Diploma: The Many Names of the Diploma

Today's modern generation of youths usually perceive the diploma as the epitome of all the hardships one has endured during his or her years of schooling. The diploma is the "tangible" aspect of graduation, the document that certifies that the name written on it has indeed graduated from a certain academic level. The other aspect, the intangible yet more essential side embodying all the knowledge one has learned throughout his or her years of studying, often goes unacknowledged.

This is the sad truth with regards to a significant majority of today's graduates, especially in many Third World nations. Nevertheless, the diploma still has its own purposes in a graduation ceremony.

A diploma is a piece of document or certificate that an educational institution awards to a graduating individual, testifying that the recipient has successfully passed all the requirements of a particular program of study. In some countries around the world, the diploma is instead referred to as the testimonium or testamur, meaning "we testify" or "certify", the word or words with which diplomas always begin with.

In Ireland, the parchment is the equivalent of the diploma.

Diplomas were not always made of paper. At the time when diplomas were first implemented, these documents were actually made out of sheepskin. The sheepskin was passed through a special manufacturing process that flattened it and made it paper thin. The information on the diploma was then written by hand prior to the graduation ceremony. Eventually, parchment replaced the sheepskin as the primary material for making diplomas, and, later still; institutions began to bind them in leather.

The original diplomas were rather large compared to diplomas nowadays. Today, smaller-sized diplomas have become much more common, usually standard letter size or 4x4 size paper.

In the United States, diplomas are awarded during graduation ceremonies of all educational levels: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.

Your Popup Blocker Must Be Off