An academic discipline or field of study is a branch of knowledge, taught and researched as part of higher education. A scholar's discipline is commonly defined by the university faculties and learned societies to which they belong and the academic journals in which they publish research. Disciplines vary between well-established ones in almost all universities with well-defined rosters of journals and conferences and nascent ones supported by only a few universities and publications. A discipline may have branches, which are often called sub-disciplines. The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to academic disciplines. In each case, an entry 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 structure of the university's governance.

Humanities

Performing arts

Visual arts

History

Also regarded as a Social science

Languages and literature

Linguistics listed in Social science

Law

Also regarded as a Social science Also listed in Applied science

Philosophy

Also regarded as the separate, an entry at the highest level of the hierarchy

Religious studies

Also regarded as a social science

Divinity

Theology

Social science

Anthropology

Archaeology

Futurology (also known as future studies or prospective studies)

Main articles: Outline of futures studies and Futures studies

Economics

Geography

Linguistics

Also regarded as a formal science

Political science

Psychology

Sociology

Natural science

Biology

Chemistry

Earth science

Astronomy

Physics

Formal science

Computer science

Also a branch of electrical engineering

Mathematics

Pure mathematics

Applied mathematics

Applied science

Agriculture

Architecture and design

Business

Education

Engineering and technology

Chemical engineering

Civil engineering

Educational technology

Electrical engineering

Materials science

Mechanical engineering

Systems science

Environmental studies and forestry

Family and consumer science

Human physical performance and recreation

Journalism, media studies and communication

Law

Also regarded as a social science Also listed in Humanities

Library and museum studies

Medicine and health

Military sciences

Public administration

Public policy

Social work

Transportation