Academic Regalia
Commencement is a formal academic occassion. You must be in proper academic regalia (cap, gown, hood and academic tassel) to participate in the exercises. Be sure to bring these items with you. The tassel is worn on the right side of the mortarboard (cap) prior to the degree being conferred and on the left side after the degree is conferred.
Under the robe, men traditionally wear a dress shirt, dress slacks, tie, and black shoes. Women traditionally wear a dress or skirt and blouse and dress shoes.
Purchasing
Graduates should purchase their regalia at the Graduation Fair.
Honors Regalia
Latin honors are not recognized at the commencement ceremony. There are no "honor cords" to wear that are comparable to a high school commencement. This is because final grades are not confirmed until after the ceremony has taken place.
If you are a member of an honor organization (ODK, Golden Key, etc), you must contact that organization directly for their regalia. The University Village Bookstore does not sell or supply these items. If you are a member of multiple honors organizations, the choice of how many and which pieces of their regalia you choose to wear is up to you. You should exercise good taste in making these decisions.
Hood Binding Colors
The color of the hood binding is usually that of the last-designated discipline that is incorporated in the official title of the degree (e.g., Doctor of Philosophy, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science in Education.)
Colors associated with the subject vary somewhat at American colleges and universities. The following, a partial list taken from American Colleges and Universities, 14th edition, published by the American Council on Education, has been adopted by Old Dominion University.
College of Arts & Letters
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Degree & Hood Color |
Majors |
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Bachelors of Arts and Letters White |
African American and Afrian Studies |
Art History |
Asian Studies |
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Communication |
Criminal Justice |
English |
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Foreign Languages |
Geography |
History |
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Interdisciplinary Studies |
Music |
Philosophy |
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Political Science |
Sociology |
Studio Art |
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Theatre and Dance |
Women's Studies |
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Bachelors of Science Yellow |
African American and African Studies |
Communication |
Criminal Justice |
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Geography |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
Political Science |
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Sociology |
Women's Studies |
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Bachelor of Fine Arts Brown |
Acting |
Fine Arts |
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Bachelor of Music Pink |
Composition |
Performance |
Music Education |
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Master of Arts White |
Applied Linguistics |
Applied Sociology |
English |
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History |
Humanities |
International Studies |
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Visual Studies |
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Master of Fine Arts Brown |
Creative Writing |
Visual Studies |
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Master of Music Education Pink |
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Doctor of Philosophy Dark Blue |
International Studies |
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Batten College of Engineering & Technology
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Degree & Hood Color |
Majors |
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Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology Orange |
Civil Engineering Technology |
Electrical Engineering Technology |
Engineering Technology |
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Mechanical Engineering Technology |
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Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Orange |
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Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Orange |
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Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Orange |
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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Orange |
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Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Orange |
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Master of Engineering Orange |
Aerospace Engineering |
Civil Engineering |
Computer Engineering |
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Electrical Engineering |
Environmental Engineering |
Experimental Methods |
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Mechanical Engineering |
Motorsports Engineering |
Modeling and Simulation |
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Systems Engineering |
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Master of Engineering Management Orange |
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Master of Science Orange |
Aerospace Engineering |
Civil Engineering |
Computer Engineering |
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Electrical Engineering |
Engineering Management |
Environmental Engineering |
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Mechanical Engineering |
Modeling and Simulation |
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Mechanical Engineering |
Modeling and Simulation |
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Doctor of Philosophy Dark Blue |
Aerospace Engineering |
Civil Engineering |
Electrical and Computer Engineering |
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Engineering Management |
Environmental Engineering |
Mechanical Engineering |
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Modeling and Simulation |
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College of Business and Public Administration
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Degree & Hood Color |
Majors |
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Bachelors of Arts White |
Economics |
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Bachelors of Science Yellow |
E-Commerce Systems |
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Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Drab |
Accounting |
Decision Sciences |
Economics |
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Financial Management |
Information Systems and Technology |
International Business |
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Management |
Maritime and Supply Chain Management |
Marketing Management |
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Master of Arts White |
Economics |
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Master of Business Administration Drab |
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Master of Public Administration Peacock Blue |
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Master of Science Yellow |
Accounting |
E-Commerce Systems |
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Master of Taxation Drab |
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Master of Urban Studies Peacock Blue |
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Doctor of Philosophy Dark Blue |
Business Administration |
Public Management and Urban Policy |
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Darden College of Education
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Degree & Hood Color |
Majors |
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Bachelors of Science Yellow |
Human Services |
Occupational and Technical Studies |
Physical Education |
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Recreation and Tourism Studies |
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology |
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Master of Science Yellow |
Occupational and Technical Studies |
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Master of Science in Education Light Blue |
Biology |
Chemistry |
Counseling |
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Early Childhood Education |
Educational Leadership |
Elementary Education |
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English |
Physical Education |
Reading |
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Secondary Education |
Special Education |
Speech-Language Pathology |
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Education Specialist Light Blue |
Counseling |
Educational Leadership |
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Doctor of Philosophy Dark Blue |
Community College Leadership |
Counseling |
Curriculum and Instruction |
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Early Childhood Education |
Educational Leadership |
Higher Education |
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Human Movement Science |
Instructional Design and Technology |
Literacy Leadership |
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Occupational and Technical Studies |
Special Education |
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College of Health Sciences
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Degree & Hood Color |
Majors |
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Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Lilac |
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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health Green |
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Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Green |
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Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology Green |
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Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology Green |
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing Apricot |
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Master of Public Health Salmon Pink |
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Master of Science Yellow |
Community Health |
Dental Hygiene |
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Master of Science in Nursing Apricot |
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Doctor of Nursing Practice Apricot |
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Doctor of Philosophy Dark Blue |
Health Services Research |
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Doctor of Physical Therapy Teal |
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College of Sciences
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Degree & Hood Color |
Majors |
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Bachelors of Science Yellow |
Biochemistry |
Biology |
Chemistry |
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Mathematics |
Ocean and Earth Science |
Physics |
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Psychology |
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Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Yellow |
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Master of Science Yellow |
Biology |
Chemistry |
Computational and Applied Mathematics |
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Computer Science |
Ocean and Earth Sciences |
Physics |
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Psychology |
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Doctor of Philosophy Dark Blue |
Applied Experimental Psychology |
Biomedical Sciences |
Chemistry |
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Computational and Applied Mathematics |
Computer Science |
Ecological Sciences |
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Human Factors Psychology |
Industrial/ Organizational Psychology |
Oceanography |
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Physics |
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Doctor of Psychology Yellow-Gold / |
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Royal Blue |
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Clinical Psychology |
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Multidisciplinary Doctorate
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Degree & Hood Color |
Majors |
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Doctor of Psychology Dark Blue |
Urban Services Health Services |
Urban Services Urban Education |
Urban Services Urban Management |
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