| Part of a series on |
| Research |
|---|
 |
| Philosophy portal |
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 scientific disciplines (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.
Contents
- Humanities
- Performing arts
- Visual arts
- History
- Languages and literature
- Law
- Philosophy
- Religious studies
- Divinity
- Theology
- Religion
- Social science
- Anthropology
- Business
- Economics
- Futurology
- Geography
- Linguistics
- Political science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Interdisciplinary studies
- Natural science
- Physical Science
- Life science
- Formal science
- Computer science
- Logic
- Mathematics
- Applied science
- Agriculture
- Architecture and design
- Education
- Engineering and technology
- 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
- External links
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 eny 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.