Broad Thematic Specializations:
* History: This is arguably the broadest area, further broken down by period (Ancient History, Medieval History, Modern History), region (African History, American History, European History), or theme (Military History, Social History, Intellectual History, Economic History).
* Political Science: Focuses on the theory and practice of government and politics, including political philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, public policy, and public administration.
* Economics: Studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Specializations include microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, behavioral economics, and development economics.
* Geography: Explores the Earth's surface, its features, and the relationships between people and their environment. Specializations include human geography, physical geography, environmental geography, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems).
* Sociology: Studies human social relationships and institutions. Specializations include social theory, criminology, demography, family studies, and medical sociology.
* Anthropology: Examines human societies and cultures and their development. Specializations include cultural anthropology, biological anthropology (physical anthropology), linguistic anthropology, and archaeology.
More Specific Subfields and Niches:
* Labor History: A subfield of history focusing on the experiences and struggles of workers.
* Gender Studies: Examines gender roles, relations, and inequalities across various social contexts.
* Urban Studies: Focuses on the social, economic, and political aspects of cities and urban areas.
* Environmental History: Explores the relationship between humans and the environment throughout history.
* International Development: Studies strategies for improving economic and social conditions in developing countries.
* Public Policy Analysis: Researching and evaluating the effectiveness of government policies.
* Political Economy: The intersection of political and economic systems.
* Historical Demography: Using historical data to study population trends.
* Legal Studies: Focuses on the legal systems and their social impact.
These are just examples, and many other specializations exist within and between these broader categories. The lines can often blur, as research frequently intersects multiple areas (e.g., a scholar might study the economic history of a particular region, combining history and economics). The specialization often depends on the researcher's specific interests and research questions.