santa barbara city college academic dress

The history of academic dress dates to the early days of the oldest universities. The shape and size of the American hood marks the wearer’s degree (baccalaureate, masters or doctoral) and the university or college that awarded the degree. Dress variations exist for academic robes from European universities.

Gowns

All three types of gowns are black. Bachelors have long, pointed sleeves with two pleats on either side. Masters’ gowns feature crescentshaped, full-length sleeves and a closed front with fluted shoulders. Doctors wear robes with full, flowing sleeves that have bars of black or blue velvet.

Hoods

The bachelor's hood has a two-inch velvet band; the master's hood has a three-inch band; and the doctor's hood has a five-inch velvet band. The velvet neckband on the hood symbolizes the wearer's field of study, and the lining recognizes the official colors of the institution that granted the degree. The fields of study noted by the color of the velvet neckband are as follows:

• Arts, Letters, and Humanities / White

• Business Administration, Commerce, Accounting / Drab Economics / Copper

• Education / Light Blue

• Engineering / Orange

• Fine Arts / Brown

• Journalism / Crimson

• Library Science / Lemon

• Mathematics / Gold

• Music / Pink

• Nursing / Apricot

• Oratory / Silvery Gray

• Philosophy / Dark Blue

• Physical Education / Sage Green

• Political Science / Royal Blue

• Public Administration / Peacock Blue

• Science / Gold-Yellow

• Social Science / Citron

• Sociology / White

• Theology or Divinity / Scarlet

CAPS AND TASSELS

Santa Barbara City College associate degree students wear black mortarboard caps with black tassels.

GOLD TASSELS

Indicates graduation with honors.

PHI THETA KAPPA HONOR SOCIETY

Phi Theta Kappa is the International Honor Society for two-year colleges. Beta Gamma Upsilon, the SBCC chapter, provides opportunities to develop leadership skills and to serve the campus and the community. To be eligible, a student must have completed at least 12 units at SBCC with a 3.5 grade point average. The Phi Theta Kappa graduates are wearing a gold satin stole.