TheDoctor of Arts (D.A.; occasionallyD.Arts orArt.D. from theLatinartium doctor) is adiscipline-basedterminaldoctoraldegree that was originally conceived and designed to be an alternative to the traditional research-based Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and theeducation-based Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). Like other doctorates, the D.A. is anacademic degree of the highest level. The D.A. is also frequently conferred as anhonorary degree with the added designation ofhonoris causa.
TheCarnegie Foundation was the first to fund ten universities with seed money to initiate the degree.
The D.A. differs from the Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees in its shift in emphasis from research (though a project or thesis is generally required) to the advanced study of a specific discipline, content area expertise,learning theory, and curriculum design. As such, it is often described as a "teaching doctorate". The D.A. differs from the Ed.D. in its strong disciplinary focus, while still embracing the Ed.D.'s concern for issues in education, and a theoretical as well as practical preparation inpedagogy.[citation needed]
Three prominent earned Doctor of Arts degrees offered in the United States are the D.A. in English Pedagogy fromMurray State University, the D.A. in the Great Books of the Western World fromHarrison Middleton University, and the D.A. in Music fromBall State University. Idaho State University also has D.A. programs in biology, math, and political science.
In Australia, theDoctor of Creative Arts degree is offered at several universities as a terminal degree in the field.
In 2016,ELIA (European League of Institute of the Arts) launchedThe Florence Principles on the Doctorate in the Arts.[1] The Florence Principles, relating to the Salzburg Principles and the Salzburg Recommendations of theEUA (European University Association), define the differences between a Doctorate in the Arts compared to a scientific doctorate or Ph.D. degree. The Florence Principles have been endorsed by theEuropean Association of Conservatoires,CILECT, theCumulus Association, and theSociety for Artistic Research.
In Italy, a PhD in Artistic Practice can be obtained at theNuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome.
In the Netherlands, it can be pursued at theRoyal Academy of Art, The Hague.
In France, theÉcole nationale supérieure d'arts de Paris-Cergy offers a practice-led doctorate. In Belgium,KU Leuven offers a PhD in Research at the School of Arts (LUCA). Additionally,Leiden University provides a programme in this field.
In Cyprus,Frederick University offers a PhD in Art and Design Practices. In the Czech Republic, theAcademy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague provides a PhD in Visual Arts.
In London,Goldsmiths, University of London, theSlade School of Fine Art, and theRoyal College of Art offer PhD programmes in Artistic Practice.
Outside London, theEdinburgh College of Art, theUniversity of Plymouth, theUniversity of Leeds, theUniversity of Manchester,Newcastle University, theUniversity of Wolverhampton, theUniversity of Reading, and theUniversity of Brighton offer PhD programmes in Artistic Practice. The DPhil in Fine Art at theUniversity of Oxford supports research in contemporary art-making (through the practice-led DPhil) as well as contemporary art history and theory.
In Ireland, theUniversity of Limerick offers a four-year structured PhD programme designed for professional performing artists wishing to engage in academic research. TheBurren College of Art offers a PhD in Studio Art, while theNational College of Art & Design in Dublin provides a practice-based PhD. In Northern Ireland,Ulster University in Belfast offers practice- and research-based Art and Design programmes.
In Germany, a PhD in Artistic Practice can be obtained at theUniversity of Fine Arts of Hamburg and theUniversity of the Arts Bremen. TheBauhaus University, Weimar offers a four-year programme culminating in a PhD thesis that consists equally of a scientific and an artistic or design component.
In Austria, a PhD in Practice can be completed at theAcademy of Fine Arts Vienna, theUniversity of Applied Arts Vienna, theMozarteum University Salzburg, and theUniversity of Art and Design Linz.
In Switzerland, the Institute for Contemporary Art Research (IFCAR) at theZurich University of the Arts offers a PhD in Fine Arts.
InFinland, the Doctor of Arts degree is a research-based qualification awarded by theUniversity of Art and Design Helsinki upon successful completion of studies and adissertation in the fields of art and design.
In Sweden, theUniversity of Gothenburg offers a doctoral studies programme in artistic practices, including craft, design, design management, fine art, film, photography, literary composition, poetry, and prose. Additionally, theMalmö Art Academy offers a four-year doctoral programme for professional artists and curators, leading to a PhD in Fine Art. In Stockholm, a PhD in Artistic Practice in Visual, Applied, and Spatial Arts can be obtained atKonstfack.
In Norway, theOslo National Academy of the Arts offers a three-year full-time doctoral programme (180 ECTS credits) leading to a PhD in Artistic Research. A PhD in Artistic Research can also be pursued at theNorwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.
While the PhD is the most common doctoral degree in the United States,[2] theU.S. Department of Education and theNational Science Foundation recognize a number of research-oriented doctoral degrees such as the D.A. as "equivalent",[3][4] and do not discriminate between them.
The idea for a Doctor of Arts degree was originally proposed at the 1932 meeting of theAssociation of American Universities by Wallace Atwood, then president ofClark University. However, it was not until in 1967, with support from theCarnegie Corporation of New York, thatCarnegie Mellon University began to offer the D.A. in Mathematics, History, English and Fine Arts,[5] conferring the first such Doctor of Arts degrees in the United States the following year, in 1968, to Donald H. Taranto in the field of mathematics. Guiding principles for the Doctor of Arts degree were established in 1970 by the Committee on Graduate Studies of theAmerican Association of State Colleges and Universities and by theCouncil of Graduate Schools in the United States. Additional support was provided by theCarnegie Foundation in 1971.[6]
The National Doctor of Arts Association (NDAA) was founded in 1991 at Idaho State University.
InArgentina, the Doctorate of Arts is offered by theNational University of Córdoba and theNational University of Rosario.