Culinary Arts

Overview

Culinary arts programs prepare people to cook and present meals in restaurants and other places that serve food.

Culinary arts programs teach people different cooking techniques and how to present meals. Students learn to plan menus and recipes. They also learn how to buy supplies, manage kitchens, and train staff.

Culinary arts programs include topics such as:

Menu planning
Cooking techniques
Kitchen management
Budgeting
Supervision
Legal and health regulations

Concentrations

In culinary arts programs students may be able to specialize in:

Baking and pastry arts
Culinary science
Personal culinary services
Chef training

Internship

Internships allow students to develop skills at companies or organizations. Many culinary programs require students to complete an internship at a restaurant.

Schools

Many specialized schools and community colleges offer certificate and associate degree programs in culinary arts. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree program usually takes two years of full-time study.

Some specialized schools and colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in culinary arts. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program of study by getting your high school diploma or GED.

Some programs require applicants who have either completed two years of college or have work experience. Many programs require a personal interview as well.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Art
Art Appreciation
Food and Nutrition
Food Science
Food Service
Food Service and Nutrition
General Math
Industrial Safety and First Aid
Introduction to Business
Marketing

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

In this program, you typically take courses such as the following:

Baking and Patisserie
Breakfast Foods
Business Math
Culinary Science
Culinary Skills and Equipment Operation
Dining Room Operations
Fish and Shellfish
Food Service and Kitchen Management
Garde Manger (cold food preparation)
International Cuisine
Meat and Poultry
Menu Planning
Nutrition
Plating and Presentation
Purchasing and Cost Control
Quantity Food Production
Safety and Sanitation
Sauces, Soups, and Stocks
Wine and Wine Service

Many programs include an externship or practicum in their curriculum. This gives you the opportunity to practice what you've learned under the guidance and supervision of an experienced chef.

You might assist a chef in a restaurant owned by your culinary school, or you might work in an unaffiliated restaurant. Besides the real-world experience, an externship also exposes you to the different cooking styles of different chefs.

Things to Know

You are expected to purchase your own cooking tools and chef's uniform.

If your program does not offer an internship, seek one out on your own. An internship gives you working experience and exposes you to different cooking styles. You also make professional contact with potential employers or references.

A few different organizations offer certification as a culinary artist or chef. While certification is not required to be a chef, it does show potential employers your competence and knowledge of cooking.

Every state has different regulations for food safety and preparation in institutions such as restaurants. Check with your local health department or state restaurant association for more information on specific requirements. You may need to get a certificate in food safety before you can start working.