Click here to print the NSF HERD Survey Science Codes and Examples
| Updated FY2020 NSF Science Code | Science Code Description |
|
A.01-2016 |
Computer and Information Sciences |
| Examples | Artificial intelligence |
| Computer and information technology administration and management | |
| Computer science | |
| Computer software and media applications | |
| Computer systems analysis | |
| Computer systems networking and telecommunications | |
| Data processing | |
| Information sciences, studies | |
| Information technology | |
|
B.01-2016 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautically Engineering |
| Examples | Aerodynamics |
| Aerospace engineering | |
| Space technology | |
|
B.02-2016 |
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering |
| Examples | Biological and biosystems engineering |
| Biomaterials engineering | |
| Biomedical technology | |
| Medical engineering | |
|
B.03-2016 |
Chemical Engineering |
| Examples | Biochemical engineering |
| Chemical and biomolecular engineering | |
| Engineering chemistry | |
| Paper science | |
| Petroleum refining process | |
| Polymer, plastics engineering | |
|
B.04-2016 |
Civil Engineering |
| Examples | Architectural engineering |
| Construction engineering | |
| Engineering management, administration | |
| Environmental, environmental health engineering | |
| Geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering | |
| Sanitary engineering | |
| Structural engineering | |
| Surveying engineering | |
| Transportation and highway engineering | |
| Water resources engineering | |
|
B.05-2016 |
Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering |
| Examples | Communications engineering |
| Computer engineering | |
| Computer hardware engineering | |
| Computer software engineering | |
| Electrical and electronics engineering | |
| Laser and optical engineering | |
| Power | |
| Telecommunications engineering | |
|
B.06-2016 |
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering |
| Examples | Industrial engineering |
| Manufacturing engineering | |
| Operations research | |
| Systems engineering | |
|
B.07-2016 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Examples | Electromechanical engineering |
| Mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering | |
|
B.08-2016 |
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering |
| Examples | Ceramic sciences and engineering |
| Geophysical, geological engineering | |
| Materials engineering | |
| Metallurgical engineering | |
| Mining and mineral engineering | |
| Textile sciences and engineering | |
| Welding | |
|
B.09-2016 |
Other Engineering |
| Examples | Agricultural engineering |
| Engineering design | |
| Engineering mechanics, physics, and science | |
| Engineering physics | |
| Engineering science | |
| Forest engineering | |
| Nanotechnology | |
| Naval architecture and marine engineering | |
| Nuclear engineering | |
| Ocean engineering | |
| Petroleum engineering | |
| Other engineering fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above | |
|
C.01-2016 |
Atmospheric Science and Meteorology |
| Examples | Aeronomy |
| Atmospheric chemistry and climatology | |
| Atmospheric physics and dynamics | |
| Extraterrestrial atmospheres | |
| Meteorology | |
| Solar | |
| Weather modification | |
|
C.02-2016 |
Geological and Earth Sciences |
| Examples | Earth and planetary sciences |
| Geochemistry | |
| Geodesy and gravity | |
| Geology | |
| Geomagnetism | |
| Geophysics and seismology | |
| Hydrology and water resources | |
| Minerology and petrology | |
| Paleomagnetism | |
| Paleontology | |
| Physical geography | |
| Stratigraphy and sedimentation | |
| Surveying | |
|
C.03-2016 |
Ocean Sciences and Marine Sciences |
| Examples | Biological oceanography |
| Geological oceanography | |
| Marine biology | |
| Marine oceanography | |
| Marine sciences | |
| Oceanography, chemical andphysical | |
|
C.04-2016 |
Other Geosciences, Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences |
| Examples | Other fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above |
|
D.01-2016 |
Agricultural Sciences |
| Examples | Agricultural business andmanagement |
| Agricultural chemistry | |
| Agricultural engineering—report in Engineering | |
| Agricultural production operations | |
| Animal sciences | |
| Applied horticulture and horticultural business services | |
| Aquaculture | |
| Food science and technology | |
| International agriculture | |
| Plant sciences | |
| Soil sciences | |
| Veterinary biomedical and clinical sciences | |
| Wood science | |
|
D.02-2016 |
Biological and Biomedical Sciences |
| Examples | Allergies and immunology |
| Biochemistry, biophysics, andmolecular biology | |
| Biogeography | |
| Biology and biomedical sciences, general | |
| Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology | |
| Biotechnology | |
| Botany and plant biology | |
| Cell, cellular biology, and anatomical sciences | |
| Epidemiology, ecology and population biology | |
| Foods, nutrition, and wellness studies | |
| Genetics | |
| Microbiological sciences and immunology | |
| Molecular medicine | |
| Neurobiology and neuroscience | |
| Pharmacology and toxicology | |
| Physiology, pathology and related sciences | |
| Zoology, animal biology | |
|
D.03-2016 |
Health Sciences |
| Examples | Advanced, graduate dentistryand oral sciences |
| Allied health and medical assisting services | |
| Bioethics, medical ethics | |
| Clinical medicine research | |
| Clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions | |
| Communication disorders sciences and services | |
| Dentistry | |
| Dietetics and clinical nutrition services | |
| Health and medical administrative services | |
| Health, medical preparatory programs | |
| Gerontology, health sciences | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Medical clinical science, graduate medical studies | |
