b'ACADEMIC REGALIAThe academic dress worn by scholars originated in the Middle Ages. When European universities were taking form in the 12th and 13th centuries, the scholars usually were clerics as well, and they adopted dress similar to that of their monastic orders. Buildings were cold and drafty, so caps and warm, floor-length capes with hoods were necessities. As control of education passed from the churches, the dress was modified in various ways, and there was great diversity in the color and style of cap, gown and hood worn at different institutions. In 1895, a standardized code of academic dress was established that is followed by most colleges and universities in the United States. At the University of Washington, the bachelors and masters gowns are black. The doctoral gowns are purple with purple and gold hoods and are distinguished by three velvet chevrons on each sleeve. The matching mortarboardor tam has a long tassel, and is worn over the left side of the cap. The colors of tassels or hoods are distinctive of the candidates academic program (in most cases). Honor cords identify students who are graduating with academic honors and are worn loosely around the neck and hang down in the front.Masters hood colorsMaster of AccountingRoyal blue hoodMaster of Arts White hoodMaster of Business Administration .Royal blue hood Master of Cybersecurity and Leadership .Gold hood Master of Education .Light blue hood Master of Nursing .Apricot hood Master of Science.Gold hoodMaster of Social Work .Citron hoodTasselsBachelor of Arts degree . White tassel Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Royal blue tasselBachelor of Science degree Gold tasselBachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Orange tassel Bachelor of Science in Nursing Apricot tasselVeteran or active-duty militaryRed, white and blue tasselMasters degree Black tassel CordsBaccalaureate honors .Gold cordFaculty honors .Purple cordGlobal honors.Ivory cord7'