Doctor of Letters
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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 a few M.Litt. ("Master of Letters") programs, such as that at Middlebury College.
[edit] Example recipients
These are a few examples of people who have received a Doctor of Letters.
- David Malet Armstrong – Australian philosopher
- Sean Bean – British Actor honored by University of Sheffield
- Gordon Brown – Current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- Eithne Bhraonáin (Enya Brennan) – 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
- Eddie Izzard – English stand-up comedian and actor.
- Condoleezza Rice – U.S. Secretary of State, honored by Air University[1]
- 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.)
