An academic discipline or academic field is a subdivision of knowledge that is taught and researched at the college or university level. Disciplines are defined (in part) and recognized by the academic journals in which research is published, and the learned societies and academic departments or faculties within colleges and universities to which their practitioners belong. Academic disciplines are conventionally divided into the humanities (including philosophy, languages, art and cultural studies), the natural sciences (such as physics, chemistry, and biology); and the formal sciences like mathematics and computer science. The social sciences are sometimes considered a fourth category. It is also known as a field of study, field of inquiry, research field and branch of knowledge. The different terms are used in different countries and fields. Individuals associated with academic disciplines are commonly referred to as experts or specialists. Others, who may have studied liberal arts or systems theory rather than concentrating in a specific academic discipline, are classified as generalists. The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to academic disciplines. In each case, an entry at the highest level of the hierarchy (e.g., Humanities) is a group of broadly similar disciplines; an entry at the next highest level (e.g., Music) is a discipline having some degree of autonomy and being the fundamental identity felt by its scholars. Lower levels of the hierarchy are sub-disciplines that do generally not have any role in the title of the university's governance. The proper criteria for organizing knowledge into disciplines is open to debate.
Humanities
Performing arts
Visual arts
History
Also regarded as a Social science
Languages and literature
Linguistics listed in Social science
Law
Also regarded as a Social science
Philosophy
Also regarded as the separate, an entry at the highest level of the hierarchy
Religious studies
Also regarded as a social science
Divinity
Theology
Religion
Social science
Anthropology
Archaeology
Business
Economics
Futurology (also known as future studies or prospective studies) Main articles: Outline of futures studies and Futures studies
Geography
Linguistics
Also regarded as a formal science
Political science
Psychology
Sociology
Interdisciplinary studies
Area studies
Ethnic and cultural studies
Organizational studies
Natural science
Physical Science
Space sciences
Astronomy
Physics
Chemistry
Earth science
Life science
Biology
Formal science
Computer science
Also a branch of electrical engineering
Logic
Mathematical logic Set theory Proof theory Model theory Recursion theory Modal logic Intuitionistic logic Philosophical logic Logical reasoning Modal logic Deontic logic Doxastic logic Logic in computer science Programming language semantics Formal methods (Formal verification) Type theory Logic programming Multi-valued logic Fuzzy logic
Mathematics
Pure mathematics
Applied mathematics
Statistics
Applied science
Agriculture
Architecture and design
Education
Engineering and technology
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Educational technology
Electrical engineering
Materials science
Mechanical engineering
Systems science
Environmental studies and forestry
Family and consumer science
Human physical performance and recreation
Journalism, media studies and communication
Library and museum studies
Medicine and health
Military sciences
Public administration
Public policy
Social work
Transportation
See also
Notes
Further reading Abbott, Andrew (2001). Chaos of Disciplines. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-00101-2. Oleson, Alexandra; Voss, John (1979). The Organization of knowledge in modern America, 1860–1920. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-2108-8. US Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP). National Center for Education Statistics.
External links Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2000): Developed by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics to provide a taxonomic scheme that will support the accurate tracking, assessment, and reporting of fields of study and program completions activity. Complete JACS (Joint Academic Classification of Subjects) from Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in the United Kingdom Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC 2008) (web-page Archived 2010-12-12 at the Wayback Machine) Chapter 3 and Appendix 1: Fields of research classification. Fields of Knowledge, a zoomable map allowing the academic disciplines and sub-disciplines in this article be visualised. Sandoz, R. (ed.), Interactive Historical Atlas of the Disciplines, University of Geneva