Culinary Art Degrees & Certificates

Individuals looking forward to establishing a career in the hospitality industry need to undertake a thorough search prior to attending any school. This is due to the types of programs they offer. A good culinary arts school offers its participants the opportunity to train in specialty areas where they can be prepared for employment. Find the best culinary art schools below and begin your research.

Popular Culinary Programs

The food service industry is growing as consumers continue to develop more sophisticated palates. A good school will be in a position to respond to growing demands for quality service, nutrition and international cuisines. Top culinary art schools offer popular programs, including:

• Baking & Pastry Arts
• Wine/ spirits & Beverage management
• Catering Management
• Travel & Tourism Management
• Culinary Arts
• Culinary Management
• Restaurant Management
• Foodservice Management
• Hospitality Management

Entry positions within the hospitality industry: Participants of Culinary art schools are prepared to obtain entry positions in the industry and other related area, including

• Chef / kitchen Managers
• Restaurant Managers
• Assistant Purchasing Director
• Airline Catering Manager
• Food Production Manager
• Assistant Food & Beverage Director
• Assistant Catering Manger

 

Culinary Training in Areas of Specialty

The right program will emphasize progressive trends and techniques. Students will be in a position to acquire enough practical training, to work in a modern kitchen.

Baking & Pastry Arts: The program seeks to equip participants with practical skills and techniques as well as qualifications for any baking or pastry career. Finding the best school for you is the first step towards achieving your dream.

Wine/ spirits & Beverage management: Top schools offer training in wine & beverage management and learn the best way to match menus in order to enhance the food and wine flavors. At the work place, the graduate will be able to recommend the best method of stocking the spirits. This could involve reviewing menus in order to select the best wines/ beverage.

Catering Management: Training in catering equips students with the skill required to serve numerous people at the same time. Apart from developing culinary skills, participants learn excellent communication and relational skills. The program offers training in food preparation, food safety, sanitation and nutrition. Furthermore, specialized classes are offered in ordering rental equipment such as tents, tables, table settings, linens and dance floors.

Restaurant Management: A good course offered by an accredited school will help equip students with the best skills required to operate in the dynamic restaurant industry. They learn how to oversee food quality, deal with customers and make staffing decisions. The program offers specialized courses, including:

• Ordering & taking inventory
• Creating bids & pricing meals
• Planning menus & functions
• Understanding business, marketing & finance practices

Culinary Management: Culinary management course opens up doors for graduates to work in many settings including hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and spas. The skills learnt prepare the graduate to run food operations. Those possessing an entrepreneurial spirit obtain a chance to exploit the skills developed in order to initiate a new business venture within the hospitality industry.

Foodservice Management: Students obtain training from basic cuts of meat to ways of managing menus in order to develop various cooking skills & techniques. The program offers specialized classes, including:

• Planning menus & functions
• Creating decorative themes
• Food origins & trends
• Hiring & managing staff including wait staff, chefs, bartenders and clean-up crew
• Overseeing banquets & table service

Hospitality Management: Hospitality management programs are designed to prepare participants for management positions in the hospitality industry. Therefore 4 years of training in graduate school prepares graduates for high-level management positions. If you are looking for a culinary art degree then begin your career training with any of the schools listed below.

This is the art of preparing, cooking and preening food in the form of meals and those working in this field of work are usually referred to as chefs or cooks but can also be referred to as culinary artists or culinarian. Expert culinarians should have the knowledge of food science, diet and nutrition ad should be responsible for preparing meals, which are pleasing to taste, and to the eye and the palate. The obvious place for culinarians to work is in restaurants, but they can also work in primary places of work like delicatessens and relatively large institutions like schools, hospitals, and hotels. Culinary arts students study different aspects concerning food, and the specific areas of study include food safety, butchery, chemistry, thermodynamics, human nutrition and physiology, visual presentation, manufacturing various food items. A chef is a trained person to master culinary forms and to provide creative innovation in preparation, menu, and presentation of food while a cook is a trained person who masters forms of food preparation but usually takes close directions from a chef.

