Doctorate titles as an honor for career achievements

Is that acceptable? For instance several Indian celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan has been conferred an honorary doctorate degree by an accredited Indian university approved by the UGC for his achievements in the art of cinema as an actor. Some call him Dr.Amitabh Bachchan. Is that allowed?

 

Of course it is allowable for universities to award honorary doctorates. Of course it is allowable to call someone Dr in recognition of their honorary doctorate. However, I doubt that an honorary doctorate would serve as valid credential for a professorate that requires the doctorate.

 

I would think that anyone that is awarded an honorary doctorate would have enough experience and regard that many schools would allow them to teach in a position that normally requires an earned doctorate. Think along the lines of someone like Steven Spielburg teaching film. I'm pretty sure he could find a good job as a film professor without having a phd. I'm not sure he has an honorary doctorate but he'll work for my example.

 

I suspect that it is unusual for someone with an honorary doctorate to work in the academy; however, one exception to this is Jack Horner at Montana State University. He never finished his bachelors degree. Yet, he is one of the nation's leading dinosaur paleontologists. He is the curator at the university's museum and a professor of paleontology.

 

Bazonkers: "I would think that anyone that is awarded an honorary doctorate would have enough experience and regard that many schools would allow them to teach in a position that normally requires an earned doctorate."

John: from the 15th edition of Bears' Guide, chapter on honorary doctorates, we learn about the following, all from regionally-accredited schools
Dr. Mike Tyson
Dr. Michael Jackson
Dr. Wayne Gretzky
Dr. Elwood Blues (a mule, from Yale)
Dr. Cinderella (from Miami-Dade)
Dr. Dolly Parton
Dr. Soupy Sales
Dr. Joe DiMaggio
Dr. Oliver North
Dr. Ozzie Nelson
Dr. Kermit the Frog
Dr. Idi Amin
Dr. Bob Hope (more than 50 times)

What a faculty that baker's dozen would make.

 

I have noticed the postings for professor positions almost always says "an earned" doctorate or Ph.D. or DBA, or what ever the designation.

I often wondered about honorary doctorates and teaching until I noticed this delineation.

 

The problem is that most people with honorary doctorates are politicians (or other celebrities) who happen to have given speeches at graduations. Very rarely has the holder of an honorary doctorate done anything worthy of honor in the field that the honorary doctorate was awarded in. The Spielberg example would be supportable under other criteria.

 

Ha! Well, I guess that's what I get for using the word "anyone". I should have said some. I'll learn! Thanks for posting examples, however. I never realized that honorary doctorates were given out like that. I thought they were mainly awarded to those that have shown expertise in a field and were fairly well known but didn't have a formal education in the area. Thanks again for the info.

 

Indian Chief Minister conferred a “Doctor of Laws” by the Saginaw State University

Looks like American Public Universities are Conferreing Doctorate to Indian Politicians who are well known for their Corruption and Fraud.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120754080400.htm

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will be conferred a doctorate degree “Doctor of Laws” by the Saginaw State University, Michigan, U.S., at a public programme on December 13.

 

A real doctoral degree holder who would have spent a lot of time, money, sweat and blood spending years and years and years ending up earning his first bread and butter in his mid to late 20's might get discouraged by these things.

I think it is as good as a degree mill thing. (Unless of-course someone has dedicated his life for the art and principles they have elected like say Mother Teresa or someone).

Am I right?

 

There are more than a few people -- Edwin Land, founder of Polaroid, and Billy Graham are two -- who insisted on being called "Doctor" based only on an honorary.

On a side matter, I have been trying to find out for several years where things stand in the Great Honorary Doctorate Accumulation Contest (never publicly acknowledged) between Father Hesburgh (former president of Notre Dame) and King Bhumibol of Thailand. Neck and neck for decades. Hesburgh reached 160 doctorates first, as I recall, but the King reached 170 first, by dint of getting ten in one day from the same Thai university. (It helps to be King.) Last I read, they were both pushing 200.

In the Honorary Degrees chapter of Bears Guide, I have guessed that of the tens of thousands of honoraries given each year, roughly 2/3rds go to scholars (very often on a 'we give you one this year, you give us one next year' handshake), roughly a quarter to donors or potential donors, and the rest to celebrities.

 

If I ever get knighted, I'm going to make people call me Sir Bazonkers.

Oh, and if I get an honorary doctorate I will be known as Sir Dr. Bazonkers. Muhahaha!

 

Are Father Hesburgh and the King of Thailand both still yet alive? How old are they?

 

ha ha! It looks like there are a lot of people in this forum who likes to take a crack at ironic things.

170 honorary doctorates? hmmm... Wow! bring him here. I'll prove to the world I am 170 times smarter than a doctorate degree holder.

Long serving Politicians who have handled a certain division - lets say the finance minister of the country or something like that might have at least prepared a lot of articles and stuff that brings about a lot of changes to our lives. I am sure they must have got sufficient exposure to get a doctoral degree through research or course work. Cant they?

 

Dr.Vijay Mallya, Ph.D ( Chairman and CEO, UBICS, Inc. )

http://www.ubics.com/UBICS/Directors.htm

"Dr. Mallya was conferred a Doctorate of Philosophy in Business Administration by Southern California University, Irvine."

Southern California University ???? Where is this school?

 

I have the knighthood covered, but when do I get my honorary doctorate for all those FEMA courses I have completed.

 

At first I was laughing but holy mackerel! You have a serious amount of FEMA credits completed. I did 21, the minimum required for my soon to be completed AAS degree from TESC. You sir, are on fire.

Not physically on fire, mind you. Although if you were, it looks like you've probably taken a FEMA course to cover that situation.

 

Ted asks: "Are Father Hesburgh and the King of Thailand both still yet alive? How old are they?"

John replies: I see from the excellent site at www.deadoraliveinfo.com that

Hesburgh is going strong at 91.

King Bhumibol is a mere 81.

Bob Hope was another honorary doctorate collector, but 'only' had 50 or so. There was a plan afoot, when he was 99, to get 100 universities each to award him an honorary doctorate on his 100th birthday. But as his health seriously declined, the plan was canceled. Hope did reach 100, but was too far gone to celebrate.