The specialist's gown differs from a doctor's in that it has no sleeve bars. Masters, specialists and doctors wear hoods lined with the official colors of the university from which the degree is granted. They vary in size and shape to indicate the several degrees. The doctor's hood is the largest and most lavishly decorated. The color of the velvet that circles the opening of the hood shows the degree earned-light blue for doctor of education, dark blue for doctor of philosophy, and peacock blue for doctor of public administration.
Caps are mortar boards with the tassel worn over the left front quadrant.
The tassel's color indicates the academic program area. The WMU seal and signature, and many other logos and marks appearing in these pages are registered trademarks of Western Michigan University. All materials on these pages, including all photographic images, are copyright Western Michigan University, unless otherwise noted. This page is maintained by the Office of University Relations.