Higher Education / University Glossary

Subject

What does the academic term Subject mean in higher education?

Subject

Subject definition

Short Definition

Subject is a specific area of study within a larger field, such as english literature or chemistry.


In-depth Overview

Subject

Long definition: In higher education, a subject refers to a specific area of academic study or a particular field of knowledge and inquiry that students can choose to focus on as part of their educational curriculum. Subjects encompass a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to mathematics, science, humanities, social sciences, arts and engineering. Each subject typically has its own set of courses, faculty members and research areas.

Etymology: The term subject comes from the Latin word "subjectus", which means "placed beneath" or "subjugated". In the context of education, it signifies the area of study that a student chooses to delve into, often implying a willingness to be "subjugated" to the exploration and mastery of that field.

Synonyms or related academic terms:

  • Discipline
  • Field of Study
  • Academic Area

Examples of Use:

  • She majored in the subject of psychology, focusing on the study of human behavior and mental processes.
  • The university offers a diverse range of subjects for students to choose from, allowing them to tailor their education to their interests.
  • Research in the subject of environmental science plays a crucial role in addressing global sustainability challenges.

Translations:
Spanish: Asignatura
French: Matière
German: Fach
Italian: Materia
Portuguese: Matéria
Japanese: 科目 (Kamoku)
Chinese (Simplified): 学科 (Xuékē)
Hindi: विषय (Vishay)

Visitors can search for this term through the uniRank World Universities Search Engine.


Wikipedia Article

Subject


unirank Glossary Classification

Miscellaneous higher education terms > University academic terms



Share Glossary Term

Interesting? Share this University Glossary term with your friends now.

Feedback, Errors

We appreciate your feedback and error reports.

Feedback / Error Report

© uniRank since 2005