List of academic disciplines
This is a
list of academic disciplines (and
academic fields). An academic discipline is a branch of
knowledge which is formally
taught, either at the
university, or via some other such method. Functionally, disciplines are usually defined and recognised by the academic journals in which research is published, and the
learned societies to which their practitioners belong.
Each discipline usually has several sub-disciplines and distinguishing lines are often both arbitrary and ambiguous.
A "*" denotes a field whose academic status is debated.
Natural sciences
\nAstronomy
\n* Astrophysics\n** Cosmogony
Biology
\n* Aerobiology\n* Anatomy\n** Comparative anatomy\n** Human anatomy\n* Animal communications\n* Biochemistry\n* Bioinformatics\n* Biophysics\n* Botany\n* Cell biology\n* Chronobiology\n* Cryobiology\n* Ecology\n** Human ecology\n* Evolutionary biology\n* Human biology\n** Human anatomy\n* Limnology\n* Marine biology\n* Microbiology \n* Molecular biology \n* Mycology \n* Neuroscience\n* Paleontology \n* Phycology \n* Xenobiology\n* Zoology\n** Cryptozoology\n** Entomology\n** Herpetology\n** Ichthyology\n** Oology\n** Ornithology\n** Primatology\n** Zootomy\nChemistry
\n* Alchemy\n* Analytical chemistry\n* Biochemistry\n* Computational chemistry\n* Inorganic chemistry\n* Organic chemistry\n* Physical chemistry\n* Theoretical chemistry\nPhysics
\n* Astrophysics\n* Atomic, molecular, and optical physics\n* Biophysics\n* Computational physics\n* Condensed matter physics\n* Cryogenics\n* Fluid dynamics\n* Optics\n* Nuclear physics\n* Plasma physics\n* Particle physics\n* Vehicle dynamics\nPlanetary science
\n* Earth science\n* Environmental science\n* Geodesy\n* Geology\n* Geomorphology\n* Geophysics\n* Glaciology\n* Meteorology\n* Physical geography \n* Geomorphology\n* Pedology\n* Oceanography\n* Mineralogy \n* Paleontology \n* Sedimentology
Mathematics and Computer science
\nMathematics
\n* Algebra\n* Analysis\n* Calculus\n* Game theory\n* Geometry\n* Information theory\n* Number theory\n* Probability theory\n* Statistics\n* Topology
Computer science
\n* Algorithms\n* Computing\n* Artificial intelligence\n* Information systems\n* Software engineering\n* Robotics\n* Programming (see List of programming languages)
Social sciences
\nAnthropology
\n* Biological anthropology\n* Cultural anthropology\n* Historical anthropology\nArchaeology
\nCommunications
\n*Animal communications\n*Information theory\n*Interpersonal communications\n**Marketing\n**Propaganda\n**Public affairs\n**Public diplomacy\n**Public relations\n*Nonverbal communications\n*Speech communications\n*Telecommunications\n**Computer-mediated communications\nEconomics
\n* Game theory\n* Microeconomics\n* Macroeconomics\nEthnology
\nGeography
\nLinguistics
\n* Semantics\n* Syntax\n* Morphology\n* Phonology\nPolitical science
\n* International relations\nPsychology
\n* Behavioural psychology\n* Differential psychology\n* Development psychology\n* Intrapersonal communications\n* Neuropsychology\n* Organisational psychology\n* Psychiatry (see also: Anti-psychiatry*)\n* Psychology of work\n* Parapsychology*\n* Psychoanalysis\n* Social psychology\nSociology
\n* Industrial sociology\n* Rural Sociology\n* Science and technology studies\n* Social Theory\n* Urban studies
Humanities and Arts
\nArea studies and ethnic studies (sometimes called cultural studies)
\n* American studies\n* Black studies\n* Catholic studies\n* Chinese studies\n* Eastern European studies\n* Latino/Latina studies\n* Latin American studies\n* Irish studies\n* Islamic studies\n* Jewish studies\n* Native American studies\n* Russian studies\n* etc.\nArt
\n* Art history\n* Studio art\nCreative Writing
\n* Poetry composition\n* Fiction writing\n* Non-fiction writing and literary journalism\nDance
\n* Choreography\n* Dance analysis\n* Dance notation\n* Ethnochoreology\n* History of dance\n* Performance, Somatic Practice
English literature
\nalso see Literature\n* American literature\n* Australian literature\n* British literature (literature outside England may be written in Celtic languages)\n** English literature\n** Northern Ireland literature\n** Scottish literature\n** Welsh literature\n* Canadian literature (significant amounts of Canadian literature is also written in French)\n* Irish literature\n* New Zealand literature\nFilm studies and film criticism
\nHistory
\n* Ancient history\n* Classics\n* Contemporary history\n* Diplomatic history\n* European history\n* History of art\n* History of science and technology\n* Military history\n* Mythology\nLinguistics
\nsee entry under Social Sciences\nLiterature and cultural studies
\n* English studies\n* Comparative literature\nLiterature of Languages or Cultures\n* English literature\n** African-american literature\n** American literature\n** British literature\n** Indian literature\n** Irish literature\n* French literature\n* Gaelic literature\n* German literature\n* Hindi literature\n* Modern Hebrew Literature\n* Spanish literature\n* Yiddish literature\n* other foreign-language literatures\nMethods and topics\n* Literary criticism\n* Literary theory\n* Media studies\n* New media\n* Poetics
Music