Employment Scope of Work
The scope of employment for culinary arts professionals is vast as professional cooks work in private homes, abroad yachts as vendors on street corners and corporates. However to place yourself in the best path forward as a chef you have to refine your culinary dreams before you think of launching. You can consult professionals and ask them a few questions to help you choose your culinary direction. First, you have to envision yourself working at your dream job. Advanced studies are required for those who aspire in getting postgraduate employment as a kitchen manager or a chef. On the other hand, if hands-on creations of delicate desserts fuel your passion your study track have to include a pastry arts specialty.
The practical side of one’s education is considered too, and one has to be real with themselves about their abilities to tackle work and schooling obligations at the same time. If you need flexible scheduling between working and schooling, you have to be sure to investigate weekend and night learning options as most culinary programs account for your need to learn while earning. A short-term education credential like a certificate or a diploma that can be completed in less than one year is another option for those that are inclined to full-time work. An associate degree provided an accessible credential rich in fundamental for most passionate cooks and at the same time affords the holders a high degree of upward mobility in the kitchen sector.

 

Types of Degrees Offered In Culinary Arts

Bachelor’s Degrees in Culinary Arts
A bachelor’s degree for students that want to venture into entry-level hospitality management jobs is the most appropriate. Opportunities are quite enough for those having a bachelor’s degree, as this type of industry needs managers in all hotel departments and restaurants from the dining room to the kitchen. At the management level, one needs to have skills in expanded understanding of budget and cost analysis the reason as to why the bachelor’s curriculum features accounting and business principle classes, which add to a professional cook’s kitchen chops. Students are taught people skills, which helps them in training and motivating their future staffs when in the professions, these personnel issues are taught in the sphere of management responsibilities. The mobility of a chef is significantly increased whenever they are holders of an advanced degree and obtaining one is considered a significant accomplishment. It is rewarded within the hospitality industry. Advanced degree holders usually start at higher salary rated and advance faster through the hospitality ranks. Therefore it is important to always think creatively whenever it comes to forming a job outlook. Consider an advanced degree that might contribute towards expanding your employment possibilities especially in culinary arts. Nutritionists and dieticians apart from other food jobs like menu developers and consultants are in demand professional that consult within the food service industry.

Master’s Degrees in Culinary Arts
Masters level of studies deals with training for the kitchen pros with higher tire chefs and the mastery of certain culinary disciplines. Chefs who have the ambition to serve in not only the kitchen but beyond the kitchen walls have the options of doing masters studies in business and management with hotel general managers and food and beverage directors within any corporate settings holding advanced degrees.

Associates Degrees in Culinary Arts
These are the programs that are most sought among committed chef candidates the associates is based on a two-year curriculum which provides a general English, maths, writing and communication foundation together with students conducting culinary training. Graduate students can do further chef work after completing the degree or use it as a stepping-stone to pursue their education at the bachelor’s degree level. The associate’s degree curriculum includes kitchen theory and classical foundations, however; a lot of time is spent in hands-on cooking scenarios in this degree. Students while doing the hands-on cooking will learn about ways of preparing classic dishes in every category including meat, banquet, seafood, and pastries. Wine studies are also included to give students the general understanding of gastronomic pairings and cuisine of various localities is dissected to give them knowledge of the Asian, Latin, American and Mediterranean food traditions. Students are taught foundations in management such as cost analysis and development of menus as well as rounded exposure to facets of the industry, which have the possibility of being encountered by students who might want to open their restaurants in future.

Diplomas and Certificates in Culinary Arts
These kinds of programs deliver culinary skills and techniques often focus on specific areas in culinary arts. A Certificate bridges the gap between classical technique and industry best practices for the working cooks and the study duration usually lasts between a year and less. Graduates are given a certificate of completion to show their achievements. A general certificate for culinary arts is designed to make students ready for entry-level employment in a commercial kitchen and the academic levels of students at this stage focus on working closely with instructors and professional chefs that will train one to work in various kitchen stations like the grill, sauté, garden manger and fry cook. As graduates climb the kitchen ladder on the job, such programs serve as culinary foundation providers. Various factors might prompt a chef to move from one career phase to the other and make him expand their education in directions that will aid them to achieve success in this industry. There are other certificates narrowly focused and which supply intensive training in a specific area of the culinary arts, and this is one of the options working professionally with the desire to expand their knowledge base can opt for, they elevate particular areas of kitchen expertise. Professional chefs take courses in management to help them transition into restaurant ownership roles and pastry certificates aid chefs specify in executive roles by increasing their knowledge in candy making and baking.

