The Branches of Science

Physics:

The study of matter and energy and the interactions between them. Physicists study such subjects as gravity, light, and time. Albert Einstein, a famous physicist, developed the Theory of Relativity.

Chemistry:

The science that deals with the composition, properties, reactions, and the structure of matter. The chemist Louis Pasteur, for example, discovered pasteurization, which is the process of heating liquids such as milk and orange juice to kill harmful germs.

Astronomy:

The study of the universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere.

Geology:

The science of the origin, history, and structure of the Earth, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that it has experienced or is experiencing.

Oceanography:

The exploration and study of the ocean.

Paleontology:

The science of the forms of life that existed in prehistoric or geologic periods.

Meterology:

The science that deals with the atmosphere and its phenomena, such as weather and climate.

Botany:

The study of plants.

Genetics:

The study of heredity.

Medicine:

The science of diagnosing, treating, and preventing illness, disease, and injury.

Zoology:

The science that covers animals and animal life.

Arithmetic:

The use of numbers for calculation. In arithmetic, mathematicians combine specific numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) to produce a result.

Algebra:

Works in a similar way, but uses general expressions and allows for "variables" that are place holders in complex problem solving.

Geometry:

Describes objects and the spaces around them. In its simplest form, it deals with objects in two or three dimensions, such as lines, circles, cubes, and spheres. Geometry can be extended to cover abstractions, including objects in many dimensions.

Calculus:

deals with continuously changing quantities, such as the position of a point on a curve or the area that the curve bounds. Among the advances that calculus helped develop were the determination of Newtons laws of motion and the theory of electromagnetism.

Sociology:

investigates the way society is structured and how it functions Psychology: which is the study of individual behavior and the mind. Social psychology: draws on research in both sociology and psychology fields. It examines the way society influences people's behavior and attitudes.

Anthropology:

looks at humans as a species and examines all the characteristics that make us what we are. These include not only how people relate to each other but also how they interact with the world around them, both now and in the past. This adds knowledge to the nature-nurture debate.

Political science:

a by-product of human society which may or may not be tied to the physical sciences, but studying them can lend clues to to the nature/nurture debate and can help us prepare for the future.

Law:

Another uniquely human construct that tells us probably more about human nature in the law making proces than do the laws themselves.

Economics:

Economics has some surprisingly close parallels with ecology. This is because the laws that govern resource use, productivity, and efficiency do not operate only in the human world, with its stock markets and global corporations, but in the nonhuman world as well.

Civil

Public works/infrastructure and buildings/structures. Subdisciplines include Construction Management, Environmental, Geotechnical, Structural, Surveying, Transportation, and Water Resources to name a few.

Computer

Utilize knowledge in both Computer Science and Electrical Engineering to design integrated computer systems (that is, integrating hardware and software components). Also includes the field of Artificial Intelligence.

Electrical

All things electrical/electronic electronic devices, electrical systems, electrical energy, robotics, etc. Given the number of potential applications, Electrical Engineering is a very broad discipline, especially with respect to its intersection with Computer Engineering.

Mechanical

Machines, structures, devices, mechanical systems, and energy conversion systems. Mechanical Engineering is often considered the broadest of engineering disciplines, with overlap into many of the other existing engineering disciplines, including Civil, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering.

Aerospace

Flight vehicles and systems, including both space flight (spacecraft, rockets, satellites, etc.) and sub-space flight (airplanes, helicopters, missiles, etc.). Many Aerospace Engineers also work on land-based vehicles as well (race cars, regular cars, etc.), typically focusing on aerodynamics (design of external surfaces). Astronautical Engineering programs focus on space flight/systems (spacecraft, satellites, etc.), while Aeronautical Engineering programs focus on sub-space flight vehicles/systems (airplanes, cars, etc.).

Biomedical

Engineering applications within the broad fields of medicine and the life sciences. Biomedical Engineering is the most rapidly growing engineering discipline, particularly at the undergraduate level.

Chemical

Chemical-based manufacturing - applying chemistry for commercial-quantity production of a wide variety of products, including: Fuels (gasoline, natural gas) Petro-Chemicals (chemicals obtained from petroleum or natural gas) Agricultural Chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides) Industrial Chemicals (acids, alkalis, organics, salts) Plastics, Polymers and Fibers Paper and Paper Products Pharmaceuticals and Drugs Consumer Products (paints, soaps, household cleaners, etc.) Food Additives/Products Advanced Materials (ceramics, electronic materials, composites, etc.)

Industrial/ Manufacturing

Efficiency, or, more precisely, how to design, organize, implement, and operate the basic factors of production (materials, equipment, people, information, and energy) in the most efficient manner possible. The typical focus is on optimizing industrial manufacturing operations, although the skills learned can be applied to other non-manufacturing settings.

Agricultural

Production and processing of agricultural products (agriculture = crops, livestock and poultry). Includes Biological Engineering; Bio-Resources Engineering; Bio-Systems Engineering.

Architectural

Engineered systems (that is, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems) for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings/facilities. Overall, Architectural Engineers seek to bridge the gap between Architects (who focus on form and function) and Engineers (who focus on buildability) in designing/building buildings and facilities.

Engineering Mgmt

Combine management courses and engineering classes to prepare graduates to work in technology-driven businesses.

Engineering Physics or Science

Research into, and application of, principles from basic scientific fields (particularly physics) with an eye towards engineering applications.

Environmental

Issues involving the protection and preservation of the environment, including sustainable use of the earths natural resources. Primary Areas of Specialization include Air Pollution Control, Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal, Natural Systems Modeling, Recycling and Solid Waste Disposal, Sanitary Engineering (municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment). and Water Resources. Environmental Engineering is also a frequent area of specialization under both Chemical and Civil Engineering programs.

General Engineering Studies

General engineering studies includes core courses and competencies (including mathmatics) that can be applied to any number of enginering disciplines without specializing in a specific one.

Materials/ Metallurgical

Development and application of advanced materials ceramics, polymers, metallic alloys/specialty metals, electronic materials, composites, etc. While Materials Engineering is concerned with developing and applying advanced material, commercial-scale production of such materials is the realm of Chemical Engineering. This discipline is also known as Materials Science and Engineering (reflecting the heavy emphasis on studying materials science that such programs often entail).

Mining, Nuclear

Combining the Finding, extracting, and processing coal, metallic ores (such as copper, nickel, zinc, and gold) and other minerals (such as diamonds) with the engineering applications of nuclear/radioactive materials.

Petroleum Engineering

The identification, extraction, storage, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas. Processing (refining) crude oil is in realm of Chemical Engineering

Biotechnology

In recent years, a completely new field of technology has developed from advances in the life sciences. Known as biotechnology, it involves such varied activities as genetic engineering, the manipulation of genetic material of cells or organisms, and cloning, the formation of genetically uniform cells, plants, or animals. Although still in its infancy, many scientists believe that biotechnology will play a major role in many fields, including food production, waste disposal, and medicine.