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Culinary School Degrees and Programs

Find out which culinary arts degree will help you best meet your career goals.

chef plating food

Some cooks are able to find work in restaurants, hotels and cruise ships without education. They may have worked in kitchens since the time they were kids, or been born into a family restaurant business.

However, most people who want to work in the restaurant industry find it helpful to have some culinary education. Not only will culinary school teach you about ingredients and food prep, but it will also teach you such skills as timing, making recipes for dozens of people, and cost control when purchasing the best quality ingredients you can find.

The culinary program you choose should help you meet your specific career goals. Will you be content to be a sous-chef helping put out meals, or would you rather be the lead chef who decides on the menu and also takes responsibility for overall customer satisfaction?

Below is a list of some of your culinary program and degree options. Find the one that will help you reach your goals.

Certificate and Diploma Programs in Culinary Arts

If you want some background in cooking to help you get your foot in the door, a certificate in a culinary arts program might be your best option. The curriculum is based on learning hands-on cooking and baking skills. Certificate and diploma options may include baking and pastry arts, culinary arts, culinary management, and wine and beverage management. Admission requirements may include:

  • Academic or work references
  • High school diploma or GED in many cases

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Associate's Degree Programs in Culinary Arts

If you want more culinary education, a 2-year associate's degree will give you more experience—and make you more employable. The curriculum is based on learning hands-on cooking and baking skills in addition to safety and sanitation, management, and nutrition. Many associate's degree programs offer certificates in addition to degrees. Admission requirements may include:

  • Academic or work references
  • High school diploma or GED

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Bachelor's Degree Programs in Culinary Arts

If you're more ambitious, and want to be a leader in the kitchen, a 4-year bachelor's degree might be best for you. The majority of culinary bachelor's programs focus on business, finance and management in addition to the cooking and baking skills needed for the job, although more schools are starting to offer food science degrees as well. Admission requirements may include:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Satisfactory high school GPA and SAT scores
  • Personal essay and references

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Apprenticeship Programs

Once you have your certificate or degree, apprenticeships give you the real-world experience you need before going out on your own. Cooking apprenticeships consist of hands-on learning while working in a hotel, club or restaurant under a skilled professional. Admission requirements may include:

  • Academic or work references
  • Some require high school diploma or GED

Culinary Seminars

Not everyone wants to make the time commitment for one of the culinary programs or degrees listed above. If you love to cook and want to increase your skills, you may want to consider taking a cooking seminar. Seminars are short cooking classes ranging from one day to two months, and may focus on certain techniques or the cuisine of a particular region. If you love Northern Italian, French Provençal or Spanish tapas, you can take a seminar that specializes in your area of interest. Most seminars do not have admission requirements.

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