Among all the pieces of graduate regalia, the master’s academic hood often creates the most questions. What do the colors mean? Which hood belongs with your degree? How should it sit on your gown? Understanding these details before commencement can help you select the appropriate hood and wear your master’s regalia correctly.
Understanding the Master’s Academic Hood
An academic hood is a ceremonial garment worn over a graduation gown. Unlike a graduation stole, the hood is traditionally associated with the graduate’s degree level, academic discipline, and degree-granting institution.
A master’s hood normally extends around the neckline and down the graduate’s back, where its velvet trim and colorful lining become visible.
Why Is the Hood Important in Master’s Regalia?
The hood adds another level of distinction to graduate academic dress. Its design helps visually separate master’s graduation regalia from the simpler academic attire commonly worn for bachelor’s degrees.
It can also communicate academic information through the combination of its trim and lining colors.
The Three Main Elements of a Master’s Hood
1. The Hood Shell
The outer portion creates the primary shape of the hood and extends down the graduate’s back. Construction and materials can differ by supplier and institutional specification.
2. The Velvet Trim
Under commonly followed U.S. academic costume traditions, the velvet edging may indicate the academic discipline associated with the degree.
3. The Hood Lining
The inner lining commonly uses one or more colors associated with the institution granting the degree. When properly arranged, a portion of this lining is displayed across the back.
How Are Master’s Hood Colors Determined?
Choosing a hood is not simply a matter of matching your graduation gown. A master’s hood color may depend on both your academic discipline and your university.
The velvet and lining serve different purposes, which is why a hood may contain several colors.
What Does the Velvet Color Mean?
Academic costume traditions in the United States associate various colors with fields of study. Common examples can include:
- Arts: White
- Business: Drab
- Education: Light Blue
- Engineering: Orange
- Fine Arts: Brown
- Music: Pink
- Science: Golden Yellow
- Law: Purple
- Public Administration: Peacock Blue
These examples are general academic costume conventions. Universities can establish their own regalia requirements, so confirm the required color for your particular degree before purchasing.
What Do the Inside Colors of the Hood Mean?
The lining commonly represents the institution conferring the degree. A university may use one color, multiple colors, or a particular arrangement that reflects its official academic colors.
This means graduates in the same academic discipline but from different universities may have similar velvet trim while wearing different hood linings.
Does Your Major Determine Your Hood Color?
Not always. One of the most common mistakes is assuming that the hood should match a student’s major.
The appropriate academic color may instead be determined by the degree being awarded and the academic discipline associated with that degree. Two students studying related subjects can potentially require different regalia depending on the degrees their institutions confer.
Verify the Degree, Not Just the Department
Before ordering, identify the exact degree listed by your university. If you are uncertain about the required hood color, contact the institution or consult its official commencement regalia instructions.
Master’s Hood vs. Graduation Stole
A graduation hood and graduation stole are not the same thing.
The academic hood is traditionally part of graduate-level academic dress. Stoles are separate accessories that may recognize academic programs, organizations, honors, cultural affiliations, or other institution-approved achievements.
Whether a stole may be worn with a master’s hood depends on your school’s commencement rules.
Master’s Hood vs. Doctoral Hood
Although master’s and doctoral hoods may look similar at first glance, they traditionally differ in size and construction.
A doctoral hood is generally designed with doctoral academic regalia in mind and should not automatically be substituted for a master’s hood.
Order for the Correct Degree Level
When purchasing graduate regalia, make sure the product is specifically identified for the degree level you are receiving.
How Do You Put On a Master’s Hood?
If your school expects graduates to arrive already wearing their academic hoods, practice putting yours on before commencement day.
Step 1: Put On Your Master’s Gown
Dress completely in your master’s gown before adding the hood. Straighten the gown around the shoulders and neckline.
Step 2: Identify the Front and Back of the Hood
The narrow portion belongs near your neck, while the larger section extends down your back.
Step 3: Place the Hood Over Your Head
Carefully lower it over your head and position it around your neckline without twisting the fabric.
Step 4: Center the Hood
Check that the longer portion falls evenly down the center of your back.
Step 5: Arrange the Lining
Depending on the hood design and institutional instructions, part of the lining may be turned outward so the university colors are visible.
Step 6: Check the Front
Some academic hoods include a loop or cord intended to help secure the front. Use the hood according to its design and your institution’s instructions.
