Academic Regalia
The origins of academic regalia date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. The first gowns were patterned after the dress of the cleric and were believed to be a necessity for warmth in unheated buildings. Hoods were designed to serve as cover for the tonsured head. Caps were not used at that time. It wasn't until late 19th century that colors were assigned to signify degrees. The color used should be indicative of the subject to which the degree pertains. For example, the velvet for the degree of Master of Science in Education should be light blue, representing education, rather than gold, representing science. No academic hood should ever represent more than a single degree.
In the case of the Ph.D. degree, the dark blue color is used to represent the mastery of the discipline of learning and scholarship in any field that is attested to be the awarding of this degree and is not intended to represent the field of philosophy.
Gowns
Pattern. Gowns recommended for use in the colleges and universities of this country have the following characteristics. The gown for the bachelor's degree has pointed sleeves. It is designed to be worn closed. The gown for the master's degree has an oblong sleeve, open at the wrist, like the others. The sleeve base hangs down in the traditional manner. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut, and the front part has an arc cut away. The gown is so designed and supplied with fasteners that it may be worn open or closed. The gown for the doctor's degree has bell-shaped sleeves. It is so designed and supplied with fasteners that it may be worn open or closed.
Trimmings. Gowns for the bachelor's or master's degrees are untrimmed. For the doctor's degree, the gown is faced down the front with black velvet; three bars of velvet are used across the sleeves. These facings and crossbars may be of velvet of the color distinctive of the disciplines to which the degree pertains, thus agreeing in color with the binding or edging of the hood appropriate to the particular doctor's degree in every instance.
Hoods
Length. The length of the hood worn for the bachelor's degree must be three feet, for the master's degree three and one-half feet, and for the doctor's degree, four feet. The hood worn for the doctor's degree only shall have panels at the sides. Linings. The hoods are to be lined with the official color or colors of the college or university conferring the degree; more than one color is shown by division of the field color in a variety of ways, chevron or chevrons, equal division, etc. The various academic costume companies maintain complete files on the approved colors for various institutions.
Trimmings. The binding or edging of the hood is to be velvet or velveteen, two inches, three inches, and five inches wide for the bachelor's, master's, and doctor's degrees, respectively; the color should be indicative of the subject to which the degree pertains (see above). For example, the trimming for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture should be maize, representing agriculture, rather than golden yellow, representing science. No academic hood should ever have its border divided to represent more than a single degree.Caps Material. Cotton poplin, broadcloth, rayon, or silk, to match gown are to be used; for the doctor's degree only, velvet. Tassel. A long tassel is to be fastened to the middle point of the top of the cap only and to lie as it will thereon. The tassel should be black or the color appropriate to the subject, with the exception of the doctor's cap that may have a tassel of gold.
For all academic purposes, the colors associated with the different disciplines are as follows:
Accountancy- Drab
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Horticulture- Maize
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Agriculture- Maize
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Humanities- White
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Anthropology- Gold
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Journalism- Crimson
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Architecture- BlueViolet
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Jurisprudence- Purple
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Arts- White
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Law- Purple
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Audiology- Spruce Green
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Letters- White
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Biochemistry- Gold
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Library Science- Lemon
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Business Admin- Drab
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Literature- White
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Chiropractic- Grey
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Medicine- Hunter Green
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City Planning- BlueViolet
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Music- Pink
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Civil Engineering- Orange
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Nursing- Apricot
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Commerce- Drab
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Oratory (Speech)- Silver
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Communication- Crimson
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Optometry- Seafoam
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Counseling & Guidance- Lt Blue
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Pharmacy- Olive Green
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Dentistry- Lilac
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Philosophy- Ph.D. Dark Blue
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Divinity- Scarlet
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Physical Ed.- Sage Green
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Dramatic Arts- Brown
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Physical Therapy- Teal
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| Economics- Copper |
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Public Admin.- Peacock Blue
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Education- Light Blue
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Public Health&- Salmon
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Engineering- Orange
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Physics- Gold
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English- White
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Science- Gold
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Fine Arts- Brown
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Social Work- Citron
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Foreign Service- Peacock Blue
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Speech- Silver
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Forestry- Russet
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Theology- Scarlet
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History- White
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Urban Planning- Blue Violet
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| Home Economics- Maroon |
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Veterinary Science- Grey |
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