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Graduation Regalia Colors
Graduation Regalia Colors
For all academic purposes, including trimmings of doctors' gowns, edging of hoods, and tassels of caps, the colors associated with the different disciplines are as follows:
Faculty Color Sample
Agriculture Maize
Arts [Liberal Arts], Letters [Literature], Humanities White
Commerce, Accountancy, Business Drab
Journalism Crimson
Dentistry Lilac
Economics Copper
Education Light Blue
Engineering Orange
Fine Arts, Architecture Brown
Forestry, Environmental Studies, Sustainability Russet
Law Purple
Library Science, Information Management Lemon
Medicine Green
Music Pink
Nursing Apricot
Oratory, Speech, Broadcasting Silver Gray
Pharmacy Olive Green
Philosophy Dark Blue
Physical Education, Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy Sage Green
Public Administration, Public Policy, Foreign Service Peacock Blue
Public Health Salmon Pink
Science (both "Social" and "Natural") Golden Yellow
Social Work Citron
Theology, Divinity Scarlet
Veterinary Science Grey

Hoods of Many Colors

An academic dress code established by American institutions designates plain gowns - usually without hoods - for bachelors' degrees. Masters' and doctors' gowns have hoods lined with colors (like Yale's characteristic blue) that represent the school that conferred the degree. The trimming on hoods and gowns represents the degree conferred; for example, green trim denotes a doctor of medicine. Faculty members wear the regalia of the schools where they received their degrees, and the processions are rich in color and variety. Those who received degrees in other countries - which have different academic dress - add to the picture.

Most commencement processions are led by a marshal or other faculty representative carrying a mace, a symbol of authority modeled after the weapon of the Middle Ages.

American graduations tend to be joyous, while those abroad are more solemn.