Purdue University Global
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2018 Commencement
54
ACADEMIC REGALIA AND DRESS
Robes and hoods worn during the commencement are steeped in a tradition that dates back to the eleventh
century, when the monks who administered Oxford University in England wore shoulder capes to protect
themselves from scratches when they gathered alms and hoods to protect their shaven heads from the cold.
Eventually, the garb became daily attire and served as insulation from the damp and cold inside the University’s
walls, and as identication that one had permission to pass into specic college buildings.
In the United States, the academic robes and hoods were rst adopted as ceremonial attire for college ocials
in 1754 at the institution now known as Columbia University. In 1885, students in many of the country’s colleges
and universities launched a movement to permit graduating candidates to wear robes and caps during the
commencement. Eight years later, an intercollegiate commission of university ocials adopted the country’s rst
code of color and design for the academic garb. Faculty soon adopted the custom of wearing gowns at commencement
and other academic ceremonies. Although the code has been revised many times, today’s academic regalia represent
those modications accepted in 1960 and adopted by nearly 95 percent of the nation’s postsecondary institutions.
In the United States today, the academic robe is most often black; some institutions, however, sanction the use
of specic colors. e length of the robe, the width of the sleeves’ borders, and the length of the hood all increase
with each advanced degree. Colors in the hood identify both the specic eld of study in which the degree was
earned, as shown by the velvet border, as well as the institution that granted it, as shown by the lining. Master’s
and doctoral level tassels are black; undergraduate level tassels are colored to represent the eld of study.
e following color table provides a key to the elds of study according to the Intercollegiate Code:
Intercollegiate Colors:
Agriculture .............................. Maize (Pale Yellow)
Arts, Letters, and Humanities .....................White
Business Administration ...................... Drab (Tan)
Criminal Justice ........ Blue, Peacock (Green Blue)
Dentistry ........................................................... Lilac
Economics .....................................................Copper
Education................................................ Blue, Light
Engineering ...................................................Orange
Fine Arts and Architecture ..........................Brown
Fire Science................. Blue, Peacock (Green Blue)
Forestry...........................................................Russet
Health Sciences (Public Health) ..................... Pink,
Salmon (Orange Pink)
Home Economics .................. Cardinal, Dark (Red)
Journalism .............................. Maroon (Dark Red)
Legal Studies (Law) ....................................... Purple
Library Science ............................................. Lemon
Medicine ..........................................................Green
Music .................................................................. Pink
Nursing ............................Apricot (Yellow Orange)
Pharmacy ............................................. Green, Olive
Philosophy ............................................... Blue, Dark
Physical Education ...............................Green, Sage
Psychology ......................................................... Gold
Public Administration ...Blue, Peacock (Green Blue)
Science ............................................................... Gold
Social Science ...................... Citron (Green Yellow)
Speech (Oratory) .................................. Grey, Silver
Technology ..........................................................Red
Theology or Divinity ..............Scarlet (Bright Red)
Veterinary Science ............................................ Grey