Defining Disciplines

Disciplines (or sub-disciplines or even interdisciplinary fields) can be defined in terms of five characteristics: the phenomena (and data) studied; theories employed; methods employed; rules for

granting degrees, hiring, and publication; and overall worldview (which may include epistemological, ideological, ethical, and metaphysical views) (Szostak, Classifying Science, 2004). It should be appreciated that disciplines

evolve through time