Notes on Academic Dress

The following information, condensed from An Academic Costume Code and Ceremony Guide, published by the American Council on Education, identifies academic attire worn during today’s ceremony.

The bachelor’s gown, designed to be worn closed, has pointed sleeves. The master’s gown, which may be worn open or closed, has an oblong sleeve, open at the wrist, that hangs nearly to the ground; the back part of its oblong shape is cut square, and the arc in the front is cut away. Bachelors’ and masters’ gowns are untrimmed.

The doctor’s gown may be worn open or closed, and has bell-shaped sleeves. Doctors’ gowns are usually faced with black velvet, with three bars across the sleeves, although the color of the velvet may vary according to the field of study. Some doctoral candidates may wear a unique Carolina blue gown that features dark blue facings and crossbars outlined in white piping and bearing the University’s shield supported by torches of learning.

Hoods, which differ in length for the three degrees, are lined with official colors of the university or college that conferred the degree, usually with one color forming a chevron pattern over the other.

Hoods also are edged and bound with velvet in the color appropriate to the field of study. The colors in the hoods and gowns of faculty represent the following fields in which degrees were earned:

Apricot: Nursing

Brown: Fine Arts

Citron: Social Work

Crimson: Journalism

Dark Blue: Philosophy

Golden Yellow: Science

Green: Medicine

Lemon Yellow: Library Science

Light Blue: Education

Lilac: Dentistry

Olive Green: Pharmacy

Orange: Engineering

Peacock Blue: Public Administration

Pink: Music

Purple: Law

Sage Green: Physical Education

Salmon Pink: Public Health

Scarlet: Theology

Yellow Brown: Commerce, Business, Accountancy

White: Arts, Letters, Humanities

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