different graduation caps meaning
Different graduation caps, often called mortarboards, and their accessories like tassels, can symbolize various aspects of academic achievement, depending on the institution, country, and cultural traditions. In English-speaking contexts:
- **Tassel colors**: These typically represent the field of study or degree type. For example:
- White: Often for arts, humanities, or letters.
- Gold or yellow: Commonly for science, business, or accounting.
- Red: Frequently for journalism, communications, or theology.
- Blue: Used for education, philosophy, or nursing.
- Purple: Sometimes for law or medicine.
However, exact meanings vary by university, so it's best to confirm with the specific institution.
- **Cap styles**: The standard black mortarboard is most common for bachelor's degrees. For master's or doctoral degrees, caps might be similar but paired with hoods or gowns in colors that indicate the degree level or field, such as darker robes for higher degrees.
- **Tassel placement**: During ceremonies, moving the tassel from right to left signifies the completion of studies and official graduation.
These symbols are not universal and can differ based on local customs or school policies.
mortarboard
Mortarboard is an English term with two primary meanings:
1. A square academic cap, typically worn by graduates during university ceremonies, featuring a flat top and a tassel.
2. A small board with a handle used in construction to carry and hold mortar for bricklaying or similar tasks.
mortarboard hat
A mortarboard hat is a square, flat academic cap with a tassel, traditionally worn by graduates during commencement ceremonies at schools, colleges, and universities. It is also known as a graduation cap or square academic cap. The design features a stiff, square board-like top attached to a band that fits around the head, and the tassel is often moved from one side to the other to signify the completion of a degree. Originating in Europe, it became popular in English-speaking countries as part of academic regalia, symbolizing scholarly achievement.
graduation cap tassel
A graduation cap tassel is a decorative cord attached to the top of a mortarboard cap, worn during academic ceremonies like graduations. It typically features a string with a knot or bead at the end and comes in various colors to represent the wearer's degree, field of study, or institution. During the ceremony, the tassel is often flipped from one side of the cap to the other to symbolize the transition from student to graduate. In some traditions, its color holds specific meanings, such as gold for business or blue for philosophy.
graduation cap tassel left or right
In many graduation ceremonies, particularly in the United States and other Western countries, the tassel on a graduation cap is worn on the right side at the start of the event to indicate that the graduate has not yet officially received their degree. Once the degree is conferred—often during a specific moment in the ceremony—the tassel is moved to the left side to symbolize the completion of studies and the transition to alumni status. This tradition can vary by institution or country, so it's best to follow the specific guidelines provided by your school.
types of graduation caps
The main types of graduation caps include:
The mortarboard, a square, flat cap with a tassel, commonly worn for bachelor's and some master's degrees in many countries.
The tam, a soft, round or pillbox-style cap, often made of velvet and used for doctoral or higher degrees, such as PhDs.
The biretta, a stiff cap with ridges (typically three or four peaks), traditionally associated with academic or religious ceremonies in certain European institutions.
Other variations include the Oxford cap, a soft, circular cap similar to the tam but with a cord, used in the UK for some degrees, and the bonnet, a soft cap with a tassel, seen in Scottish academic traditions.
graduation cap origin islam
The graduation cap, also known as a mortarboard, has its origins in medieval European academic traditions, particularly from the 15th century onward. It evolved from earlier headwear like the biretta, which was worn by clergy and scholars in Europe, and is linked to the academic dress of universities such as those in England and Italy. There is no credible historical evidence connecting the graduation cap to Islamic origins. Some misconceptions arise from similarities with certain headwear like the fez, but these claims are inaccurate and stem from misunderstandings of cultural exchanges during the Renaissance or colonial periods. The design is firmly rooted in Western educational practices.
graduation cap meaning tassel
The tassel on a graduation cap, often attached to the mortarboard, symbolizes academic achievement and the transition from student to graduate. In many English-speaking traditions, such as in the United States and United Kingdom, it is worn on the right side at the start of the ceremony and moved to the left side after receiving a diploma, representing the completion of studies. The tassel's color can signify the field of study or institution, with common examples including gold for general studies, blue for philosophy, and red for journalism, though this varies by school or country.