When one completes a culinary arts degree program graduates will be able to:
- Act as management personnel in the kitchen section.
- Demonstrate baking principles by preparing sweets and pastries.
- Demonstrating expertise in preparing breakfast, dinner and lunch items with the use of wholesome, nutritious and sanitary ingredients.
- Develop knowledge of basic sanitation and safety principles together with the ability to apply sanitation principles of food preparation.
- Select and prepare seafood, meat and poultry items for service, be able to choose the appropriate accompaniments for every dish emphasizing the different cultures.
- Apply knowledge of laws and regulations that relate to safety and sanitation in the profit-making kitchen.
- Prepare items of buffet presentations, which includes bread sculpting, tallow carvings, and ice carvings.
- Apply principles of menu planning and layout for the development of menus in a variety of facilities and service options.
- Prepare for transition from employees to supervisor.
- Demonstrate an understanding of quality customer service.
- Develop skills in producing different kinds of cold food products and buffet designs.
- Develop skills in tool, knife and equipment handling and the ability to apply skills in food preparation.

 

Where to Look For Culinary Arts Degrees
Various schools deliver various types of degrees. The state and private universities offer master’s degree in business and related disciplines, and one will mostly find graduate programs in hospitality management. Various industries also provide the best access to the excellent level exposure required for the hands down culinary masters training and advanced culinary training. International culinary schools provide a highly focused and adventurous experience for mastering the regional cuisine, and the French schooling and experience is a highly regarded resume entry for chef students that emulate the classical French technique. In a community college setting, certificate and diploma programs have a more basic skill set that is aimed at fast entry-level job placement. Diplomas in Culinary Arts vary in intensity and scope, and they usually are short and demanding. Four-year colleges, universities, and career schools offer bachelor's degrees through a great number of culinary arts schools that include culinary arts programs. Some of the commonly offered two-years, vocational programs are associates degrees in culinary skills, baking and pastry and culinary arts. These type of curriculums bring about the best focusing on kitchen techniques and liberal arts requirements. The associate degrees are mainly offered at culinary career schools, technical colleges, and community colleges.

Types of Chefs
The modern kitchen is managed according to a strict hierarchy where the chef is the lead layer. The brigade system determines role and nomenclature in most upscale European and American facilities where different assignments vary based on the precise needs of a given kitchen. Originally employed to make the kitchen run as smooth as possible, the Brigade system has ten primary stations within that have to be staffed. The Smaller establishment has the tendencies to put together two or more stations and then put one chef to be in charge of, to maximize the efficiency of a limited kitchen staff while larger establishments may add additional stations to further distinguish some of the individual specializations that each larger station has.
The Saucier or sauce chef
This is usually the highest respected role in the system of kitchen brigade of stations where the sauce chef directly reports to the head chef of the sous chef. He or she is in charge of a variety of activities including sautéing foods and preparing stews and soups, but the most vital role here is creating all the sauces and gravies meant to accompany other meals, dishes.
The Poissonnier
He or she is referred to as the fish chef in charge of preparing all the fish dishes in the kitchen. This role includes getting fresh fish daily from the local anglers and bringing in non-local catches to supplement the menu. He or she is additionally responsible for all the fish dishes contained on the menu whether they are appetizers or entrees. The Poissonnier usually is in charge of preparing any sauces that need fish to accompany them in the absence of the saucier in smaller kitchens; he will also be in charge of any fish stocks and soups.
The Rotisseur
He is also known as the roast chef responsible for preparing any braised or roasted meat on the menu it consists of anything from veal to steak and lamb or anything similar to that. He is also responsible for obtaining meats from the local suppliers and arranging for deliveries from other retailers. The meat is usually cooked very slowly to obtain as much flavor as possible, and most meats are braised. Braising involves searing the outside part of the meat to trap in moisture and cooking it in the oven to give the flavor and obtain a tender cut when ready.
The Patissier
He is the party chef responsible for preparing baked goods like biscuits, bread, and cakes. Of all the chef stations, the pastry chef is the most beloved because of the nature of the role he plays in making pastries. The breakfast bounty of pastry chefs is sweet bread and croissants. The sophisticated chocolates and petit favors also provide an elegant proof that this role is an artistic discipline.
The Grillardin
He is the grill chef in charge of any foods that need grilling which includes poultry, meat, and vegetables.
The Entremetier
This is the station where a vegetable chef is found and most establishments that are larger employ more than one chef to work in this station, unlike other stations that only need one chef. The legumier chef in this station will be responsible for preparing any vegetable dishes while the potager chef makes soups on the menu.
The Friturier
He is the fry cook who handles any foods that have to be cooked in oils or any other animal fats, and he or she can be able to handle anything from potatoes and vegetables to meat.
The Garde Manger
This the pantry chef responsible for most cold dishes that are contained on the menu. They include salads and cold appetizers like cheese spreads, pate, and Tartars. He is also in charge of making any large buffet services look more appealing and presentable. It is done using a variety of decorative vegetables and food items especially when they are carved into unique and artistic designs.
The Tournant
An all-purpose chef in the kitchen brigade with his role designed to move from one station to the other. He must have an extensive understanding of the core operations in each station. This allows him to take the pace of anyone who is absent in any station or when the workload approaches a more hectic pace.
The Boucher
He is responsible for preparing all the poultry and meat before being delivered to the stations they are needed for preparation of the menu dishes. He or she may handle fish and seafood preparations too.

