The hood evolved from a priest's cowl and is worn by master's and doctoral candidates. The lining color or colors are those of the college or university granting the degree. At National University the hood is light grey and blue. The monk's skullcap became the mortarboard cap or tam. Black is accepted in the United States but many foreign universities have distinctive and colorful headdress.
Tassels vary in use and color.
At National University, all bachelor's and master's candidates wear black tassels. Honor graduates wear gold. A practically self-taught composer and violinist who derived his musical education from his father's books and scores, Edward Elgar is one of the undisputed masters in the history of English music. A sensitive and refined soul, he labored in relative obscurity until he reached the age of forty in the late 1890's. His two symphonies have a warmth and breadth which place them firmly in the late-Romantic symphonic tradition.