Academic Regalia

The regalia worn in American academic ceremonies today evolved from the everyday attire of students and faculty in universities of northern Europe during the Middle Ages. It developed out of a combination of ecclesiastical, judicial and ordinary civilian dress of the times. In the United States, the square mortarboard is the most common head covering and has its origin in judicial caps, as well as the square bonnets worn by scholars at the University of Paris. Soft bonnets or tams, of various shapes, are worn by degree holders from most European universities but are now gaining popularity.

The use of different designs of robes to signify the various degree levels dates back to the 14th century; the most elaborate design has always been for the highest degree. In the past twenty years, more and more American universities have adopted unique designs, often in the school’s colors, for those granted doctoral degrees. The velvet trim down the front and in bars on the sleeves of doctoral gowns indicate the scholarly field of the degree held by the wearer and are of the same color as the border of the hood. A person holding the Doctor of Philosophy degree will have velvet trim in dark blue, rather than that of the particular field in which the academic study has been done. Black velvet is not associated with any academic area but is an option if the robe is black.

The hood originally was a head-covering worn for protection during inclement weather but otherwise dropped onto one’s shoulders. Although originally worn by both students and faculty, by the 16th century hoods were worn only by degree holders. The silk lining of the hood has colors and a design unique to the college or university that has granted the degree. The velvet border of both masters and doctors hoods, like the trim of the doctoral robe, indicates the scholarly field of the degree.