List of women who obtained doctoral degrees before 1800

Although doctoral degrees appeared in the universities of West Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries, for a long time they were given only to men. Below is a list of the women who obtained doctoral degrees before 1800. The list includes only academic degrees, not Doctors of Divinity.[clarification needed]

Constance Calenda (fl. 1415) may have received a medical degree from the University of Naples.[1] Juliana Morell "defended theses" in 1606 or 1607, although claims that she received a doctorate in canon law in 1608 have been discredited.[2] The putative 13th-century instance of Bettisia Gozzadini at the University of Bologna is discounted by Holt N. Parker.[3]

Person Year University Degree
Elena Cornaro Piscopia 1678 University of Padua Doctor of Philosophy
Laura Bassi 1732 University of Bologna Doctor of Philosophy
Cristina Roccati 1750 University of Bologna Doctor of Philosophy
Dorothea Erxleben 1754 University of Halle Doctor of Medicine
Maria Pellegrina Amoretti 1777 University of Pavia Doctor of Laws
María Pascuala Caro Sureda 1779 University of Valencia Doctor of Philosophy
María Isidra de Guzmán y de la Cerda 1785 Complutense University of Madrid Doctor of Philosophy
Dorothea von Rodde-Schlözer 1787 University of Göttingen Doctor of Philosophy
Maria Dalle Donne 1799 University of Bologna Doctor of Medicine

References

  1. ^ Whaley, L. (2011). Women and the Practice of Medical Care in Early Modern Europe, 1400-1800. Springer. p. 15. ISBN 978-0230295179. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. ^ Morley, S. Griswold (January 1941). "Juliana Morell: Problems". Hispanic Review. 9 (1): 137–150. doi:10.2307/469691. JSTOR 469691.; Morley, S. Griswold (July 1941). "Juliana Morell: Postscript". Hispanic Review. 9 (3): 399–402. doi:10.2307/469606. ISSN 0018-2176. JSTOR 469606.
  3. ^ Morata, Olympia (2007). Parker, Holt N. (ed.). The Complete Writings of an Italian Heretic. The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe. Vol. 52. University of Chicago Press. p. 30, fn.155. ISBN 978-0226536712. Retrieved 6 June 2019.

Literature

  • Cavazza, Marta (1997), "Minerva e Pigmalione. Carriere femminili nell'Italia del Settecento", The Italianist, 17 (1): 5–17, doi:10.1179/ita.1997.17.1.5 (complete list for 18th century)