What Happens During a Master’s Hooding Ceremony?
Some universities include a formal master’s hooding ceremony. Instead of arriving with the hood already positioned, graduates may carry it until a faculty member or other designated representative places it over them.
The exact procedure differs by institution, so do not assume you should wear your hood before arriving.
Should You Wear or Carry Your Hood?
Check your ceremony instructions carefully. Schools may ask graduates to:
- Arrive already wearing the hood
- Carry the hood into the ceremony
- Hand the hood to a faculty member
- Receive the hood during a separate ceremony
Following your institution’s process helps ensure the hooding portion of commencement runs smoothly.
How to Choose the Correct Master’s Hood
Before purchasing a hood, gather the information needed to match your academic requirements.
Master’s Hood Ordering Checklist
- Exact name of your degree
- Degree level
- Academic discipline
- University or college
- Required velvet trim color
- Institutional lining colors
- School-specific hood specifications
- Commencement or hooding ceremony requirements
Do Not Order Based Only on a Product Photo
A hood photograph may show attractive colors, but those colors may represent a completely different university or academic discipline.
Verify your requirements first, then choose the appropriate hood.
When Should You Order Your Master’s Hood?
Avoid waiting until the last minute. Ordering with sufficient time before commencement gives you an opportunity to confirm the colors, inspect the hood, and understand how it should be worn.
Graduation schedules and supplier processing times vary, so check availability and delivery estimates when planning your purchase.
How to Prepare Your Hood Before Graduation
When your hood arrives, remove it from its packaging and inspect it well before the ceremony.
- Verify the degree level
- Check the velvet trim color
- Confirm the institutional lining
- Inspect the construction
- Review care instructions
- Practice positioning it when appropriate
- Keep it together with your other graduation regalia
Complete Master’s Graduation Regalia Checklist
Depending on your university, your complete master’s attire may include:
- Master’s graduation gown
- Master’s academic hood
- Mortarboard or approved academic headwear
- Graduation tassel
- Approved honor cords
- Approved graduation stole
- Other institution-authorized academic accessories
Master’s Hood Tips for Graduation Photos
Unlike the front of your gown, much of the hood’s visual detail appears across your back. Include several photographs from behind or at an angle so the academic hood colors can be seen.
Before photographs, check that the hood is centered, the lining is displayed as intended, and the rest of your academic regalia is properly arranged.
Common Master’s Hood Mistakes
- Ordering based only on a favorite color
- Assuming the major automatically determines the hood color
- Confusing institutional colors with discipline colors
- Purchasing a doctoral hood for a master’s degree
- Confusing an academic hood with a graduation stole
- Putting the hood on backward or twisted
- Ignoring school-specific regalia requirements
- Wearing the hood before a ceremony when graduates are supposed to be formally hooded
Frequently Asked Questions About Master’s Graduation Hoods
What color should my master’s hood be?
The correct combination depends on your degree, academic discipline, institution, and school requirements. Confirm these details before ordering.
Does the hood have to match the graduation gown?
The hood is designed as part of the overall academic regalia, but its velvet and lining colors can intentionally differ from the main gown because they may represent academic and institutional information.
Can I wear a master’s hood without a master’s gown?
For formal commencement, follow your institution’s required academic dress combination rather than mixing individual regalia pieces independently.
Can two master’s degrees have different hood colors?
Yes. Different degree disciplines may be represented by different academic colors, and institutional requirements can also vary.
Which way does the master’s hood face?
The narrow section sits around the neckline while the larger portion extends down the back. The lining is arranged according to the hood design and institution’s instructions so the intended colors can be displayed.
Do I need a hood for an online master’s graduation?
Graduation requirements depend on the institution and ceremony. Students completing online programs should check their university’s commencement instructions if they plan to participate in graduation.
Complete Your Master’s Graduation Regalia With Confidence
A master’s graduation hood is one of the most meaningful and visually distinctive elements of graduate academic dress. Its velvet trim may represent an academic discipline, while its lining can display the colors of the degree-granting institution.
Confirm your exact degree and university requirements before ordering, choose the correct master’s-level hood, and learn how your school expects it to be worn or presented during commencement. With your hood and complete academic regalia prepared in advance, you can arrive ready to celebrate earning your master’s degree.
