Doctor of Fine Arts
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Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) is an honorary degree in fine arts conferred to honor the recipient who has made a contribution to society. It is also an earned doctorate in certain universities where it is awarded to a graduate student as an academic degree of the highest level in the field. In the academy of fine arts, until recently, the terms “master” and “doctor” have been employed to mean the same thing since “teachers” under whom the artists learn have been “masters” of their field and are recognized by the academy. The word “doctor” in Latin means “teacher”. Earned doctorate degrees in fine arts are degrees awarded in recognition of academic research, that is, candidates have produced academic work of a publishable standard. Similarly, those who are considered modern “masters” and are therefore “doctors” in visual arts are those whose artworks represent a modest contribution in the arts. Their pieces may be exhibited in art galleries and are possibly represented in public museums. Recognition with a D.F.A. degree in film, music, drama, literature, poetry, dance, theatre and plastic art by a university usually means the artist has made a contribution to the field and to human knowledge.
