It's no secret that today the national higher education is in a state of crisis. After receiving the coveted diploma, most graduates have to acquire the knowledge necessary for work on their own. One of the main reasons for this situation is the lack of a mechanism for rapid adaptation of the content of the taught academic disciplines. Don't know what the term "academic discipline" means? Then let's learn more about it and its content, subject and other features. And also consider how it differs from a scientific discipline.
(W. D.) Academic discipline is…
This phrase refers to systematized information, skills and abilities isolated from some area (technology, art, science, production activity, etc.) in order to study it in an educational institution.
To make it easier to remember the meaning of the concept under consideration, you should know that the noun "discipline" came to the Russian language fromLatin (disciplina) and in translation means "teaching".
If you explain in a simpler language, then an academic discipline is a specific subject that is studied in schools or universities. For example: mathematics, law, sopromat, computer science and others.
Training (academic) course and subject
The concept under consideration is quite closely related to the subject and the course.
Academic discipline is a synonym for the first of the above terms, which also represents pedagogically adapted and systematized information, skills, and skills that demonstrate the main essence of the science being studied.
Academic course is a structural unit of the organization of the entire educational and educational processes in a university or school within a particular discipline. The training course begins and ends during one semester, less often - several years.
Educational and scientific disciplines
Having learned the answer to the main question "academic discipline - what is it?", It is worth considering more carefully the connection of the term under study with such a concept as "scientific discipline" (N. D.).
This is the name of the main form of organization of a certain science. It brings together on a subject-content basis various areas of scientific knowledge, as well as a community of scientists involved in their production, analysis and transfer to society.
In the sphere of interests of N. D. also includes mechanisms for the evolution of a certain scientific branch as a practical profession.
The main difference between scientific andacademic discipline - that the first of them is focused on scientists-researchers, and the second - on students (pupils, students).
At the same time, the purpose of science is the development and systematization of objective theoretical and proven knowledge in practice. In turn, U. D. aims to teach this information to schoolchildren / students using a variety of methodological techniques.
Despite the different focus, these concepts are closely related and often intersect. Although at first glance it seems that N. D. is primary, and U. D. is secondary, throughout history they have constantly intertwined and complemented each other.
As an example of the relationship between the phenomena under consideration, we can cite a section of mathematics familiar to all schoolchildren - geometry. It is both a science and an academic discipline.
As a scientific discipline, geometry deals with the study of spatial structures and relationships, as well as their generalization.
Based on the knowledge obtained by scientists in this area, an academic subject was created - geometry. It is designed to develop logical, imaginative thinking in students, to form their spatial representations, as well as to develop the skills necessary for practical activities in the future.
At the same time, some of the people who studied geometry become scientists in the future who can make new discoveries in this area.
"Three pillars" of academic disciplines
Every academic discipline is based on three components.
- Directly the subject of the academic discipline (its essence).
- Set goals and objectives - what should students achieve after completing the study of U. D.
- The relationship of the academic discipline with other subjects, as well as its place in the program of the educational institution and the chosen speci alty.
Any U. D. is based on information provided by previously studied subjects. At the same time, it itself serves as a support for mastering the data of subsequent disciplines in order to acquire a certain academic level. Such a system resembles a house of cubes. As a rule, if one is pulled out, the structure may fall apart.
Information about any academic subject and its "three pillars" can always be found in the introductory lecture to the discipline, the preface to the textbook, various encyclopedic or dictionary articles.
As an example, consider the components of a U. D. such as Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
The subject of this discipline is the study of methods for obtaining drugs, as well as their composition and properties.
The aims of studying Pharmaceutical Chemistry are:
- creating a scientific base for obtaining medicines with the necessary healing abilities;
- establishing the relationship between the chemical formula of a medicinal substance and its effect on biological organisms.
The position of "Pharmaceutical Chemistry" in the system of sciences: this subject is based on knowledge from such U. D. as organic,inorganic, physical and colloidal chemistry, as well as biochemistry. In addition, the information provided by this W. D. students, is the base for "Technology of drugs" and "Pharmacology". Also "Pharmaceutical Chemistry" is related to physiology, therapy and similar medical and biological disciplines.
Additional components of U. D
In addition to the above "three pillars", each academic subject consists of its language, history, facts, theory, practical application and methods of the academic discipline.
The language of U. D. is very important for its development, since it is also used in scientific disciplines (the difference between these concepts is in the fifth paragraph). This is the name of the specific terminology of this industry. Its components are not only specialized terms, but also various symbols (most often of Greek or Latin origin), symbols and abbreviations, mathematical apparatus, and the like. In general, everything that is used in this area besides the usual language.
By studying the history of W. D., one can trace how it has reached the modern level. Moreover, the chronology of mistakes or misconceptions is sometimes no less informative and instructive than the story of achievements.
A tangible part in the educational material of the discipline is given to the facts. Information about them is acquired through observation or experimentation. The importance of factual material lies in the fact that they act as practical examples that illustrate theoretical data. They serve as evidence of the importance of existenceof this discipline.
