Culinary Arts
The Culinary Arts program prepares individuals for an exciting career as a chef, cook, and/or food preparation worker for a variety of hospitality industries including hotels, restaurants, convention centers, hospitals, and corporate dining facilities. The curriculum covers all aspects of culinary preparation including meats, poultry, fish, vegetable, sauces, soups, bread and pastry baking, desserts, specialty cooking and international cuisine. Hands-on experience in all facets of culinary preparation and presentation is emphasized throughout the curriculum. Further, coursework emphasizing the development of supervisory and managerial responsibilities such as sanitation, menu planning, management, cost control, purchasing, cooking, baking, and restaurant operations are also provided. Specific skills aimed at creating recipes; managing the kitchen; ordering supplies; measuring, mixing, and cooking ingredients according to specified recipes; familiarity with the various types of kitchen equipment and instruments; knife skills, cutting, chopping, slicing, and dicing; and, directing the duties of other kitchen employees are developed throughout the entire program of study.
Individuals who are not interested in working for restaurants or food service kitchens may also benefit from this program. Personal chefs, for example, plan and prepare meals in private homes according to a client’s personal preferences and dietary needs – which is an emerging occupation Further, research chefs combine culinary skills with specific skills in food science to test new formulas, develop recipes, experiment with flavors and presentation, and test new products for chain restaurants, food growers, and manufacturers.
If you’ve always been a purveyor of fine cuisine and enjoy utilizing creativity in your cooking, then the culinary arts program may interest you! Visit the Hospitality Management page for information on our Food Service Management options.
Career and Technical Education Options
- Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
- Baking and Pastry Certificate
- Chef's Assistant Certificate
- Culinary Management Certificate
- Food Preparation Certificate
