What is a hood and why do I need one?
A hood is a garment worn around the neck and down the back. You need one if you are receiving a Master’s degree or a Doctorate. There are multiple types of hoods. At Carnegie Mellon, we only distribute hoods to Master’s and Doctoral candidates. On each hood is a band of colored velvet, most visible at the neck. The width of the velvet band denotes the level of the degree conferred while the color implies the field of study. On Master’s hoods, the color of the velvet denotes the discipline in which your degree is being awarded. For instance, someone graduating with a degree in engineering will find that the velvet color is orange, whereas one graduating with a degree in science will have a gold band. The way your degree reads is what will determine the color of your velvet. Doctoral hoods typically feature a broader velvet band. At Carnegie Mellon, we only issue two kinds of Doctoral degrees, despite the fact that the area of study could well be in most any discipline. This is because,
