2025 CSUS Spring Commencement0513-ADAFinal - Flipbook - Page 17
REGALIA
The history of academic dress goes back to the medieval European universities of the 14th century.
European universities continue to follow varied patterns in cut and color of gown and type of headdress.
U.S. universities have standardized the academic dress so that its features are generally uniform
throughout the country.
THE GOWN: The gown is ordinarily black for academic degrees, but certain universities have authorized
the use of colored gowns. The pattern varies with the degree held: short sleeves for the bachelor’s
degree, pointed sleeves for the master’s degree, and round full sleeves for the doctorate. The bachelor’s
and master’s gowns have no trimmings. The doctoral gown is faced down in the front with velvet panels
and trimmed with velvet chevrons across the sleeves. The color of the velvet may be that of the subject in
which the degree is granted.
THE HOOD: Hoods are not usually worn for the bachelor’s degree. The master’s hood is shorter than the
doctoral hood. Hoods are lined with the color of the school, two colors being shown by putting chevrons
of one color on the other color. The binding or edging of the hood is velvet in the color pertaining to the
subject of the degree.
THE CAP/TAM: The standard cap is the mortarboard, usually the color of the gown. Sacramento State
standard tassel is gold. Tams are worn by doctoral candidates and faculty.
OFFICIAL COLORS
Represented among colors worn by members of the faculty are more than 100 colleges and universities from
which they have earned their highest degrees. Major California universities represented are the gold and
blue of the University of California and the cardinal of Stanford University. Official colors of California State
University, Sacramento, are green and gold.
The color of the velvet band around the hood designates the academic major in which the wearer has taken
their degree. Some examples for doctoral hoods are listed below:
Audiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Green
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Light Blue
Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Royal Blue
Physical Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Teal
The colors of the velvet bands on hoods worn by Sacramento State graduates receiving master’s degrees are:
Master of Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .White
Master of Business Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drab (Taupe)
Master of Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Light Blue
Master of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pink
Master of Nursing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Orange
Master of Physical Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teal
Master of Public Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salmon
Master of Public Policy and Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peacock Blue
Master of Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Golden Yellow
Master of Social Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Citron
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