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The Academic Regalia and Founding Order
The academic dress worn by scholars originated in the Middle Ages. When European universities were taking form 
in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the scholars usually were clerics as well, and they adopted garb similar to 
that of their monastic orders. Buildings were cold and drafty, so caps and warm, floor-length capes with hoods were 
necessities. As the control of education passed from the churches, the garb was modified in various ways, and 
there was great diversity in color and style of cap, gown, and hood worn at the different institutions. The custom of 
wearing academic dress was brought to America in colonial times, but it was not until 1895 that a standardized code 
of academic dress was established and followed by most colleges and universities in the United States.
Both cap and gown are symbols. According to legend, the privilege of wearing a cap was the initial right of a freed 
Roman slave. The academic cap, therefore, has become a sign of the freedom of scholarship. The flowing gown 
has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it covers clothing that could indicate rank or social 
stratum. At the University of Washington, the bachelor’s and master’s gowns are black. The matching Oxford cap, or 
mortarboard, has a long tassel fastened to the middle of the top. The tassel is worn pendant over the left side of the 
cap. The colors of the tassels or hoods are distinctive of the candidate’s school or college. 
College of Arts and Sciences 
Bachelor of Arts White 
Bachelor of Design Brown 
Bachelor of Music Pink 
Bachelor of Science Golden Yellow
College of Built Environments 
Blue Violet
College of Education 
Light Blue
College of Engineering 
Orange
College of the Environment 
Golden Yellow 
School of Aquatic Fishery & Sciences 
Golden Yellow 
 
School of Forest Resources  
Russet 
School of Marine Affairs  
Golden Yellow 
School of Oceanography  
Golden Yellow
Evans School of Public Policy and Governance  
Peacock Blue
Foster School of Business  
Royal Blue
Graduate School 
Doctoral degrees – Gold 
Master’s degrees – Black
Information School  
Lemon
School of Dentistry  
Lilac
School of Law  
Purple
School of Medicine  
Green
School of Nursing  
Apricot
School of Pharmacy  
Olive Green
School of Public Health  
Salmon Pink
School of Social Work  
Citron
The doctoral gown at the University of Washington is purple with velvet facing and three bars of velvet on the 
sleeves. Doctoral degree candidates in Medicine, Law, Dentistry and Pharmacy wear the black professional doctoral 
gown with black chevrons on the sleeves. Advanced degree (doctoral and master’s degree) candidates also wear 
the academic hood, the traditional garment that signifies high scholarly attainment. The colors of the master’s and 
professional degree hoods are distinctive of the candidate’s degree earned. The doctoral hood of bright satin purple 
and gold reflects the colors of the University of Washington.
Graduates enter the stadium and are presented for 
degree conferral according to the founding order of the 
schools and colleges.
The schools and colleges awarding degrees were 
established in: College of Arts and Sciences, 1861; 
College of Education, 1878; School of Pharmacy, 1894; 
School of Law, 1899; College of Engineering, 1901; 
College of the Environment, 2009 (College of Forest 
Resources, 1907, School of Fisheries, 1919); Graduate 
School, 1911; The Information School, 2001 (Graduate 
School of Library and Information Science, 1911); 
Foster School of Business, 1914; School of Nursing, 
1945; School of Dentistry, 1946; School of Medicine, 
1946; College of Built Environments, 2009 (College 
of Architecture and Urban Planning, 1957); School of 
Social Work, 1958; Evans School of Public Policy and 
Governance, 2000 (Graduate School of Public Affairs, 
1962); School of Public Health, 1970. 

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