Whats your opinion of honorary degrees?

[yondyr]

I'm curious, and not wanting to project my opinion in the phrasing of the question, though, of course just asking it might be revealing... :)

[notoppings]

I guess it promotes larger donations, especially from the recipient. Otherwise I would imagine it would make a sham out of all the work that the degreed had to put in.

[Monte314]

They are... an honor.

In certain fields where honorary degrees are common, you will sometimes here someone refer to their degree as "an earned" degree, to distinguish it from an honorary degree.

They entitle the recipint to use the honorary title associated with the degree, usually an honorary doctorate. Of course, they suggest no scholarly attainment or credentials, but are a customary means of recognizing persons who have provided some high service to the granting institution.

[Mogura]

Would having an honorary PhD qualify that person for employment as a full-on professor? I have never heard of such a thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were true...

[Monte314]

Would having an honorary PhD qualify that person for employment as a full-on professor? I have never heard of such a thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were true...

No. As I said, they are not an academic credential. (When Elton John was Knighted, this did not qualify him to engage in sword play....)

[ElstonGunn]

(When Elton John was Knighted, this did not qualify him to engage in sword play....)

That depends on what kind of swords you're talking about...


I think honorary degrees could be a lot of fun. If I had an honorary doctorate in fine arts, I'd give medical advice, because after all, I am a doctor, right?

[INTJoe]

I'd commemorate them with an honorary dump.

Joe Morgan just got an honorary degree and he was speaking tonight on Baseball Tonight about how important real education is to him, when in fact, he goes out of his way to remain uneducated on the very game he announces. ie: Won't read Moneyball or learn about SABRmetrics.

[sam988]

I think it is a good thing. Most people who receive honorary degrees deserve it much more than many of those who received their degree from normal graduation.

[Monte314]

I think it is a good thing. Most people who receive honorary degrees deserve it much more than many of those who received their degree from normal graduation.

Yes, the degree is supposed to be an enabler. Those who accomplish more without the "enablement" than those with it would seem to be worthy of special recognition.

[jesse]

Honorary degrees are something of an insult to students and graduates who have truly done the necessary work to receive masters or doctorate degrees. On second thought, there sometimes are circumstances where some individuals who already are scholars and have achieved something, but still. It's simply odd to award honorary degrees as some form of compliment and recognition.

Degrees are overhyped these days and they are not really much guarantee of anything. Maybe in the past they were, but now much less.