An academic discipline or field of study is a branch of knowledge that is taught and researched at the college or university level. Disciplines are defined and recognized by the university faculties and learned societies to which they belong and the academic journals in which they publish research. Disciplinary designations originated in German universities during the beginning of the nineteenth century, and most academic disciplines have their roots in the mid-to-late-nineteenth century secularization of universities.
Each academic discipline has its own specific methods of asking questions and sharing answers. Disciplines vary between well-established ones that exist in almost all universities and have well-defined rosters of journals and conferences, and nascent ones supported by only a few universities and publications. A discipline may have branches, and these are often called sub-disciplines.
The following is a list of some of the main academic disciplines and some of their branches:
- Business: Accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing
- Humanities: Art, history, languages, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theater
- Natural and applied sciences: Astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, mathematics, physics
- Social sciences: Anthropology, communication studies, criminology, economics, education, geography, law, political science, psychology, sociology
Each discipline is a distinct discourse community with specific vocabularies, styles, and modes of communication. Scholars also tend to ask discipline-related kinds of questions. To be successful in college and beyond, it is important to be aware of what academic disciplines have in common and how they differ.
