The World of Academic Research: a Taxonomy
A taxonomy of the doctoral research fields by the National Academies in the USA (source):
LIFE SCIENCES
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
Biochemistry
Biogeochemistry
Biophysics
Molecular Biology
Structural Biology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Anatomy
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Cancer Biology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Behavior and Ethology
Biogeochemistry
Botany
Evolution
Population Biology
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
Public Health
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Genetics and Genomics
Computational Biology
Genetics
Genomics
Molecular genetics
Immunology and Infectious Disease
Immunity
Immunology of Infectious Disease
Immunopathology
Immunoprophylaxis and Therapy
Pathology
Parasitology
Biology/Integrated Biology/ Integrated Biomedical Sciences
Kinesiology
Biomechanics
Exercise Physiology
Motor Control
Psychology of Movement
Microbiology
Bacteriology
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
Microbial Physiology
Pathogenic Microbiology
Virology
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Behavioral Neurobiology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience
Developmental Neuroscience
Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Systems Neuroscience
Nursing
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health
Environmental Health
Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics
Pharmacology
Toxicology
Physiology
Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology
Endocrinology
Exercise Physiology
Systems and Integrative Physiology
Animal Sciences
Animal Sciences
Aquaculture and Fisheries
Dairy Science
Poultry (or Avian) Science
Zoology
Entomology
Food Science
Food Processing
Food Microbiology
Food Chemistry
Food Biotechnology
Forestry and Forest Sciences
Forest Biology
Forest Management
Wood Science and Pulp/Paper Technology
Nutrition
Comparative Nutrition
Human and Clinical Nutrition
International and Community Nutrition
Molecular, Genetic, and Biochemical Nutrition
Nutritional Epidemiology
Plant Sciences
Agronomy and Crop Sciences
Botany
Horticulture
Plant Biology
Plant Pathology
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Emerging Fields:
Bioinformatics
Biotechnology
Systems Biology
PHYSICAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS
Applied Mathematics
Control Theory
Dynamic Systems
Non-linear Dynamics
Numerical Analysis and Computation
Partial Differential Equations
Ordinary Differential Equations and Applied Dynamics
Astrophysics and Astronomy
Physical Processes
Instrumentation
The Sun and the Solar System
Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy
External Galaxies
Cosmology
Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Biochemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Materials Chemistry
Medicinal-Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
Computer Sciences
Artificial Intelligence/Robotics
Computer and Systems Architecture
Databases/Information Systems
Graphics/Human Computer Interfaces
Numerical Analysis/Scientific Computing
Programming Languages/Compilers
OS/Networks
Software Engineering
Theory/Algorithms
Earth Sciences
Biogeochemistry
Cosmochemistry
Environmental Sciences
Geology
Geochemistry
Geophysics and Seismology
Glaciology
Mineral Physics
Paleobiology
Paleontology
Soil Science
Tectonics and Structure
Vulcanology
Mathematics
Algebra
Algebraic Geometry
Analysis
Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
Dynamics/Dynamical Systems
Geometry and Topology
Harmonic Analysis and Representation
Logic and Foundations
Number Theory
Set Theory
Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Atmospheric Sciences
Climate
Fresh Water Studies
Meteorology
Oceanography
Physics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Biological and Chemical Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
Cosmology, Relativity, and Gravity
Elementary Particles and Fields and String Theory
Engineering Physics
Fluid Dynamics
Non-linear Dynamics
Nuclear
Optics
Plasma and Beam Physics
Quantum Physics
Statistics and Probability
Applied Statistics
Biostatistics
Biometry
Probability
Statistical Methodology
Statistical Theory
ENGINEERING
Aerospace Engineering
Aeronautical Vehicles
Space Vehicles
Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization
Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
Astrodynamics
Structures and Materials
Propulsion and Power
Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics
Multi-Vehicle Systems and Air Traffic Control
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Biological Engineering
Bioelectrical and neuroengineering
Bioimaging and biomedical optics
Biomaterials
Biomechanics and biotransport
Biomedical devices and instrumentation
Molecular, cellular, and tissue engineering
Systems and integrative engineering
Chemical Engineering
Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering
Complex Fluids
Membrane Science
Petroleum Engineering
Polymer Science
Process Control and Systems
Thermodynamics
Transport Phenomena
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering
Construction Engineering/management
Environmental Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer and Systems Architecture
Digital Circuits
Data Storage Systems
Digital Communications and Networking
Hardware Systems
Robotics
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Biomedical
Computer Engineering
Controls and Control Theory
Electrical and Electronics
Electromagnetics and photonics
Electronic Devices and Semiconductor Manufacturing
Nanotechnology fabrication
Power and Energy
Signal Processing
Systems and Communications
VLSI and circuits: Embedded/Hardware Systems
Engineering Science and Materials (not elsewhere classified)
Engineering Mechanics
Dynamics/Dynamical Systems
Non-linear Dynamics
Mechanics of Materials
Materials Science and Engineering
Biology and Biomimetic Materials
Ceramic Materials
Metallurgy
Polymer and Organic Materials
Semiconductor and Optical Materials
Structural Materials
Mechanical Engineering
Acoustics, Dynamics, and Controls
Applied Mechanics
Biomechanical Engineering
Computer-Aided Engineering and Design
Electro-Mechanical Systems
Energy Systems
Heat Transfer, Combustion
Manufacturing
Ocean Engineering
Tribology
Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering
Ergonomics
Industrial Engineering
Operational Research
Systems Engineering
Emerging Fields:
Computational Engineering
Information Science
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Nuclear Engineering
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Agricultural and Resource Economics
Anthropology
Archaeological Anthropology
Biological and Physical Anthropology
Linguistic Anthropology
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Communication
Broadcast/Video Studies
Communication Technology and New Media
Critical and Cultural Studies
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication
Health Communication
International and Intercultural Communication
Interpersonal/Small Group Communication
Journalism Studies
Mass Communication
Organizational Communication
Public Relations/Advertising
Social Influence and Political Communication
Speech and Rhetorical Studies
Economics
Behavioral Economics
Econometrics
Economic History
Economic Theory
Growth and Development
Industrial Organization
International Economics
Labor Economics
Macroeconomics
Public Economics
Geography
Physical and Environmental Geography
Human Geography
Nature and Society Relations
Geographic Information Sciences
Linguistics
Anthropological Linguistics/Sociolinguistics
Applied Linguistics
Comparative and Historical Linguistics
Computational Linguistics
Discourse/Text Linguistics
First/Second Language Acquisition
Typological Linguistics and Linguistic Diversity
Language Description/Documentation
Morphology
Phonetics/Phonology
Psycholinguistics/Neurolinguistics
Semantics/Pragmatics
Syntax
Political Science
American Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Models and Methods
Political Theory
Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Public Administration
Public Affairs
Public Policy
Urban Studies
Psychology
Biological Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Cognition and Perception
Cognitive Psychology
Community Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Health Psychology
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Personality and Social Contexts
Social Psychology
Sociology
Demography, Population, and Ecology
Family, Life Course, and Society
Gender and Sexuality
Inequality and Stratification
Medicine and Health
Methodologies : Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and
Historical
Place and Environment
Politics and Social Change
Race and Ethnicity
Regional Sociology
Rural sociology
Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance
Social Psychology and Interaction
Sociology of Culture
Theory, Knowledge and Science
Work, Economy and Organizations
Criminology
Emerging Fields:
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Science and Technology Studies
Urban Studies and Planning
ARTS AND HUMANITIES
American Studies
American Film Studies
American Material Culture
American Popular Culture
Ethnic Studies
Classics
Ancient History (Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity)
Ancient Philosophy
Byzantine and Modern Greek
Classical Archaeology and Art History
Classical Literature and Philology
Indo-European Linguistics and Philology
Comparative Literature
English Language and Literature
Literature in English, British Isles
Literature in English, Anglophone (other than British Isles and
North America)
Literature in English, North America (other than ethnic and minority)
Literature in English, North America, ethnic and minority
Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Rhetoric and Composition
French and Francophone Language and Literature
French Linguistics
French and Francophone Literature
German Language and Literature
German Linguistics
German Literature
Language, Societies, and Cultures
African Languages and Societies
East Asian Languages and Societies
European Languages and Societies
Latin American Languages and Societies
Near Eastern Languages and Societies
Slavic Languages and Societies
South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies
History
African
Asian
European
Islamic World/Near East
Latin American
United States
Cultural History
Diplomatic History
Gender
History of Religion
History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
Intellectual History
Legal
Medieval History
Military History
Political History
Social History
Women’s History
History of Art, Architecture and Archaeology
American Art and Architecture
Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture
Asian Art and Architecture
Contemporary Art
Modern Art and Architecture
Theory and Criticism
Music (except performance)
Composition
Ethnomusicology
Musicology
Music Theory
Philosophy
Continental Philosophy
Epistemology
Esthetics
Ethics and Political Philosophy
Feminist Philosophy
History of Philosophy
Logic and foundations of mathematics
Metaphysics
Philosophy of Language
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Science
Religion
Biblical Studies
Comparative Methodologies and Theories
Ethics
History of Religions of Western Origin
History of Religions of Eastern Origins
Religious Thought/Theology/Philosophy of Religion
Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature
Latin American Literature
Portuguese Literature
Spanish Linguistics
Spanish Literature
Theatre and Performance Studies
Theatre History
Dramatic Literature, Criticism and Theory
Performance Studies
Playwriting
Emerging Fields:
Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Film Studies
Race, Ethnicity and post-Colonial Studies
Rhetoric and Composition
Wikipedia
Wikipedia has a List of Academic Disciplines. In this archival version (no one can guarantee the quality of the future versions), it provides a logical taxonomy of the academic disciplines. In contrast to the doctoral research fields (above), it includes many vocational undergraduate fields that are of limited intellectual rigour, but commonly taught in the US colleges and universities (i.e. Mickey Mouse courses).
Here appear occasional jottings of my random musings. Profound or jejune, they reveal the contours of my mental universe, with world history, intellectual history, civilizations, philosophy, religion, society, knowledge, and books as some major themes. Since May 2011, this blog has been exclusively focused on Singapore. All my other reflections are now posted in "Notes from Noosphere" (see link under "Miscellany" on the right margin).
