academic department

NOUN
19 LETTERS · STARTS WITH A

academic department is a valid 19-letter word worth 30 points in Scrabble and 36 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS
A1C3A1D2E1M3I1C3D2E1P3A1R1T1M3E1N1T1
1 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 0 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 =30 PTS
DOUBLE WORD → 60TRIPLE WORD → 90
MEANING

What does academic department mean?