The theoretical basis of U. D. is based on statements (postulates). With their help, a model of reality is formed, which is characterized by a simplification of objective reality. This method makes it possible theoretically to formulate laws that reflect the connections between phenomena.
Theories find their way into practice by solving certain problems based on given algorithms.
An important role among the components of U. D. belongs to her methods. They fall into two categories:
- Aimed at studying the subject itself as an academic discipline (didactic).
- Aimed at the development of related science. The latter are necessary for obtaining experimental data, building evidence or denying theories, solving practical problems.
Types of academic disciplines
According to the content of U. D. are divided into two large categories:
- General education, sometimes called general scientific or variable disciplines.
- Specialized (professional) academic disciplines, which allow you to determine the profile of a student's preparation for a particular category.
This type of discipline is more typical for universities.
In secondary educational institutions, such U. D., as a rule, are introduced in high school, when students are distributed into specialized classes with in-depth study of certain subjects.
Objectives and goals of the discipline
In general, every U. D. It is aimed at teaching new knowledge, as well as developing in students certain practical skills for implementing the information received. That is, for any academic discipline - tasks and goals - this is a set of requirements for the results of its development.
At the same time, each individual U. D. has its own goals and objectives based on its specifics.
For example, when studying a discipline called "World History", students are given the following tasks:
- consider the main stages in the development of states;
- match their social, economic, political and legal systems, culture and daily life.
If we are talking about studying the chronology of a particular country, then all of the above tasks are supplemented by a comparison of the historical processes taking place in it, with those events that took place in the same period outside it.
As for the purposes of studying W. D. World History, they are:
- Assimilation of acquired systematic information about the history of human civilization.
- Stimulating the development of students' abilities to realize the historical conditionality of phenomena in the world, to determine their own position in relation to the past and modern surrounding reality and to correlate their views and principles with historically emerged worldview systems.
- Mastering the skills of searching, systematizing and comprehensive analysis of historical information.
- Formation of the ability to considerevents/phenomena from the point of view of their historical conditionality. And also to compare different versions and assessments of events and activities of prominent personalities, to determine their own attitude to the debatable problems of the past and the present.
If the history of the native country is considered, then all the listed goals will be adapted to its chronology. In addition, another one will be added - the education of civic consciousness and an active position, national identity.
School program
All information about the studied U. D. is contained in a specialized state document. It is called the "Working Program of the Academic Discipline". It is she who is guided by the teacher, when teaching his wards.
Program Structure U. D
As a rule, each university draws up its own program of academic discipline. At the same time, it must necessarily comply with the unified state educational standards.
Usually the program consists of four sections:
- Passport. It describes the scope of U. D., its goals and objectives, its place in the structure of the main professional educational program, as well as the total number of academic hours allotted for the study of this subject.
- Structure and content. This section describes the types of study work and the amount of time allocated for them. The content of the discipline is also described in detail here.
- Conditions for implementation. This section provides a list of the logistics requiredstudent to fully master the subject. Also here is a list of literature on the discipline. Moreover, there is a separate list for students, separately for a teacher.
- Monitoring and evaluation of the level of development of the material presented. This section describes what pupils / students should learn and how the teacher will test their knowledge (oral surveys, tests, independent work, etc.). Also, there must be criteria for assessing knowledge and skills; the order of formation of grades for the discipline.
In addition to the above items, some programs may contain additional information, such as examples of evaluation tools for monitoring and validation. As well as data on the educational technologies used (may be supplemented by methodological recommendations).
Civil law as an example of a scientific and academic discipline
Having studied the main features of such a concept as U. D., it is worth considering civil law as a science and academic discipline as a practical example.
As a civil science, this subject specializes in considering the patterns of civil and legal regulation of relationships in society. The result of such a study is the emergence of an academic discipline on civil law. It consists of a system of related and consistent concepts, views, judgments, ideas, concepts, and theories.
The subject of this U. D. is civil law.
Study objectives -mastering the main provisions and concepts of civil law science by students. As well as an analysis of the main body of civil law and the practice of its application.
The task of "Civil Law" as an academic discipline is to train specialists who are able to quickly solve practical legal civil problems using the knowledge gained.
Depending on the speci alty of training, this U. D. is allocated a different number of academic hours. For example, students in Law and Welfare Organization devote 239 hours to studying this subject during one semester. And for the speci alty "Jurisprudence", 684 hours were allocated for the study of civil law over four semesters.
As for the conditions for the implementation of "Civil Law" as an academic discipline, after completing this subject, the student must know not only all the provisions of the civil code, but also the basic laws governing civil law relations in the state. Also, the student should be familiar with the main provisions of the guidelines of the Supreme and Supreme Arbitration Courts on civil law issues.
On the speci alty "Law and organization of social security" after completing the course, students take the final exam. And at "Jurisprudence" each semester in turn ends with a test or an exam.
