List of academic fields

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (revised)

Humanities and social science

Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture.
Social science is the branch of science devoted to the study of societies and
the relationships among individuals within those societies.

1. Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human
biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species.
- Archaeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture.

2. History (from Greek ἱστορία, historia, meaning "inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation") is the study and
the documentation of the past.

3. Linguistic and languages (linguistics) is the scientific study of human language, (languages) is a structured
system of communication used by humans.

4. Philosophy (from Greek: φιλοσοφία, philosophia, 'love of wisdom')[1][2] is the study of general and fundamental
questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language.

5. Religion is usually defined as a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and

practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally
relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements;[1] however, there is no scholarly consensus
over what precisely constitutes a religion.

6. The arts are a very wide range of human practices of creative expression, storytelling and cultural participation.
- Cullinary arts are the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking, and presentation of food, usually in the
form of meals.
- Literature broadly is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically
considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry.
- Performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience.
- Visual arts are art forms such
as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and ar
chitecture.

7. Economics is "the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and
services."

8. Geography (from Greek: γεωγραφία, geographia, literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the
study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of the Earth and planets.

9. Interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of two or more academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a
research project).
- Area studies (also regional studies) are interdisciplinary fields of research and scholarship pertaining to
particular geographical, national/federal, or cultural regions.
- Ethnic and cultural studies
- Gender and sexuality studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to analysing gender
identity and gendered representation.
- Organizational studies

10. Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and
power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and
laws.
- Politics (from Greek: Πολιτικά, politiká, 'affairs of the cities') is the set of activities that are associated
with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations between individuals, such as the
distribution of resources or status.

11. Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study
of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts.

12. Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behaviour, patterns of social
relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life.
 Natural sciences
Natural science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction
of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such
as peer review and repeatability of findings are used to try to ensure the validity of scientific advances.

1. Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes
that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process
hereditary information encoded in genes, which can be transmitted to future generations. Another major theme
is evolution, which explains the unity and diversity of life. Energy processing is also important to life as it allows
organisms to move, grow, and reproduce. Finally, all organisms are able to regulate their own internal environments.

2. Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter.[1] It is a natural science that covers
the elements that make up matter to the compounds composed of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition,
structure, properties, behavior and the changes they undergo during a reaction with other substances.

3. Earth sciences or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch
of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of
Earth's four spheres, namely biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere. Earth science can be
considered to be a branch of planetary science, but with a much older history. Earth science encompasses four
main branches of study, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere, each of which is
further broken down into more specialized fields.

4. Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior
through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. Physics is one of the most
fundamental scientific disciplines, and its main goal is to understand how the universe behaves.

5. Space sciences collectively also known as astroscience, encompasses all of the scientific disciplines that
involve space exploration and study natural phenomena and physical bodies occurring in outer space, such
as space medicine and astrobiology.
- Astronomy studies the universe beyond Earth, including its formation and development, and the
evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects (such as galaxies, planets, etc.)
and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth (such as the cosmic background radiation).
Astronomy also intersect with biology, as astrobiology, studying potential life throughout the universe.

Formal sciences
Formal science is a branch of science studying formal language disciplines concerned with formal systems, such
as logic, mathematics, statistics, theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence, information theory, game
theory, systems theory, decision theory, and theoretical linguistics.

1. Computer sciences is the study of computation, automation, and information.[1] Computer science spans
theoretical disciplines, such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory, to practical
disciplines including the design and implementation of hardware and software.[2][3] Computer science is generally
considered an area of academic research and distinct from computer programming.

2. Logic is the study of correct reasoning or good arguments. It is often defined in a more narrow sense as the
science of deductively valid inferences or of logical truths. In this sense, it is equivalent to formal logic and
constitutes a formal science investigating how conclusions follow from premises in a topic-neutral way or
which propositions are true only in virtue of the logical vocabulary they contain.

3. Mathematics (from Greek: μάθημα, máthēma, 'knowledge, study, learning') is an area of knowledge, which
includes the study of such topics as numbers (arithmetic and number theory), formulas and related structures
(algebra), shapes and spaces in which they are contained (geometry), and quantities and their changes
(calculus and analysis). There is no general consensus about its exact scope or epistemological status.
- Pure mathematics is the study of mathematical concepts independently of any application
outside mathematics. These concepts may originate in real-world concerns, and the results obtained may
later turn out to be useful for practical applications, but pure mathematicians are not primarily motivated by
such applications. Instead, the appeal is attributed to the intellectual challenge and aesthetic beauty of
working out the logical consequences of basic principles.
- Applied mathematics is the application of mathematical methods by different fields such
as physics, engineering, medicine, biology, finance, business, computer science, and industry.
- Statistics is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and
presentation of data.
4. Systems science is an interdisciplinary field concerned with understanding systems—from simple to complex—
in nature, society, cognition, engineering, technology and science itself. The field is diverse, spanning the formal,
natural, social, and applied sciences.
 Professions and applied sciences
A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and who hold themselves out as,
and are accepted by the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning
derived from research, education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to apply this knowledge and
exercise these skills in the interest of others.
Applied science is the use of the scientific method and knowledge obtained via conclusions from the method to
attain practical goals.[1] It includes a broad range of disciplines such as engineering and medicine. Applied science is
often contrasted with basic science, which is focused on advancing scientific theories and laws that explain and
predict events in the natural world.

1. Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock.

2. Architecture and design (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων arkhitekton "architect",
from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "creator") is both the process and the product of planning, designing,
and constructing buildings or other structures.

3. Business is the activity of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and
selling products (such as goods and services). Simply put, it is "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit."

4. Divinity is the study of Christian theology and ministry at a school, divinity school, university, or seminary.

5. Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values,
morals, beliefs, habits, and personal development. Educational method
include teaching, training, storytelling, discussion, and directed research. Education frequently takes place under the
guidance of educators; however, learners can also educate themselves. Education can take place
in formal or informal settings, and any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts
may be considered educational. The methodology of teaching is called pedagogy.

6. Engineering and technology (engineering) is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines,
structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. [1] The discipline of engineering
encompasses a broad range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on
particular areas of applied mathematics, applied science, and types of application.
(technology) ("science of craft", from Greek τέχνη, techne, "art, skill, cunning of hand"; and -λογία, -logia[2]) is the
sum of any techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the
accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.

7. Environmental studies and forestry (environmental studies) is a multidisciplinary academic field which
systematically studies human interaction with the environment. (forestry) is the science and craft of creating,
managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and
environmental benefits.

8. Family and consumer science or (home economics), is a subject concerning human development, personal
and family finance, housing and interior design, food science and preparation, nutrition and wellness, textiles and
apparel, and consumer issues.

9. Human physical performance and recreation (Human reliability) (also known as human
performance or HU) is related to the field of human factors and ergonomics, and refers to
the reliability of humans in fields including manufacturing, medicine and nuclear power. (Human behavior) is the
potential and expressed capacity (mentally, physically, and socially) of human individuals or groups to respond to
internal and external stimuli throughout their life.

10. Journalism, media studies and communication (Journalism) is the production and distribution
of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that
informs society to at least some degree. (Media studies) is a discipline and field of study that deals with the content,
history, and effects of various media; in particular, the mass media. (Communication) (from Latin communicare,
meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with")[1][2][3] is "an apparent answer to the painful divisions between self and
other, private and public, and inner thought and outer world.

11. Law is a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate
behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as
a science and the art of justice.

12. Library and museum studies Library science (often termed library studies, bibliothecography, library
economy, and informatics) is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives,
and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection,
organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the political economy of information.
(Museology or museum studies) is the study of museums. It explores the history of museums and their role in
society, as well as the activities they engage in, including curating, preservation, public programming,
and education.

13. Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing
the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health.
14. Military sciences is the study of military processes, institutions, and behavior, along with the study of warfare,
and the theory and application of organized coercive force.

15. Public administration is the implementation of government policy and also an academic discipline that
studies this implementation and prepares civil employees for working in the public service.
- Public policy is an institutionalized proposal to solve relevant and real-world problems, guided by a
conception and implemented by programs as a course of action created and/or enacted, typically by
a government, in response to social issues. Beyond this broad definition, public policy has been
conceptualized in a variety of ways.

16. Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession that concerns itself with
individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole in an effort to meet basic needs and enhance
social functioning, self-determination, collective responsibility, optimal health, and overall well-being.

17. Transportation is the movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. In other words,
the action of transport is defined as a particular movement of an organism or thing from a point A (a place in space)
to a point B.
- Mode of transport is a term used to distinguish between different ways of transportation or transporting
people or goods. The different modes of transport are air, water, and land transport, which includes Rails or
railways, road and off-road transport. Other modes also exist, including pipelines, cable transport, and space
transport. Human-powered transport and animal-powered transport are sometimes regarded as their own
mode, but never fall into the other categories. In general, transportation is used for moving of people,
animals, and other goods from one place to another. Means of transport, on the other hand, refers to the
transport facilities used to carry people or cargo according to the chosen mode (animal, vehicle, car,
airplane, ship, truck, train and so on and so forth). Each mode of transport has a fundamentally different
technological solution, and some require a separate environment. Each mode has its
own infrastructure, vehicles, transport operators and operations.