Terapan

Terapan is a term used in Malay and Indonesian to denote applied or practical aspects of knowledge and disciplines. It is commonly used to distinguish fields that apply theories to real-world problems from those that are primarily theoretical. In academic contexts, terapan refers to applied sciences and applied disciplines, such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, computer science, and education, where knowledge is organized around practical application, problem solving, and technological development.

The term is formed from the root terap (to apply) with the suffix -an, a pattern used in Indonesian to create abstract nouns indicating a state or quality. In usage, terapan appears in phrases like ilmu terapan (applied science), pendidikan terapan (applied education), teknik terapan (applied techniques). It is often contrasted with ilmu murni or sains murni (pure science), which emphasize theoretical understanding without immediate application.

Terapan is common in national education systems in Indonesia and Malaysia, where curricula categorize programs as terapan or murni. The concept overlaps with terms such as applied science, engineering, and professional practice in other languages, though the exact connotations may vary by country and educational tradition.