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Regalia (Cap and Gown)
Rent your regalia (cap and gown)* online »
> PICK UP – Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt (upper level)
Wednesday, May 9, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 10, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
> RETURN – Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt by 3 p.m. Commencement Day.
Masters, Bachelors return Gown only, keep tassel and cap for souvenir. All Doctors return gown, tam with tassel and hood.
*Please review the University’s Adornment Policy as it relates to regalia (cap and gown) during Commencement.
Master’s and Doctor’s regalia for purchase – The accepted Vanderbilt standard is a solid black gown (hoods vary by school). Anything other than this is not approved for use during Vanderbilt’s Commencement. Please contact the Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt at (615) 343-BOOK with any additional questions.
The design of the academic regalia (cap and gown) and the colors worn are significant. The distinguishing mark of the gown is the sleeve:
- Bachelor — long pointed sleeve
- Master — an oblong sleeve open at the wrist
- Doctor — bell-shaped sleeve with three velvet bars
The velvet edging on the doctoral hoods signifies whether the degree is J.D., M.D., Ed.D. or Ph.D. — purple for law, green for medicine, light blue for education and dark blue for the doctor of philosophy, which may be earned in a number of subjects. Vanderbilt doctoral candidates wear eight-sided velvet tams with gold tassels.
Master’s hoods are edged with white for arts, golden yellow for science, peacock blue for public policy, salmon pink for public health, red for theology, light blue for education, orange for engineering, apricot for nursing, and light brown for business. Master’s candidates wear black mortar boards with the appropriate color tassel as listed above.
All hoods are lined in silk, colors signifying the institution granting the degree. Vanderbilt hoods are lined in gold and bear a black chevron.
Bachelor’s degree candidates wear black mortar boards. With the exception of the bachelor of arts degree, the tassel colors correspond to the degree offered. Traditionally, the bachelor of arts degree tassel color at Vanderbilt is black (not white).
Vanderbilt Apparel
(Click on the thumbnail images of the apparel to view full size photos)
BachelorThe Bachelor gown showcases the traditional characteristics of the gown through the use of full front pleats, balanced fluting, and an easily accessible zipper. Bachelor gowns are worn with Degree-color Tassels and a Mortarboard Cap. |
Front |
Back |
MasterThe Master gown features balanced fluting over the shoulders and across the back. The oblong-shaped sleeve extensions with wrist openings are a standard feature. Master gowns are worn with Degree-color Tassels and a Mortarboard Cap. Master students complement their gown by wearing a Master degree hood. |
Front |
Back |
Doctor – Ph.D.The Vanderbilt University Ph.D. gown is constructed of Black and Antique Gold fabric. This special model has front panels and the center back highlighted in Antique Gold material. There is no velvet trim on the robe but has unique sleeve trim indicating the PhD degree. PhD gowns are to be worn with degree hoods. Tams are worn by PhD graduates with a non-removable gold tassel. |
Front |
Back |
Doctor – all otherThe Doctor gown features velvet chevrons on each of the bell sleeves and velvet on the front panels. Doctor gowns are to be worn with Doctoral degree hoods. Tams are worn by Doctoral graduates with a non-removable gold tassel. |
Front |
Back |
Degrees Offered & Tassel Colors
| School | Degree Offered | Degree Abbreviation | Tassel Color |
| College of Arts and Science | Bachelor of Arts | B.A. | Black |
| Master of Arts* | M.A. | White | |
| Master of Fine Arts* | M.F.A. | Brown | |
| Master of Science* | M.S. | Gold | |
| Doctor of Philosophy* | Ph.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Blair School of Music | Bachelor of Music | B.Mus. | Pink |
| Divinity School | Master of Theological Studies | M.T.S. | Red |
| Master of Divinity | M.Div. | Red | |
| Master of Arts* | M.A. | White | |
| Doctor of Philosophy* | PhD. | Doctor Gold | |
| School of Engineering | Bachelor of Engineering | B.E. | Orange |
| Bachelor of Science | B.S. | Gold | |
| Master of Engineering | M.Eng. | Orange | |
| Master of Science* | M.S. | Gold | |
| Doctor of Philosophy* | Ph.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Graduate School | Master of Arts | M.A. | White |
| Master of Arts in Teaching | M.A.T. | White | |
| Master of Fine Arts | M.F.A. | Brown | |
| Master of Liberal Arts and Science | M.L.A.S. | White | |
| Master of Science | M.S. | Gold | |
| Doctor of Philosophy | Ph.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Law School | Doctor of Jurisprudence | J.D. | Gold |
| Master of Laws | LL.M. | Purple | |
| School of Medicine | Doctor of Medicine | M.D. | Doctor Gold |
| Master of Public Health | M.P.H. | Gold | |
| Master of Science in Clinical Investigation | M.S. | Gold | |
| Doctor of Audiology | AU.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Master of Science (Speech-Language Pathology) | M.S.S.L.P. | Gold | |
| Master of Science in Medical Physics | M.M.P. | Gold | |
| Doctor of Medical Physics | M.P.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Master of Laboratory Investigation | M.L.I. | Gold | |
| Master of Education of the Deaf | M.D.E. | Gold | |
| Doctor of Philosophy* | Ph.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| School of Nursing | Master of Science in Nursing | M.S.N. | Peach |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice | D.N.P. | Doctor Gold | |
| Doctor of Philosophy* | Ph.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Owen Graduate School of Management | Master of Business Administration | M.B.A. | Drab |
| Master of Science in Finance | M.S.F. | Gold | |
| Master of Accountancy | M.Acc. | Drab | |
| Master of Management in Health Care | M.M.H.C | Drab | |
| Doctor of Philosophy* | Ph.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Peabody College | Bachelor of Science | B.S. | Gold |
| Master of Education | M.Ed. | Light Blue | |
| Master of Public Policy | M.P.P. | Peacock Blue | |
| Doctor of Education | Ed.D. | Doctor Gold | |
| Master of Arts in Teaching* | M.A.T. | White | |
| Master of Science* | M.S. | Gold | |
| Doctor of Philosophy* | Ph.D. | Doctor Gold |
* Degrees are awarded through the Graduate School, but are listed under both the Grad School and specific school.
* All Vanderbilt Doctors wear tams with Gold silk doctoral tassels attached
Rent your regalia (cap and gown) online »
