Doctoral academic hoods are an integral part of graduation regalia, signifying the highest academic achievement. As detailed in the Academic Costume Code, these hoods are distinctly proportioned and larger than those worn for bachelor’s or master’s degrees, reflecting the advanced level of education attained. The colors incorporated within a Doctoral Hood are rich with symbolism, denoting both the institution from which the wearer graduated and their specific field of study.
To properly understand a doctoral hood, it’s essential to recognize its components. The lining of the hood, the visible inner fabric, proudly displays the colors of the university that conferred the doctorate. Typically, these are the institution’s official colors, arranged in a specific pattern, often with a chevron. The velvet band on the exterior of the hood is where the discipline of study is represented. This band of colored velvet conforms to a standardized system, with each color corresponding to a broad academic area. For instance, dark blue signifies Philosophy, while science gold represents fields within Science. The fabric of the hood itself is traditionally black, providing a neutral backdrop that allows the lining and velvet colors to stand out prominently.
When ordering a custom doctoral hood, understanding these color placements is crucial. You will specify the velvet color based on your degree and academic discipline, and the lining and chevron colors according to your alma mater’s official colors. The table below outlines many of the established color associations for different fields of study within academic regalia.
| Collegiate Degree/Lining/Chevron Colors for Academic Regalia |
|---|
| – Drab – Accounting |
| – Maize – Agriculture |
| – Blue-Violet – Architecture |
| – White – Arts |
| – Light Blue – Arts in Education |
| – Drab – Business Administration |
| – Drab – Business Education |
| – Scarlet – Canon Law |
| – Nile Green – Chiropody |
| – Silver – Chiropractic |
| – Blue-Violet – City Planning |
| – Orange – Civil Engineering |
| – Drab – Commerce |
| – Drab – Commercial Science |
| – Crimson – Communication |
| – Russet – Conservation |
| – Light Blue – Counseling and Guidance |
| – Science Gold – Criminology |
| – Midnight Blue – Criminal Justice |
| – Lilac – Dental Surgery |
| – Lilac – Dentistry |
| – Scarlet – Divinity |
| – Brown – Dramatic Arts |
| – Copper – Economics |
| – Light Blue – Education |
| – Orange – Engineering |
| – White – English |
| – Science Gold – Environmental Science |
| – Brown – Fine Arts |
| – Aquamarine – Foreign Affairs |
| – Peacock Blue – Foreign Service |
| – Russet – Forestry |
| – Peacock Blue – Government |
| – Sage Green – Health and Rehabilitation |
| – White – History |
| – Sage Green – Hygiene |
| – Science Gold – Industrial Arts |
| – Drab – Industrial and Labor Relations |
| – Dark Blue – PhD Blue* |
| – Crimson – Journalish |
| – Purple – Jurisprudence |
| – Purple – Law |
| – White – Letters |
| – White – Literature |
| – Lemon – Library Science |
| – Science Gold – Mathematics |
| – Kelly Green – Medicine |
| – Science Gold – Military Science |
| – Pink – Music |
| – Silver – Naprapathy |
| – Apricot – Nursing |
| – Aquamarine – Optometry |
| – Silver – Oratory |
| – Kelly Green – Osteopathy |
| – Light Blue – Pedagogy |
| – Peacock Blue – Personnel Services |
| – Olive – Pharmacy |
| – Science Gold – Philanthropy |
| – Dark Blue – Philosophy* |
| – Saga Green – Physical Science |
| – Science Gold – Physics |
| – Nile Green – Podiatry |
| – Science Gold – Police Science |
| – Dark Blue – Political Science |
| – Gold – Psychology |
| – Peacock Blue – Public Administration |
| – Salmon Pink – Public Health |
| – Peacock Blue – Public Service |
| – Blue-Violet – Regional Planning |
| – Light Blue – Religious Education |
| – Scarlet – Sacred Theology |
| – Citron – Sanitary Science |
| – Science Gold – Science |
| – Dark Blue – Social Ethics |
| – Citron – Social Science |
| – Citron – Social Service |
| – Citron – Social Work |
| – White – Sociology |
| – Silver – Speech |
| – Nile Green – Surgical Chiropody |
| – Scarlet – Theology |
| – Citron – Urban Life |
| – Blue-Violet – Urban Planning |
| – Gray – Veterinary Science |
The doctoral hood is more than just an accessory; it’s a visual representation of years of dedication and scholarly achievement. The careful selection of colors, from the velvet denoting your expertise to the lining representing your university, makes each doctoral hood a unique symbol of academic identity and accomplishment.
