A Guide to Academic Subjects

Academic disciplines — fields of study, branches of knowledge, whatever you choose — are areas of learning and research that structure knowledge and understanding into coherent bodies. While contributing to human knowledge, each discipline usually has its own methodologies, theories and traditions. Though disciplines can at times bleed into one another (e.g., interdisciplinary fields), each serves to help delimit how knowledge is generated, circulated, and utilized.

Here is a detail of major academic fields grouped within these broad categories for an sense of the range of academic topics.

Humanities

The humanities, which include the study of human culture, history, language and society, often examine the complexities of human experience through critical analysis, philosophy, and creative expression.

Philosophy: The study of fundamental questions about existence, values, reason and the mind. The principal branches of the study are ethics, metaphysics, epistemology and logic.

History : The Study of the Past, What are people, societies or civilizations Historians scrutinize primary and secondary sources to learn how human personalities acted, in addition to the trends that shaped our world.

Literature — The study of written works, encompassing fiction (novels & short stories), poetry, drama and non-fiction. Literary analysis meaning drawing a conclusion about themes, styles and historical background of some provided literary works

Linguistics: The scientific study of language and its structure (syntax, semantics, phonetics), acquisition and social functions.

THO (6) THEOLOGY Theology: The study of religion, including the analysis of religious beliefs, texts, practices and their roles in society.

Question: Art HistoryAnswer: The study of the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, architecture and other forms of artistic expression with an emphasis on history; artistic work that is primarily visual in nature.

This is a text into the box for cultural studies, which is one of the interdisciplinary fields that address culture.

Social Sciences

It refers to the study of societies, social behavior and human interaction with one another.

Sociology — the study of society, social institutions, relationships and social behavior. Sociology looks at class, race, gender, family structures and inequality.

Psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes */ Psychology studies individual and group behavior as well as cognition, emotion, and mental health.

Economics — the social science of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economists study the allocation of resources and how policy changes affect markets and societies.

Political Science : The study of systems of governments, the analysis of political activity and behavior, public policy, and many other related topics.

Anthropology — the science that deals with the origins, development, and cultures of human being

Human Geography: The study of humans, their activities, cultures and populations as well as the role that the environment plays in relation to all this. It has an emphasis on space and regional development.

Criminology: The scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals and of criminal behavior. Criminologists study causes and consequences of crime, as well as social response to crime.

Natural Sciences

Darwin's teachings of natural science investigate the physical world as they exist and happen, usually through empirical freedom or experimentation.

Physics - The investigation of matter, energy and the key powers of nature. Physics is about everything – from the fundamental subatomic particles to the largescale structure of,well, everything,

Chemistry — Chemistry is the study of substances, their properties and reactions. Chemists study the composition of matter and the processes or chemical reactions that change its composition in energy, entropy, time etc.

Biology the study of life, or living things. This is broken down to further fields, for example, genetics, microbiology and environmental biology.

Astronomy — the science of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. Astronomers study the birth, evolution and physical laws of the universe.

Earth Sciences — The study of the physical characteristics, history, and processes of the Earth itself (including geology, meteorology, oceanography and environmental science). Earth scientists study processes such as plate tectonics, climate change, and natural resources.

Environmental Engineering: A branch of engineering that focuses on protecting the environment by reducing waste and pollution. It tackles problems associated with climate change, contamination and sustainability.

Mathematics: the study of numbers, amounts and shapes and the relations between them. Mathematics has a lot of theoretical background in many sciences such as physics, engineering, and economics.

Formal Sciences

Formal sciences are centered around systems of logic, mathematics and data (not so much human behavior) and use abstract and deductive approaches to yield conclusions or principles.

Mathematics: Math, as pointed out before, is the study of quantity, shape, space and change. This includes algebra, calculus, geometry, and statistics.

Computer Science: The study of computational theory, designing algorithms, programming languages and the architecture of computer systems. Computer science includes AI, machine learning, software engineering etc.

Logic: The analysis of reasoning and arguments, whether the view be formal (as in chapters on systems of deductive reasoning, propositional calculus and predicate logic.

Statistics : It branches related to collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. Statisticians use quantitative methods to make inferences or predictions.

Applied Sciences

Applied sciences can be defined as the group claims to use scientific principles and empirical, research-based findings to address practical problems in a range of fields.

Engineering — the use of scientific and mathematical principles to wean artifacts such as machines, structures, and systems. These major branches include civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical and computer engineering.

Medicine: The science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. It is a field that bridges research and clinical practice.

Architecture: The art and science of designing and constructing building and other physical structures. Architect blends engineering principles as well as aesthetics and functionality in design.

Agricultural science — The the study of farming, food production, and sustainability. It encompasses plant science, animal husbandry, soil science, and agricultural technology.

Nursing: Being all the more about taking care of individuals and even more so in wellbeing settings. They engage in the promotion of health, injury treatment and education regarding medical treatment and prevention.

Pharmacy — Research of medication and their action, formulations and uses Thus, pharmacists play a key role in guaranteeing that the use of drugs is both safe and effective.

Veterinary Science – Animal health, diagnosis and treatment of diseases Veterinarians deal with domesticated animals as well as livestock.

All Other Professional and Vocational Disciplines

These are specialised disciplines that prepare you for a career in a particular field.

Law — The study of the structure, content and administration of legal systems. The law is at the very heart of keeping society's order and ensuring conflict resolution.

Business: The field of study related to the theory and practice of commerce, finance, marketing, accounting, and management. Business administration is to prepare individuals for leadership in the corporate world.

Education: The exploration of pedagogical approaches, learning phenomena, and educational infrastructures. Education professionals create plans for enhancing student achievement.

Social Work: Refers to the profession of helping people and communities in need Social workers specialize in enhancing life quality and providing solutions to social issues.

Public Administration – it covers the management and functioning of government body. Usually by the terms of policy, governance and public service delivery.

Hospitality and Tourism Management — The study of management of hotels, restaurants, and other tourism related businesses. It is customer service, logistics and business operations.

Interdisciplinary Fields

Interdisciplinary areas of study are characterized by combining analytical tools from a number of traditional disciplines to focus on complex problems or questions.

Environmental Studies, which encourages an interdisciplinary approach to tackling environmental issues with a breadth of disciplines from Environmental Science right through to sociology (including by extension policy), economics and the geography.

Cognitive Science: An interdisciplinary field of science studying mind and intelligence, encompassing psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, artificial intelligence and philosophy.

Gender Studies: A discipline based on sociology, anthropology, history, and political science that studies the parts in society that consist gender.

Global Studies: An interdisciplinary approach that provides insight into various aspects of earth including political, economic, cultural and environmental challenges from a global perspective.

Area Studies — Study of particular regions/countries, combining history, sociology, political science and economics to reflect the complexity of specific areas.

Academic disciplines offer a myriad of rich areas to engage with, varying from traditional knowledge systems to more contemporary multi-disciplinary perspectives on complex challenges we face. These are the fields that help shape human understanding and help society progress. As academic disciplines shift to reflect the obstacles humanity faces, new fields will arise to aid in this effort.