Doctor of Letters (Latin: Litterarum doctor; D.Litt.; or Litt. D.) is a university academic degree.
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.
In the United States, the degree is almost always an honorary degree often conferred to those who have contributed to the humanities and/or society. There are, however, a very small number of earned "D.Litt." programs, the best known being Drew University's, and Oxford Graduate School in Dayton, Tennessee award D.Litt by submitted portfolio of published research of a very high standard.
Example recipients
These are a few examples of people who have received a Doctor of Letters.
- David Malet Armstrong – Australian philosopher, honored by Nottingham University
- Sean Bean – British Actor, honored by University of Sheffield
- Gordon Brown – Current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, honored by the University of Delhi[1].
- Ralph Adams Cram - American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings
- Eithne Bhraonáin (Enya) – Irish musician, honorary recipient of the University of Ulster
- Langston Hughes – Poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Lincoln University
- Yusuf Islam (AKA: Cat Stevens) – Musician, honorary recipient of the University of Exeter
- Sir Donald Sinden - English actor, honorary recipient of the University of Leicester
- Eddie Izzard – English stand-up comedian and actor, honored by University of East Anglia
- Jan Narveson – American professor and author, honored by Wilfrid Laurier University
- Condoleezza Rice – U.S. Secretary of State, honored by Air University.[2]
- J. K. Rowling - Author of the Harry Potter series, honored by Harvard University.
- J.R.R. Tolkien – Author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, (Oxon.)
- Mark Twain – American author and satirist, (Oxon.)
- Thomas Nagel - philosopher; honored by the University of Oxford.[3]
- Pat Owens - Mayor of Grand Forks, North Dakota during the 1997 Red River Flood.[4]
References
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