The Hooding Ceremony Frequently Asked Questions - EPC
What is the Hooding Ceremony?
The Hooding Ceremony is a special recognition ceremony by the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling for Masters degree candidates during which a faculty advisor places the masters hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program. The ceremony is similar to a graduation in that faculty and students are dressed in academic attire. The Hooding Ceremony is in addition to and does not replace the College of Education Graduation Exercises, which occur right after the Hooding Ceremony.
Who is invited to attend?
This ceremony is tailored as a special honor for graduating Masters degree students, who may invite their friends and family.
Who performs the hooding?
Each Masters degree candidate is asked to invite a faculty member to conduct the hooding. The faculty member may be the candidate's advisor or another faculty member of the candidate's choice.
What occurs during the ceremony?
During the ceremony, the Chair of the department will make brief remarks and then will call students up by program. Students will go to the stage with the advisor or faculty member who will hood them, and the hooding will take place.
Academic Regalia
Today's academic dress has its origins in the clerical dress that medieval scholars used for warmth in unheated buildings. The hood that forms part of our current academic dress was originally a head covering for bad weather. Later it was dropped to the shoulders in the form of a small cape. Eventually, the hood became a separate piece of apparel in the form of an elongated scarf draped over the shoulders and displayed down the back with the lining turned inside out. Today, hoods are the most expressive component of the academic costume. They serve to communicate the owner’s school, degree, and field of study through their length and the colors of the lining and binding. The hood's facing is colored velvet trimming, which denotes the wearer's field of study (e.g., Education is light blue, also counseling). The width of the velvet trimming designates the level of the degree, e.g., Masters. The lining of the hood identifies the institution that granted the degree. In our case, red with a white chevron are the school colors for CSUN.
Letter of Invitation - 2009
Dear graduating Masters degree students of the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling,
The faculty and staff of the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling are looking forward to the attendance of yourself and your family and friends at the upcoming Department Hooding Ceremony and the College of Education Graduation Commencement Ceremony on May 21st, 2009. As some of you may already know, this year we will be holding our own Hooding Ceremony for our department to be held just before the Graduation Ceremony for the entire College of Education. The Hooding Ceremony is a special recognition ceremony by the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling for Masters degree candidates during which a faculty advisor places the masters hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program. The ceremony is similar to graduation in that faculty and students are dressed in academic attire. The Hooding Ceremony is in addition to and does not replace the College of Education Graduation Ceremony, which occurs right after the Hooding Ceremony. It is important that you will plan to attend both events. A more detailed description of the Hooding Ceremony is attached.
The Hooding Ceremony will take place in the Cleary Courtyard between Juniper Hall (formerly known as the Business bldg.) and the College of Education with a reception of light refreshments starting at 4:00 p.m., and seating of students to be hooded at 4:30 p.m. The Hooding Ceremony will start promptly at 4:45 p.m. Limited seating for families and friends will be provided. We plan to conclude this event by 5:30 p.m, to allow about 20-30 min. for post- hooding photos with students, faculty, family, and friends. At approximately 6:00 p.m., everyone will make a short walk (approximately 1 block) over to the Oviatt Library staging area to participate in the College of Education Graduation Commencement Ceremony. Upon arrival, families and friends will be seated, and students will line for the Graduation Ceremony which will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. We anticipate that Graduation Ceremony will end at about 7:30 p.m..
A map indicating the locations of the Hooding Ceremony and the Graduation Ceremony, as well as parking locations, is attached. Free parking for both events is located in the student structure B5 and faculty lot B5 off of Darby Street between Vincennes and Plummer Streets. Overflow free parking is also available in any of the nearby lots off Darby Ave. if needed. Please note that we often experience very hot days for graduation, and most seating is in the sun. It is strongly advised that you bring sunscreen, a hat, and water. Water will also be provided at the Hooding Ceremony.
Again, we are pleased that you will be joining us for these very special ceremonies in recognition of your outstanding academic dedication and accomplishments. If you have any questions or have not yet responded to our department about attending our hooding and graduation ceremonies, please email Luna in our department office at
Salvador Topete <salvador.topete@csun.edu>
Warm regards,
Shari Tarver Behring, Ph. D., Chair
And the entire faculty of the
Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling