{"id":1097,"date":"2025-11-25T09:23:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T15:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/graduation\/?page_id=1097"},"modified":"2025-12-02T17:43:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T23:43:58","slug":"meaning-of-academic-regalia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/graduation\/commencement\/commencement-program\/2025-december-commencement-program\/meaning-of-academic-regalia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Meaning of Academic Regalia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Academic gowns were worn as early as the 12th century. Their primary purpose then was to protect the wearer against the elements. When accepted styles of dress began to change in the 16th century, those in the legal and medical professions as well as scholars in the universities retained the traditional dress of gowns and hoods. The origin of the cap is unclear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Styles and colors\u00a0<\/strong>had no\u00a0meaning\u00a0until 1895 when an \u201cIntercollegiate Code\u201d established design and color criteria. The bachelor\u2019s gown has long, pointed sleeves and is designed to be worn closed. The master\u2019s gown has an oblong sleeve open at the wrist; the rear part of its oblong shape is square\u00a0cut;\u00a0the front part has an arc cut away. The gown may be worn open or closed. The doctor\u2019s gown has velvet down the front with three bars of the same velvet across the sleeves. It may be worn open or closed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The academic hood <\/strong>is the visual representation of the academic degree. The level of the degree is indicated by the length of the hood and the width of its velvet edging, with the doctoral hood being the largest. The color of the lining of the hood denotes the school conferring the degree, the color of the velvet binding denotes the field of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The color denoting the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is gold, dark blue is the color denoting philosophy; therefore, all recipients of the Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) at 51ÁÔÆæ wear hoods lined with gold and trimmed in dark blue velvet. Apricot is the color denoting nursing practice; therefore, all recipients of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at 51ÁÔÆæ wear hoods lined with gold and trimmed in apricot velvet. Citron is the color denoting social work; therefore, all recipients of the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) wear hoods lined with gold and trimmed in citron velvet. Gold is the color denoting occupational therapy and physical therapy; therefore, all recipients of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) wear hoods lined with gold and trimmed in gold velvet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other trim colors that you may observe among the master\u2019s candidates and the faculty are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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