Different Ranks in the Culinary Career

The typical roles of chefs begin at the top with the executive chef, then the sous chef and another senior chef respectively while other chefs might be exclusively responsible for one aspect of the menu. For one to be able to increase their mobility in this industry, they should lay a solid technical base for their climb through the ranks. You should understand the various positions that are commonly held by professional chefs if you are embarking on a culinary arts career.
Executive Chef
This is the professional pinnacle that many chefs aspire to be and everything that happens in the kitchen including food cost, the payroll, personnel management and menu creation falls within this scope of responsibility.
Sous Chef
Also known as assistant chef acts as the right hand of the executive chef managing a staff of assistant chefs, kitchen workers, and cooks and creating dishes for the menu.
Senior Chef
He is assigned any specific assigned any specific menu specialty that he or she excels in. Directs the prep work of the kitchen staff and assistant cooks.
Demi Chef
He is almost similar to the senior chef only that he specializes in only one type of dish and directs the prep work of staff key to that specialty.
Pastry Chefs
They are in charge of creating chocolates and pastries, which find their way to the dessert menu, they focus on training for this specific job option by offering pastry classes together with courses for traditional chefs.

Where Chefs Work
In today’s world, there are so many chef jobs that are not even tied to traditional kitchens, and the chefs are being elevated to the point of power and celebrity. Food credibility continues to translate into a general stamp of approval for charismatic personalities that have found fame and fortune through cooking. This has led to the demand for better than average foods. Culinary arts graduates have the best chances of finding great jobs at resorts and spas, bed and breakfasts,railroads campgrounds, cruise lines, hotels and motels, extended stay and retirement homes, railroads, amusement and attraction parks, country clubs, cruise lines, hotels and motels, convention and exposition centres and more places. For the entry level, cooks looking to make a mark the places that provide the greatest number of job opportunities are the metropolitan areas. Those tourist destinations provide young chefs the needed exposure and steady employment because of the attraction of guests from various destinations and cultures.

Job Market and Salaries
Going to a good cooking school is important for you in terms of having a better chance to get a great job and developing your kitchen skills. However, the ultimate goal of getting your degree in culinary arts is to get a job and a good one if possible. A good student should get a good handle on their approach to be able to steer his or her education decisions down an appropriate path for the desired job they have eyes on. Upon graduating from culinary arts schools, students usually might be surprised at the wide range of salaries across the many available professional culinary job offerings. Expectations have to be measured early on as one curves out their culinary niche because one does not start their first job in the kitchen as executive chefs. Although the executive chef job stands at the top of all its scale varies widely across the profession, given the importance and notoriety of the position, one can be paid as high as between $50,000 and $100,000. The highest salaries in this rank are awarded by the most reputable and largest properties like the White House. Median Chef salaries are mostly determined by the particular responsibilities within the kitchen and the economic factors of the region. However, in general, the median salaries for median chefs like the assistant chef, the sous chefs, and the head cooks is between $30,000 and $50,000. The factors that determine and influence your ability to earn in the kitchen are the size of the property, the location, education levels, experience. Type of dining establishment, specific responsibilities and the general economic conditions of the place of work.