Doctor of Fine Arts

Academic degree

Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) is a professional doctoral degree in fine arts. It may also be awarded as an honorary degree.

## Description

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Doctoral programmes leading to DFAs in the UK are of equivalent level to a PhD, with the same requirement to demonstrate new knowledge, but typically contain a practical component and a more structured programme of learning than a PhD. DFA programmes are offered by universities including the University of Hertfordshire and the University of East London. The research outputs required may include a thesis and an exhibited body of work or an exhibition combined with a written report.[1][2] At Yale University in the US, the DFA may be conferred as an earned degree on students who have graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama and who have completed a dissertation.[3]

In 2016 ELIA (European League of the Institutes of the Arts) launched the Florence Principles on the Doctorate in the Arts.[4] The Florence Principles, relating to the Salzburg Principles and the Salzburg Recommendations of the European University Association, name seven points of attention to specify PhDs and other doctorates in the arts. The Florence Principles were endorsed by the European Association of Conservatoires, the  International Association of Film and Television Schools, the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media, the European Association for Architectural Education and the Society for Artistic Research.[5]

As an honorary degree, the DFA is typically conferred on a recipient who has made a significant contribution to society in the fine arts. Notable individuals who have received honorary DFAs include: Georgia O'Keeffe,[6] Taylor Swift,[7] Frank Stella,[8] Carmen De Lavallade,[9] Anna Deavere Smith,[9] Jacques d'Amboise,[10] Bill Pullman,[11] Abelardo Morell,[12] Twyla Tharp,[13] Gordon Parks,[13] Seth MacFarlane,[14] and Jack Nicholson.[15]

## See also

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* Doctor of Arts (DA) – sometimes an honorary and sometimes an earned degree
* Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) – typically an honorary degree
* Doctor of Music (DMus, DM or MusD) – sometimes an honorary and sometimes an earned degree
* Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – typically an earned degree

## References

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1. ^ "Professional Doctorate in Fine Art". University of Hertfordshire. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
2. ^ "Prof Doc Fine Art". University of East London. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
3. ^ "Doctor of Fine Arts Degree". David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
4. ^ "The 'Florence Principles' On the Doctorate of the Arts". ELIA. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
5. ^ "The 'Florence Principles' on the Doctorate in the Arts" (PDF). ELIA. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
6. ^ "Georgia O'Keeffe". Special Collections Research Centre. College of William and Mary. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
7. ^ FitzPatrick, Hayley (18 May 2022). "Taylor Swift receives honorary degree from NYU, delivers address to Class of 2022". Good Morning America. ABC News.
8. ^ "Frank Stella to Receive Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts". BU Today. Boston University. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011.
9. ^ a b "6 Honorary Doctorates to Be Awarded at Commencement". The Juilliard Journal Online. May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
10. ^ "National Dance Institute". Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
11. ^ "Good to be a graduate of 'this place,' Pullman tells Alfred University class of '11". Alfred University. 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011.
12. ^ "Abelardo Morell". James Hyman Photography. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011.
13. ^ a b "Honorary degrees Awarded by Princeton University". Princeton University. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011.
14. ^ Eric Paul Meier (2007-06-25). Seth MacFarlane | RISD Commencement. Retrieved 2024-06-11 - via YouTube.
15. ^ Sam Levison (3 June 2011). "Some Wisdom from Jack... and BINDER!". BlogDailyHerald. Brown Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011.