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Doctor of Letters (Latin: Litterarum doctor; D.Litt.; or Litt. D.) is a university academic degree. Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study. ...

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. A doctorate is an academic degree of the highest level. ... Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated Ph. ...

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. An honorary degree (Latin: honoris causa ad gradum, not to be confused with an honors degree) is an academic degree awarded to an individual as a decoration, rather than as the result of matriculating and studying for several years. ... For other uses, see Humanities (disambiguation). ... Drew University is a small, private university located in Madison, New Jersey. ... Middlebury College is a small, private liberal arts college located in the rural town of Middlebury, Vermont, United States. ...

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
• 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.)
• Cayddrick Ballard- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plentipotentary College of William and Mary

David Malet Armstrong, often D. M. Armstrong, (1926 - ) is an Australian philosopher of mind, and scientific metaphysician. ... Shaun Mark Bean (born 17 April 1959) is an English film and stage actor. ... The University of Sheffield is a research university, located in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the United Kingdom. ... For the letter Ñ pronounced Enye, see Ñ. Enya (born Eithne Patricia Ní Bhraonáin[4] on 17 May 1961, Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland), sometimes presented in the media as Enya Brennan, is an Irish singer and songwriter. ... The University of Ulster (UU) is a multi-centre university located in Northern Ireland and is the largest single university on the island of Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland. ... Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer, and columnist. ... The Harlem Renaissance was named after the anthology The New Negro, edited by Alain Locke in 1925. ... Yusuf Islam Yusuf Islam (born July 21, 1948) was a British singer-songwriter. ... The University of Exeter (usually abbreviated as Exon. ... Edward John Eddie Izzard (born February 7, 1962) is a double Emmy-winning English[1] stand-up comedian and actor. ... Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush to hold the office. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... Air University is located at Islamabad, Pakistan. ... Joanne Jo Murray, née Rowling OBE[1] (born 31 July 1965),[2] who writes under the pen name J. K. Rowling,[3] is a British writer and author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... Harvard redirects here. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916. ... For other uses, see Hobbit (disambiguation) and There and Back Again (disambiguation). ... This article is about the novel. ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humanist,[2] humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer. ... The College of William and Mary (also known as William & Mary, W&M or The College) is a small, selective, coeducational public university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. ...

External links

• The University of Exeter Page, showing DLitt Recipients