Can someone explain whether these are honorary degrees or actually earned degrees (based on work history, publications, etc.) Seems a bit confusing. http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:Jwmur9rbQdcC:[url]www.joh.cam.ac.uk/Publications/JNews03/jnews03-College.html+higher+doctorates,+south+africa&hl=en&ie=UTF-8[/url] Roscoe
Sorry about the bad link. Here's the place where the higher degrees are mentioned: ****************************** College news Dr Andrew Macintosh, the President, was admitted to the Doctor of Divinity degree on 15 November 1997, watched by a number of senior College members. The old Higher Doctorates of the University in order of seniority are: the DD (Divinity), the LLD (Law), the MD (Medicine), the LittD (Letters) the ScD (Science) and the MusD (Music). Dr Macintosh was awarded the degree for his published work, including a 600 page commentary on the prophet Hosea. His interests and contributions have been in the field of Hebrew philology, and he has achieved this by consulting medieval rabbinic authorities, most importantly Rabbi Jonah Ibn Janah, who wrote a directory in Arabic of Hebrew in the 10th Century. Dr Macintosh said `I am particularly grateful to the College for its support over the last twenty years which has enabled me to publish articles and the like'.
Re: Sorry about the bad link. From what I have seen... --The Doctor of Divinity (DD) is, by and large, an honorary degree --The LLD is an earned degree (usually given outside the US). In the US, Doctor of laws is usually an honorary award --The MD, of course is an earned first professional degree --The LittD (more commonly the DLitt) is usually awarded as research only or to existing Ph.D.s with an extnesive record of publishing --The ScD is an earned degree outside the US and often an honorary degree in the US --The DMus is like the DLitt, only in music (the usual music degree is D.M.A., D.M.M. or Ph.D.) Tony Piña CSU San Bernardino
"Higher doctorates" are a non-US award, generally given to illustrious personalities who (usually) already possess a "lower" doctorate, such as a Ph.D. Tony Piña CSU San Bernardino
It is my understanding as a consequent of glancing at some old books that that the Doc of Divinity has at times been an earned degree. Lange, who wrote the extensive classical commentary, lists his only degree as D.D. If one looks at the editor's preface to the 7th vol of this set (1870ad)one sees that among the contributors to the NT portion of this set most degrees listed by these are are D.D.s not PhDs or ThDs. Other examples include Dickson, former prof of Divinity , Glasgow Univ (listed in Meyers Commentary(1885ad). AH Strong past prof at rochester Seminary lists a D.D.. AM Hills, arminian theologian, educated at Oberlin and Yale, lists his first doc as D.D.. James Moffatt , the translator, lists his only doc as a D.D. from St Andrews. John Owen who wrote on Hebrews and the Holy Spirit only lists the D.D. Milligan former prof at Glasgow only lists the D.D. The Greek grammarian AT Robertson lists his first doc as D.D. (others LLD, Litt D,). The Hebrew scholars Brown, driver, Briggs all list the D.D. as only doc save the D.Litt Well that's enough...do your own research
This thread caught my attention as one of my UNISA lecturers has a DD from the University of Pretoria. This is what the Tukkies say about the DD: "Doctor Divinitatis - DD (a) General The programme line that starts with the BTh and continues via the MTh , is concluded with the DD . The outcome of a DD is specialised research-based knowledge combined with a broad theological background. Also consult General Regulations for doctoral studies. (b) Admission requirements Subject to the stipulations of General Regulations G.1.3, G.45 and G.62, a candidate who has passed Greek and Hebrew at 200 level and holds the following qualification, will be admitted to the study for the Doctor Divinitatis degree: (i) The MTh degree or other qualification deemed as equivalent by the Senate (ii) The MDiv degree with at least 60% in all the subjects of the final year – such a candidate will be allowed to write the doctoral examination . (iii) The Dean in consultation with the Head of Department may set additional admission requirements. (c) Programme A student for the DD degree must (i) write a doctoral examination, unless he or she holds a MTh degree or equivalent qualification. (ii) submit a thesis on a topic in the field of Theology; and (iii) defend his or her thesis before the Faculty. The Head of the Department may set additional programme elements (i.e. short course in research methodology etc.). (d) Doctoral examination In preparation for a doctoral examination a student has to complete a reading programme compiled in consultation with the particular Head of Department and the promoter, and which must include a main subject and two ancillary subjects selected by the student from three separate departments in the Faculty of Theology. (e) Thesis (i) Consult General Regulations G.57 – G.60. (ii) If a promoter (in consultation with the Head of Department) requires it, a candidate has to take a preliminary examination before he or she will be allowed to commence with the writing of the thesis. This examination is aimed at assessing the candidate’s insight into the field of study and evaluates his or her research design and method . (iii) The thesis must cover a topic from a course included in the major subject of the MTh degree or doctoral examination . The title of the thesis has to be submitted to the Dean and Board of the Faculty via the Head of Department." http://www.up.ac.za/academic/theology/degrees/dd.htm
Thanks Tony, Bill. That clears it up. But the UK seems to also have a work-based degree which is also called a higher degree. By work-based, I mean the program of study is focused on one's job. The student's supervisor or manager works as a proctor, I think. The job forms some type of partnership with the school. Roscoe
Thank you, Charles. It was my understanding that the D.D. was an earned degree sometime in the past (I'm not certain how far back) but that it is now honorary. It does not surprise me that it would be an earned degree outside of the US (so many of our honorary titles are earned titles elsewhere--adding further to the "degree" of confusion about "degrees"). Tony Piña CSU San Bernardino
