Finally, I've almost got to the finishing line of the MSTP. As I enjoyed my last few weeks before graduation, a question came to mind when I looked at my regalia. Why is the color the PhD blue instead of the MD green? The answer I was given by the Registrar Office is: "the PhD is the highest degree and therefore the regalia color will reflect that." Is the regalia color school-specific? Do your schools have you wear PhD blue regalia? Any particular reason why the PhD is "higher" than the MD if they're both terminal doctoral degrees?
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Regalia Color
Started by kryptonian
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Person sounds ignorant imo - I wouldn't put any campus doctoral degree above another. Maybe there's something I don't know, though!
The MD is considered to be a professional degree rather than a true terminal degree in academic circles, due to its lack of thesis and focus on a professional skillset. This is also why in most countries physicians do not receive the MD degree, but rather the MBBS, with the doctorate reserved for those that have done a thesis in medicine beyond their professional degree.
PhD is the highest degree that can be conferred by a university. You will continue to wear the regalia of your graduate alma mater throughout your academic career. For example, you can see Columbia grads will wear their distinctive blue robes at major graduation ceremonies across the country.
Fancy! I was hoping my school would do something similar to that, but regardless I will get a customized one once I become an attending. 😊
I'm totally doing this! I don't know why it never occurred to me.
