diff --git a/client/src/data/departments.js b/client/src/data/departments.js
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/client/src/data/departments.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// Canonical department list – shared across all forms
+export const DEPARTMENTS = [
+  'Administrative',
+  'Business Development',
+  'Design and Content',
+  'Executive',
+  'Implementation and Support',
+  'Operations',
+  'Production',
+];