Dartmouth University

What you'll study

At Dartmouth, public administration and public policy study is delivered through the Government department and related interdisciplinary programmes that combine political analysis, quantitative methods and practical experience. Core topics include public institutions and administration, public policy analysis, ethics in public service, comparative public administration, budgeting and public finance, organisational behaviour, and research methods in the social sciences.

• Foundations of politics and government: American politics, comparative politics, public law and constitutional processes.
• Policy analysis and design: programme and policy evaluation, cost–benefit analysis, regulatory policy, and sectoral policy studies (health, education, environment).
• Public management and administration: organisational theory, human resources in the public sector, leadership and strategic management for public organisations.
• Quantitative and qualitative methods: statistics for social scientists, econometrics basics, survey design, and qualitative field methods.
• Public finance: budgeting, fiscal federalism, taxation and revenue management.
• Experiential elements: internship placements, practicum courses, workshops with practitioners, and a capstone project or senior thesis that applies analytical tools to a real-world administrative or policy issue.
• Electives and interdisciplinary opportunities: courses in economics, sociology, environmental studies, health policy, and management (including cross‑registration opportunities with graduate programmes where permitted).

Entry requirements

Dartmouth admits undergraduates through a holistic process typical of elite liberal‑arts colleges. Applicants for a pathway in public administration or public policy should demonstrate a strong secondary‑school academic record with challenging coursework (advanced placement, IB or national equivalents where available). Admissions factors include academic performance, letters of recommendation, personal essays, and extracurricular engagement that shows civic interest, leadership or community service.

Recommended academic preparation includes coursework in history, government/social studies, mathematics (to prepare for quantitative methods), and writing. Transfer applicants should present college transcripts showing solid performance in social‑science and quantitative courses and provide a statement of purpose outlining their interest in public affairs.

Career prospects

Graduates who follow Dartmouth’s public policy/public administration pathway move into a wide range of public and civic roles. Typical entry careers include:

• Policy analyst or researcher in government agencies, legislative offices or think tanks.
• Staff roles in local, state/provincial or national government, including programme administration and constituent services.
• Positions in non‑profit organisations and advocacy groups focused on service delivery, policy advocacy and community organising.
• Public affairs, communications, and governmental relations roles in the private sector or industry associations.
• Consultancy positions advising public-sector clients on policy, strategy and organisational change.

Many graduates also pursue postgraduate training (MPA, public policy master’s, law school or related professional degrees) to specialise for senior public‑sector leadership, policy research, or law and governance careers.

Why study at Dartmouth University

Dartmouth’s small undergraduate community offers close faculty mentorship, small seminar formats and strong undergraduate access to research and practicum opportunities. The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy (and similar campus centres) provides bridges to public servants, internships, speaker programmes and hands‑on civic engagement projects. Proximity to regional government offices and a network of alumni working in public service create strong channels for internships and post‑graduate placement.

Interdisciplinary options and collaboration with other departments and schools (including access to business and graduate resources where available) let students tailor their studies toward administration, policy analysis, or sectoral public service. The emphasis on both rigorous methods and experiential learning prepares graduates to enter public service immediately or to continue to advanced professional study.