has specified output deontic document act awarding an academic degree A deontic document act that has as specified output an academic degree and that confers on recipient of the academic degree the recognition and the claims and obligations that accompany the degree. Different degrees have different claims and obligations associated with them. For example, having a medical degree (either M.D. or D.O.) entitles a person to sit for stage 3 of the US Medical Licensing Exam (otherwise one may not take the exam). William R. Hogan awarding of an academic degree academic degree