Mark Twain, wearing the full-dress gown of an Oxford D.Litt. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in letters in 1907. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Doctor of Letters (Latin: Litterarum doctor; D.Litt.; or Litt. D.) is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.
Commonwealth[]
In the United Kingdom, Australia, India and certain other countries, the degree is a higher doctorate, above the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and is issued on the basis of a long record of research and publication. The degree D.Litt. is awarded to candidates whose record of published work and research shows conspicuous ability and originality and constitutes a distinguished and sustained achievement. University committee and board approval is required, and candidates must provide documented mastery of a particular area or field. The degree may also be awarded honoris causa to such people the university in question deems worthy.
United States[]
In the United States, the degree is often an honorary degree conferred on those who have contributed to the humanities and/or society. There are, however, a number of earned "D.Litt." programs, the best known being Drew University on the basis of 30 graduate credit hours post-Master's and a dissertation.[1]
France[]
In France the Doctor of Letters degree (doctorat ès lettres also called doctorat d'État) was a higher doctorate in the humanities superseded in 1984 by the habilitation.
Recipients[]
Notable recipients of a Doctor of Letters as an honorary degree, include the former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Michael Ignatieff,[2] former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown,[3]musicians K. J. Yesudas,[4] Enya,[5] Sami Yusuf,[6] former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,[7] writers Mark Twain, Ezra Pound [8], Malcolm Gladwell, O. N. V. Kurup,[9] Rik Mayall,[10] J. K. Rowling,[11] J.R.R. Tolkien,[12] Clive Cussler, Elmo Scott Watson from Illinois Wesleyan University, James May,[13] Robert Frost,[14] John Updike, actor Mohanlal,[15] J. Jayalalithaa,Chief-minister of Tamilnadu, India, sound recordist Resul Pookutty[16] V.T.Chellam, Tamil History Researcher, Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu, India, Canadian comedian and TV personality Rick Mercer, etc.
References[]
- ↑ "Arts & Letters Academic Program", Drew University
- ↑ "Michael Ignatieff conferred honorary degree by McGill". 2002. http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/34/17/honorary/.
- ↑ "Gordon Brown conferred honorary degree by DU". indiainfo.com. 2008. http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/01/21/0801211613_brown-ld_degree.html.
- ↑ "D. Litt for Yesudas by Kerala University". 2003. http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/03/29/stories/2003032903810400.htm.
- ↑ "UU Honours Musician Enya". University of Ulster press release. 2007. http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2007/3306.html.
- ↑ "Sami Yusuf - Doctor of Letters Graduation Ceremony". http://www.vimeo.com/13996275.
- ↑ "Secretary of state receives honorary Air University degree". Air Force Link. 2008. http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123094414.
- ↑ by Hamilton College in 1939
- ↑ "ONV Kurup is now Dr. ONV Kurup". http://newshopper.sulekha.com/kurup-honoured-with-d-litt_news_883518.htm.
- ↑ http://www.exeter.ac.uk/honorarygraduates/2009/prev_hongrads.shtml
- ↑ Sally Pook (2000-07-15). "J K Rowling given honorary degree at her alma mater". Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1348603/J-K-Rowling-given-honorary-degree-at-her-alma-mater.html. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
- ↑ Shropshire County Council (2002). "J.R.R. Tolkien". Literary Heritage, West Midlands. http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/tolkien.htm.
- ↑ BBC News (2010-07-15). "Top Gear presenter James May awarded honorary doctorate". BBC News (UK). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-10649036. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- ↑ "Robert Frost Award Chronology". http://www.frostfriends.org/chronology.html.
- ↑ "D. Litt conferred on Mohanlal". 2010. http://www.asianetindia.com/news/mohanlal-conferred-dlit_137413.html.
- ↑ "D. Litt for Resul Pookutty". 2010. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2010/mohanlal-resul-d-litt-190310.html.
External links[]
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