UAA holds 3rd annual Master’s Degree Hooding Ceremony

By: Staff Apr 30, 2008

Event provides special recognition for master’s degree graduates

ANCHORAGE, AK – UAA adds to the graduation experience with a master’s candidate hooding ceremony on Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m. in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium on UAA’s campus. A short reception after the ceremony in the lobby of nearby Rasmuson Hall will allow graduates, faculty and family members to share congratulations. Nearly 200 students will participate in this year’s hooding ceremony.

This special hooding ceremony makes it possible to focus on advanced degree candidates and their accomplishments. It allows graduate faculty and staff, family and friends a chance to witness the ceremonial hooding of their graduate student in a more intimate setting. UAA’s Master’s Degree Hooding Ceremony does not take the place of Commencement. Graduate students will continue to walk, receive their diplomas and have their degrees conferred at Commencement on Sunday.

History and significance of the graduate hood
The origins of academic dress date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. Regardless of whether the scholar was a student or a teacher, they wore ordinary dress of a cleric. With few exceptions, the medieval scholar had taken at least minor orders, made certain vows, and perhaps been tonsured. Long gowns were worn and may have been necessary for warmth in unheated buildings. Hoods seem to have served to cover the tonsured head until superseded for that purpose by the skull cap.

Today, hoods are the most expressive component of the academic costume. They serve to communicate the owner’s school, degree and field of study through their length and the colors of the lining and binding. Today’s hoods have evolved from a serviceable article of clothing to a type of elongated scarf draped over the shoulders and displayed down the back with the lining turned inside out.

UAA master’s degree graduates and candidates receive their hood because of the level of education they have pursued beyond the baccalaureate degree. The University of Alaska Anchorage’s colors are gold and green, hence these colors on the hood. The velvet trim on the hood signifies the scholar’s field. For example, a Master of Education recipient will have his gold and green hood trimmed in light blue; a Master of Science recipient will have his gold and green hood trimmed in golden yellow.