In 1896, the colleges and universities in the United States adopted a uniform code governing academic dress and all graduates from the University of Colorado wear black gowns. Those who are receiving a master’s or doctoral degree from the University of Colorado wear satin lined hoods with the university colors, silver and gold. The velvet border of the hood indicates the degree and master's graduates wear a black cap with a black tassel, while the doctorate graduates have a gold bullion tassel attached to their tam.
The Oxford cap, usually referred to as a mortarboard, has a long tassel that is fastened by a button on the top. Candidates for baccalaureate degrees wear the tassel pendant over the right front of the cap before the degree is conferred, and over the left thereafter. The color of the tassel on the bachelor’s cap indicates the field of study, with the exception of the Bachelor of Arts degree whose candidates wear white tassels indicating the arts.
Tassel Colors | Master's Hood Velvet Colors | Doctoral Hood Velvet Colors |
Arts & Sciences: White | Arts: White | Audiology: Green |
Business: Blue | Business: Sapphire Blue | Engineering: Dark Blue |
Education: Light Blue | Education: Light Blue | Law (Juris Doctor): Purple |
Engineering: Orange | Engineering: Orange | Musical Arts: Pink |
Environmental Design: Lavender | Environmental Design: Blue Violet (Lavender) | Philosophy (PhD): Dark Blue |
Fine Arts: Brown | Fine Arts: Brown | |
Media, Communication & Information: Red | Law: Purple | |
Music: Pink | Library Science: Lemon Yellow | |
Master's: Black | Media, Communication & Information: Crimson | |
Doctoral: Gold Bullion | Music: Pink | |
Science: Gold |