The Academic Costume
Gowns
The gown for the bachelor's degree has pointed sleeves, with no trimming and is worn closed. The gown for the master's degree has oblong sleeves, open at the wrist, with the rear part of its oblong sleeve square cut and is worn open or closed. The gown for the doctorate degree has bell-shaped sleeves and is faced down the front with velvet and three bars across the sleeves. The facing and crossbars of velvet may be of the color distinctive of the field to which the degree pertains.
For all academic purpose, including trimmings of doctors' gowns, edgings of hoods, and tassels of caps, the colors associated with the different subjects are as follows:
Only a single degree from a single institution should ever be indicated by a single garment.
| Agriculture | Maize |
| Allied Health | Green and Gold |
| Arts, Letters, Humanities | White |
| Commerce, Accountancy, Business | Drab |
| Dentistry | Lilac |
| Economics | Copper |
| Education | Light Blue |
| Engineering | Orange |
Fine Arts, including Architecture | Brown |
| Forestry | Russet |
| Journalism | Crimson |
| Law | Purple |
| Library Science | Lemon |
| Medicine | Green |
| Music | Pink |
| Nursing | Apricot |
| Oratory (Speech) | Silver Gray |
| Pharmacy | Olive Green |
| Philosophy | Dark Blue |
| Physical Education | Sage Green |
| Public Administration, including Foreign Service | Peacock Blue |
| Public Health | Salmon Pink |
| Science | Golden Yellow |
| Social Work | Citron |
| Theology | Scarlet |
| Veterinary Science | Gray |
Hoods
The length of the hood worn for the bachelor's degree is three feet, for the master's degree three and one half feet, and for the doctoral degree four feet. The doctoral degree has side panels. The linings of the hood represent the official color of the college or university conferring the degree. The binding or edging of the hood is two inches, three inches, and five inches for the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees respectively. The color is distinctive of the degree held by the wearer.
Caps
The cap or mortarboard has a tassel fastened to the middle of the cap and wearing over the left side indicates the completion of a degree. The doctoral cap is indicated by a tassel of gold thread.
Prepared by a Committee on Academic Costumes and Ceremonies
appointed by the American Council on Education, 1960
Alma Mater
California, alma mater
Now we sing to thee
California, dear forever
In our memory.
With our voices loudly ringing,
Of thy fame we're ever singing.
California, alma mater;
Hail! All hail to thee.
For the friends and joys you gave us,
We give thanks to thee
All thy knowledge we'll make worthy
For Posterity.
May thy reign be ever prosperous
And thy name forever glorious.
California, alma mater;
Hail! All hail to thee.
-Philip Rossi, '37