Culinary Art Schools & Degree Programs


Cook Up a New Career with a Culinary Arts and Pastry Degree
Professionals with culinary arts and pastry degrees can be found in all sectors of the food service industry. The degree might allow you to get your start as an apprentice chef or cook at a restaurant or food service establishment where you may be able to gradually advance to a chef or head cook position.

Chefs and head cooks are often responsible for managing large kitchen staffs and supervising all aspects of the daily operation of their kitchens. As a chef you may choose items to offer on the restaurant's menu and order food and supplies to keep your kitchen operating efficiently. Head cooks and chefs may work at independent restaurants or they can work at hotels, resorts, or even on cruise ships.

What Types of Training do Culinary Arts and Pastry Colleges Provide?
Most culinary arts and pastry schools are two-year degree programs at community and junior colleges, but some students combine the program with a four-year degree in a hospitality major. Curricula for culinary arts and pastry schools vary, but they are usually heavily oriented toward cooking and kitchen management. You may take courses such as:
  •   Menu planning
  •   Nutrition
  •   Meal preparation
  •   Food storage techniques
  •   Inventory control

Most large restaurants require that new kitchen staff employees apprentice with a chef or head cook for a period of time to gain experience in restaurant meal preparation.

What Positions are Available to Graduates with Culinary Arts and Pastry Degrees?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the career field for chefs, head cooks, and food preparation supervisors should expand by about 6 percent through 2018. Employers prefer to hire chefs and head cooks with experience and professional training, but often allow new graduates from culinary arts and pastry colleges to work as apprentices to get started in the career field.
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