Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.
In the United States, the degree is often an honorary degree conferred on those who have contributed to the humanities and/or society. There are, however, a number of earned "D.Litt." programs, the best known being Drew University on the basis of 30 graduate credit hours post-Master's and a dissertation.
Recipients
Notable recipients of a Doctor of Letters as an honorary degree, include the former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Michael Ignatieff, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, musicians K. J. Yesudas, Enya, Sami Yusuf, former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, writers Mark Twain, Ezra Pound, Malcolm Gladwell, O. N. V. Kurup, Rik Mayall, J. K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Clive Cussler, Elmo Scott Watson from Illinois Wesleyan University, James May, Robert Frost, John Updike, actor Mohanlal, J. Jayalalithaa,Chief-minister of Tamilnadu, India, sound recordist Resul Pookutty V.T.Chellam, Tamil History Researcher, Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu, India, Canadian comedian and TV personality Rick Mercer, etc.