An academic interest is a particular field of study about a certain subject matter, such as history, mathematics or nursing. An academic activity is an extracurricular activity a student engages in that is educational, but that doesn't take place in a classroom, for example, business competitions or speech club.
Common areas of academic interest include business, English, criminal justice, science and social studies. A student may explore an academic interest through one class, but developed interests often lead to degree programs. Program or field-specific events, such as horse shows or music performance groups, are common examples of academic activities. Students also may participate in clubs related to their interests or majors.