ABSTRACT
The PhD in fine art, a philosophical doctorate awarded for research in the arts, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and other studio-based disciplines, has been granted in the United Kingdom for over thirty years. This advanced degree is offered in all other English-speaking nations, in numerous member states of the European Union, and in various other countries around the world, all of which consider the degree as a vigorous intellectual expansion of the artist's work through practice-based research as well as a beneficial component of the artistic process. The PhD degree in any field is an academic award that shows the holder has successfully completed higher-level research in a particular area of study. Although PhDs are awarded at United States institutions to artists in the disciplines of music, drama, dance, design, digital media, and most recently, creative writing, negative attitudes toward the PhD in visual and studio art continue to pervade the arts community.
