Academic Gowns, Hoods, & Colors
Academic Gowns
Master’s degree gowns traditionally are black, as are many doctoral gowns in the United States. Gowns differ in sleeve cut and trim. For example, the master’s gown has oblong sleeves and the doctoral gowns have bell-shaped sleeves and velvet panels down the front and around the neck, as well as crossbars of velvet on the sleeves. Colored trim denoted the field or discipline in which the degree was earned. If more than one degree is held, the gown and hood of the higher degree usually are worn.
Academic Hoods
The hood most precisely describes the wearer’s level of degree earned, the major field of learning and the alma mater. The level of the degree held is indicated by the hood’s shape, size, and width of its velvet trimming. The hood is lined with the official colors of the college or university conferring the degree.
Academic Colors
Colors are approximate representations of actual colors.
Architecture and Urban Planning
Blue Violet
Business Administration
Drab
Dentistry
Lilac
Education
Light Blue
Engineering
Orange
Fine Arts
Brown
Information
Lemon
Kinesiology
Sage Green
Law
Purple
Literature and Arts
White
Medicine
Green
Music
Pink
Natural Resources and Environment
Russet
Nursing
Apricot
Pharmacy
Olive Green
Philosophy
Dark Blue
Public Health
Salmon Pink
Public Policy
Peacock Blue
Science
Golden Yellow
Social Work
Citron
Mingled colors distinguish combined curriculums.
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