Undergraduate and master’s caps and gowns may be purchased from the Ohio State Bookstore and other campus area bookstores. Online orders through theohiostateuniversity.shopoakhalli.com will be accepted through July 7.
PhD and doctoral caps and gowns may be purchased until June 1 or rented through theohiostateuniversity.shopoakhalli.com. Rental orders must be placed by June 12 for pickup in store or July 7 for shipments. The fee is due at the time the order is placed.
A special note on attire:
- Dress appropriately for the day and the occasion. Weather in Columbus can be unpredictable, so please be aware of the forecast and plan to dress comfortably under you academic regalia.
- Be mindful of your footwear. Most graduate seating will be in the stands and require the use of stairs. We recommend that you choose comfortable footwear, and discourage shoes with high or narrow heels, tall platforms or wedges.
The gown
Bachelor:
The bachelor gown is black, full-cut with long pointed sleeves.
Master:
The master gown is black, with long or short sleeves, an arc-shaped panel extending from each sleeve.
Doctor:
The Ohio State University Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Musical Arts, Doctor of Education and Doctor of Nursing Practice gowns are scarlet with gray velvet panels on the front and three velvet bars on each sleeve. Other doctor gowns are black with velvet panels and bars, the color of which is distinctive of the field of study.
Honors emblem
The Ohio State University honors emblem is a scarlet and gray tasseled braid worn over the gown. Students eligible for this curricular honor are those graduating summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude. At the discretion of their college, students graduating with distinction or with honors may also be eligible. Graduates meeting these criteria receive the honors emblem through their college office.
The hood
Master:
Three-and-one-half feet long with a three-inch-wide velvet edging.
Doctor:
Four feet in length with a five-inch-wide velvet edging and panel at the sides.
The lining of all hoods, which is folded out, bears the official colors of the institution granting the degree. The color of the velvet indicates the degree being earned and generally reflects the field of study.
Cap and tassel
Wear the tassel on the left side of your cap.
Bachelor's and master's degree candidates at The Ohio State University wear the black mortarboard with a tassel. The color is distinctive of the degree being received. Tassel colors are as follows:
Graduate School
(PhD/DMA): Gray
(Others): Black
Arts and Sciences,
BA
White
Arts and Sciences,
BA Journalism
Crimson
Arts and Sciences,
BAE, BFA
Brown
Arts and Sciences,
BM, BME
Pink
Arts and Sciences,
BS, BS Design, BS Atmos.Sci., BS Geog. Info. Sci.
White
Fisher College of Business
Drab
Dentistry
Lilac
Education and Human Ecology,
BSED
Light Blue
Education and Human Ecology,
BSHPNES, BSHDFS, BSHEC, BSHM, BSNut
Maroon
Engineering
Orange
Knowlton School of Architecture
Blue-Violet
Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Maize
Environment and Natural Resources
Blue-Green
Moritz College of Law
Purple
Medicine
Green
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Green
Nursing
Apricot
Optometry
Seafoam Green
Pharmacy
Olive Green
John Glenn College of Public Affairs
Peacock Blue
Public Health
Salmon
Social Work
Citron
Veterinary Medicine
Gray
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