Historical Information>

Honorary Degrees

With the exception of two Bachelor of Arts degrees, the Master of Arts was the only honorary degree conferred until 1792, when the first doctoral-level honorary degrees were awarded. During the latter part of the nineteenth century many institutions made a practice of conferring the Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa. This ceased at Pennsylvania after the third such degree was granted in 1891, and since that time the Ph.D. has been granted only as an earned degree.

NOTE: This listing supersedes all previous lists of honorary degree recipients, including the hardcover publication of 1953.

CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING (69K)

ALPHABETICAL LISTING (66K)

Abbreviations of Degrees

A.B. - Bachelor of Arts*

A.M. - Master of Arts*

B.S. - Bachelor of Science*

Art.D. - Doctor of Arts

Ch.D. - Doctor of Chemistry

D.C.L. - Doctor of Civil Law

D.D. - Doctor of Divinity

D.D.S. - Doctor of Dental Surgery

D.F.A. - Doctor of Fine Arts

D.P.A. - Doctor of Public Administration

D.P.H. - Doctor of Public Hygiene

D.S.W. - Doctor of Social Work

L.H.D. - Doctor of Humane Letters

Litt.D. - Doctor of Letters

LL.D. - Doctor of Laws

M.B.A. - Master of Business Administration*

M.D. - Doctor of Medicine*

M.F.A. - Master of Fine Arts*

M.L. - Master of Laws*

M.Litt. - Master of Letters

Mus.D. - Doctor of Music

Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy*

Ph.N.D. - Doctor of Natural Philosophy

Sc.D. - Doctor of Science

Sc.D. in Econ. - Doctor of Science in Economics

Sc.M. - Master of Science

S.T.D. - Doctor of Sacred Theology

V.M.D. - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine*

* No longer offered as an Honorary Degree.