Master's Hoods

MA, MFA, MPS only: Hoods can be purchased as part of your graduation package or separately if you don't need all parts of the regalia. Hoods are a traditional part of the Master's degree regalia and signify the advanced level of education a student has achieved. The velvet, lining, and chevron colors all convey different meanings– here’s what to choose. 

Velvet: color signifies your field of study
MFA: Brown
MA or MPS: white
MAT: light blue
Lining: gold with a black chevron signifies that you have graduated from MICA

Master's Honor Cords

MA, MFA, MPS: Graduate degrees do not use Latin honors (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude) and the regalia thus does not include honor cords corresponding to the GPA. However:

1) student leaders (graduate program assistants, etc),

2) students who go through the on-campus International Student program, and

3) students who are military veterans

will receive cords honoring those achievements. These cords do not need to be purchased and will be available to pick up on Commencement day at check-in.

Bachelor's Honor Cords

BA and BFA Academic Honor Cords are worn by students who earn top GPAs:

Cum Laude, 3.70+ (green)
Magna Cum Laude, 3.80+ (red)
Summa Cum Laude, 3.90+ (gold).

The Art Education Honor Cord (light blue) is worn by undergraduate students accepted into the five-year BFA/MAT program. Leadership Honor Cords (bright blue) are worn by students recognized for outstanding leadership and contributions to the MICA community. Military Service Honor Cords (dark blue and gold) are worn by current members and veterans of the United States military.

The Chain of Office and Medallion

The Chain of Office and Medallion is worn by MICA’s president during Commencement. The Medallion, designed by Karen Klinedinst ’85, includes symbols that represent MICA’s endurance since its founding in 1826. It is paired with the Chain, designed by Betty Cooke ’46, where each link features the name of the College’s official and acting presidents, symbolically connecting MICA’s founder to its current leader.

Leadership in Diversity Stoles and Cords

Leadership in Diversity Stoles and Cords are worn by students recognized for leadership, academic achievement, and involvement in advancing the Center for Identity and Inclusion’s mission and vision. The stoles are red which represents power, energy, creation, passion, and love. The Adinkra Ghanaian symbol shows two conjoined crocodiles, which symbolizes democracy and cooperation and means Unity in Diversity. Other stoles include Asian Silk Stoles (silk bamboo print), Faith-based Stoles (Jewish stoles are blue and white, Christian stoles are teal), Heritage Stoles (red, green, and yellow), Hispanic Stoles (white, red, and blue), Kente Stoles from Africa (green, gold, and maroon), and LGBTQIA Stoles (rainbow colors with an inverted pink triangle).

Our Velvet Beret

A graduation cap is a sign of the freedom of scholarship which endows the wearer with responsibility and dignity. Rather than mortarboards, a black velvet beret has been traditionally worn as the cap by graduating students at MICA since the 1960s.