| Academic Regalia  The academic costume, processional, and the program of ceremony are
all tied into an ancient tradition of learning; it underlines a oneness and the ceremony
marks a beginning for the new professional.
Academic regalia worn at commencement and other formal university
occasions are modeled after those of medieval European universities in the
12th century.
Though many modern European universities follow varied
patterns in color, cut, and style of academic dress, in the United States
these are generally standardized and denote the wearer’s level of
education.
In the United States, the great majority of the academic costumes now worn are in
accordance with the general provisions of the Intercollegiate Code of 1895.
The gown worn by associate and baccalaureate degree recipients is the
simplest in design. It is black and is distinguished by a wide yoke and
shirring in front and back. The sleeves are open and flowing and end in a
long point.
Under the code, bachelors' gowns are made with pointed sleeves.
Women may wear white collars with a bachelor's gown.
The master’s gown is similar except
that it has a closed sleeve with the rear part cut square and the front
with a cut-away arc. The master’s hood (or cowl) is trimmed in velvet
and lined with an inner band of the wearer’s disciplinary color.
The master's hood is three and one-half feet in length.
The doctoral down is full and flowing, with large bell-shaped sleeves. It
is trimmed with velvet panels down the front and has velvet chevrons on
the sleeves. Black is the predominant color for both gown and trimming,
though the color of the gown may represent the university from which the
degree was earned, and the trim may be in the color of the discipline.
The doctor's hood is four feet in length.
The doctoral hood is worn falling from the shoulders down the back of the
gown and is more elaborate than the master’s cowl. The color of the
velvet trim denotes the major field of study. The silk is in two colors
representing the university from which it was earned.
Colorado School of Mines hoods are lined with silver and blue, the official School colors.
The velvet border on the hood, which is three and five inches wide for the master's and
the doctor's degrees, respectively, identifies the field of study to which the degree
pertains.
Colorado School of Mines hoods have yellow velvet borders for Master of Science, orange
velvet borders for Master of Engineering, and blue velvet borders for Doctor of
Philosophy.
The black mortarboard cap is standard in the United States.
Doctors wear a gold tassel; Master of Science a yellow tassel; Master of Engineering an
orange tassel; and Bachelor of Science a black tassel.
Caps are customarily removed only during prayers, and then by men only.
Certain colors represent the disciplines. A partial list follows:
|
White |
Arts and letters |
|
Orange |
Engineering |
|
Olive |
Pharmacy |
|
Scarlet |
Theology |
|
Light Brown |
Business |
|
Purple |
Law |
|
Lemon Yellow |
Library Science |
|
Green |
Medicine |
|
Pink |
Music |
|
Dark Blue |
Philosophy |
|
Light Blue |
Education |
|
Yellow |
Science |
|
Peacock Blue |
Public administration |
|
Brown |
Architecture and fine arts |
|
Citron Yellow |
Social work |
|
Lilac |
Dentistry |
|
Apricot |
Nursing |
|