| Medical illustration and informatics | |
| Medicine | |
| Mental health | |
| Nursing | |
| Optometry | |
| Osteopathic medicine, osteopathy | |
| Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and administration | |
| Podiatric medicine, podiatry | |
| Public health | |
| Radiological science | |
| Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing | |
| Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions | |
| Veterinary medicine | |
| Zoology | |
|
D.04-2016 |
Natural Resources and Conservation |
| Examples | Fishing and fisheries sciences and management |
| Forestry | |
| Natural resources conservation and research | |
| Natural resources management and policy | |
| Renewable natural resources | |
| Wildlife and wildlands science and management | |
|
D.05-2016 |
Other Life Sciences |
| Examples | Other life sciences that cannotbe classified using the fields listed above |
|
E.01-2016 |
Mathematics and Statistics |
| Examples | Applied mathematics |
| Mathematics | |
| Statistics | |
|
F.01-2016 |
Astronomy and Astrophysics |
| Examples | Astronomy |
| Astrophysics | |
| Planetary astronomy and science | |
|
F.02-2016 |
Chemistry |
| Examples | (except Biochemistry—report in Biological and Biomedical Sciences) |
| Analytical chemistry | |
| Chemical physics | |
| Environmental chemistry | |
| Forensic chemistry | |
| Inorganic chemistry | |
| Organic chemistry | |
| Organo-metallic chemistry | |
| Physical chemistry | |
| Polymer chemistry | |
| Theoretical chemistry | |
|
F.03-2016 |
Materials Science |
| Examples | Materials chemistry |
| Materials science | |
|
F.04-2016 |
Physics |
| Examples | Acoustics |
| Atomic, molecular physics | |
| Condensed matter andmaterials physics | |
| Elementary particle physics | |
| Mathematical physics | |
| Optics, optical sciences | |
| Plasma, high-temperature physics | |
| Theoretical physics | |
|
F.05-2016 |
Other Physical Sciences |
| Examples | Other physical sciences thatcannot be classified using the fields listed above |
|
G.01-2016 |
Psychology |
| Examples | Clinical psychology |
| Counseling and applied psychology | |
| Human development | |
| Research and experimental psychology | |
|
H.01-2016 |
Anthropology |
| Examples | Cultural anthropology |
| Medical anthropology | |
| Physical and biological anthropology | |
|
H.02-2016 |
Economics |
| Examples | Applied economics |
| Agricultural economics | |
| Business development | |
| Development economics andinternational development | |
| Econometrics and quantitative economics | |
| Industrial economics | |
| International economics | |
| Labor economics | |
| Managerial economics | |
| Natural resources economics | |
| Public finance and fiscal policy | |
|
H.03-2016 |
Political Science and Government |
| Examples | Comparative government |
| Government | |
| Legal systems | |
| Political economy | |
| Political science | |
| Political theory | |
|
H.04-2016 |
Sociology, Demography, and Population Studies |
| Examples | Comparative and historical sociology |
| Complex organizations | |
| Cultural and social structure | |
| Demography and population studies | |
| Group interactions | |
| Rural sociology | |
| Social problems and welfare theory | |
| Sociology | |
|
H.05-2016 |
Other Social Sciences |
| Examples | Archeology |
| Area, ethnic, cultural, gender,and group studies | |
| Cartography | |
| Criminal science and corrections | |
| Criminology | |
| Geography | |
| Gerontology, social sciences | |
| History and philosophy of science and technology | |
| International relations and national security studies | |
| Linguistics | |
| Public policy analysis | |
| Regional studies | |
| Urban studies, affairs | |
|
I.01-2016 |
Other Sciences |
| Examples | Use this category for R&D that involves at least one S&E field (A–H) if it is impossible to report multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary R&D expenditures in specific fields. |
|
J.01-2016 |
Business Management and Business Administration |
| Examples | Business administration |
| Business management | |
| Business, managerial economics | |
| Management information systems and services | |
| Marketing management and research | |
|
J.02-2016 |
Communication and Communications Technologies |
| Examples | Communication and media studies |
| Communications technologies | |
| Journalism | |
| Radio, television, and digital communication | |
|
J.03-2016 |
Education |
| Examples | Education administration and supervision |
| Education research | |
| Teacher education, specific levels and methods | |
| Teaching fields | |
|
J.04-2016 |
Humanities |
| Examples | English language and literature,letters |
| Foreign languages and literatures | |
| History, not including history and philosophy of science and technology | |
| Humanities, general | |
| Liberal arts and sciences | |
| Philosophy and religious studies | |
| Theology and religious vocations | |
|
J.05-2016 |
Law |
| Examples | Law |
| Legal studies | |
|
J.06-2016 |
Social Work |
| Examples | (no specific examples) |
|
J.07-2016 |
Visual and Performing Arts |
| Examples | Drama, theatre arts and stagecraft |
| Film, video, and photographic arts | |
| Fine and studio arts | |
| Music | |
|
J.08-2016 |
Other Non-S&E Fields |
| Examples | Architecture |
| City, urban, community andregional planning | |
| Family, consumer sciences and human sciences | |
| Landscape architecture | |
| Library science | |
| Military technology and applied science | |
| Parks, sports, recreation, leisure and fitness | |
| Public administration and public affairs | |
| Other non-S&E fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above | |
| Also, use this category for R&D that involves multiple non-S&E fields if it is impossible to report multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary R&D expenditures in specific fields. |