organizations. Specific research areas include Local Economic Growth and Food Security in Cuba; The Critical Infrastructure Protection Initiative; Understanding and Responding to Terrorist Threats; Population Decline; E-Government and Democracy; and Population Challenges in Rural Atlantic Canada.

The basic statute relating to Dalhousie University is Chapter 24 of the Acts of 1863. This statute replaced earlier statutes, and the 1863 statute itself has been amended and supplemented several times over the years. The provisions of these various statutes provide for the establishment and regulation of the university, the membership of the Board of Governors and its rights and powers, the authority of senate for the internal regulation of the university (subject to the approval of the board), and various other matters.

The School of Public Administration is within the Faculty of Management and is led by a limited-term school director supported by program directors and staff. In 2021 the school had ten faculty members, 12 adjunct professor and one professor emeritus.

Dalhousie University. Faculty of Management (1975-)

Dalhousie University. Faculty of Management. Rowe School of Business (1930-)

Dalhousie University. Faculty of Management. School for Resource and Environmental Studies (1973-)

Dalhousie University. Faculty of Management. School of Information Management (1969-)