\n* Accompanying\n* Arts leadership\n* Chamber music\n* Church music\n* musical composition\n* Conducting\n** Choral conducting\n** Orchestral conducting\n** Wind ensemble conducting\n* Early music\n* Jazz studies and new media\n* Music education\n** Music theory pedagodgy\n* Music history\n* Music theory\n* Musicology\n** Ethnomusicology\n* Performance and literature\n** Organ and historical keyboards\n** Piano\n** Strings, harp, and guitar\n** Voice\n** Woodwinds, brass, and percussion\n* Orchestral studies\nPhilosophy
\n* Aesthetics\n* Continental philosophy\n* Eastern philosophy\n* Epistemology\n* Ethics\n* History of philosophy\n* Metaphysics\n* Philosophy of language\n* Philosophy of mathematics\n* Philosophy of mind\n* Philosophy of religion\n* Philosophy of science\nReligious studies
\n* Canon law\n* Catholic studies\n* Comparative religious studies\n* Islamic studies\n** Hadith\n** Islamic history\n** Islamic jurisprudence\n** Koran\n* Jewish Studies\n* Mythology\n* Theology\n** Astrology*\n** Christology\n** Kabbalah\n** Moral theology\n** Midrash\n** Mystical theology\n** Numerology*\n** Talmud\n** Spirituality
Semiotics
\nWomen's studies and Gender studies
\n* Queer studies
Professions / Applied sciences
\nArchitecture and Environmental Design
\n* City Planning, Urban Planning\n* Interior Design (also see Family and Consumer Science below)\n* Landscape Archiecture\n* Destination/Coastal Architects
Business
\n* Accounting\n* Business ethics\n* Finance\n* Industrial and labor relations\n** Collective bargaining\n** Human resources\n*** Organizational behavior\n** International and comparative labor\n** Labor economics\n** Labor history\n** Labor statistics\n* Information systems\n* Management\n* Marketing\n* Manufacturing\nEducation
\n* Curriculum and instruction\n** Elementary Education (Primary education & Intermediate education)\n** Middle school education\n** Secondary education\n** Higher education\n* Educational administration\n* Educational psychology
Engineering
\n* Acoustic engineering\n* Agricultural engineering\n* Architectural engineering\n* Bioengineering\n** Biomaterials engineering\n** Biomedical engineering\n* Chemical engineering\n** Petroleum engineering\n* Civil engineering\n* Combat engineering\n* Computer engineering\n* Control systems engineering\n* Electrical engineering\n* Electronic engineering\n** Microelectronics and semiconductor engineering\n* Environmental engineering\n* Industrial engineering\n* Materials engineering\n** Ceramic engineering\n** Metallurgical engineering\n** Polymer engineering\n* Mechanical engineering\n* Nuclear engineering\n* Ocean engineering\n* Optical engineering\n* Quality assurance engineering\n* Robotics\n* Safety engineering\n* Telecommunications engineering\n* Transportation engineering\n** Aerospace engineering\n** Automotive systems engineering\n** Naval engineering\n*** Marine engineering\n*** Naval architecture
Ergonomics
\nAgriculture
\n* Animal science\n* Agricultural economics\n* Aquaculture\n* Beekeeping (Apiculture)\n* Horticulture\n* Plant science\nForestry
\n* Forestry organisation\n* Silviculture\nFamily and Consumer Science
\n* Foodservice management\n** Hotel administration\n* Consumer education\n* Housing\n* Human development\n** Early childhood development\n* Interior design (Also see Architecture and Environmental Design above)\n* Nutrition (also see Medical Sciences below)\n* Textiles\nJournalism and Mass Communications
\n* Advertising\n* Film\n* Journalism\n** Broadcast journalism\n** New media journalism\n** Print journalism\n* Public relations\nLaw
\n* Canon law\n* Comparative law\n* Constitutional law\n* Civil law\n** Accounting law\n** Admirality law\n** Corporations\n** Civil procedure\n** Contracts\n** Environmental law\n** International law\n** Labor law\n** Property law\n** Tax law\n** Torts\n* Criminal law\n** Criminal procedure\n** Criminal justice (also see Public Affairs and Community Service below)\n*** Police science\n*** Forensics\n* Islamic law\n* Jurisprudence\n* Philosophy of law\nLibrary and information science
\nHealth Sciences
\n*Dentistry\n** Dental hygiene\n** Endodontics\n** Orthodontics\n** Pediodontics\n** Periodontics\n** Prosthodontics\n* Medical Sciences\n** Human Medicine\n*** Cardiology\n*** Endocrinology and diabetology\n*** Forensics\n*** Geriatrics\n*** Hematology\n*** Internal medicine\n*** Health science\n*** Nephrology\n*** Neurology\n*** Neurosurgery\n*** Nursing\n*** Pediatrics\n*** Psychiatry\n*** Rheumatology\n*** Surgery\n** Veterinary Medicine\n* Nutrition (also see Family and Consumer Science above)\n* Pharmacy\nMilitary science
\n* Artillery\n* Air force studies\n* Campaigning\n* Combat engineering\n* Comparative military systems\n* Doctrine\n* Force planning\n* Game theory (also see Economics above)\n* Generalship\n* Joint warfare studies\n* Leadership\n* Logistics\n* Military ethics\n* Military history\n* Military intelligence\n* Military law\n* Military medicine\n* Naval science\n** Naval engineering\n** Naval tactics\n** Naval architecture\n** Weapons systems\n* Special operations and low intensity conflict\n* Strategy\n* Tactics\n** Naval tactics\nPublic Affairs and Community service
\n* Criminal Justice (also see Law above)\n** Corrections\n* Nonprofit Administration\n* Parks and Recreation Management\n* Public Administration\n** Industrial and labor relations (also see Business above)\n* Social Work\n** Gerontology
See also
\n* List of science topics
