Culinary Arts

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I consider food service as a career?
Yes, if you are people-oriented, work well with your hands, and have a passion for cooking and baking.

What degrees and certificates do you offer?
Associate in Science (AS) degree: Prepares you to work in hotel, resort, restaurant, and healthcare food service settings as a sous chef, pastry chef, and restaurant assistant manager. As a graduate, you are also eligible to transfer to four-year culinary arts baccalaureate programs. For more information contact a counselor (see the listing below).

Certificate of Achievement (CA): Prepares you for positions such as line cook, pastry cook, and restaurant supervisor. In hands-on laboratories, you will gain the skills and knowledge needed to work in hotel, resort, restaurant, and healthcare food service settings.

Certificate of Completion (CC): Prepares you for entry-level resort, hotel, or restaurant positions such as baking assistant, prep cook, and fry cook.

Could I specialize in a particular area?
Yes. We offer certificates and degrees in four specialties: culinary arts, patisserie, school food service, and dining room service.

Culinary Arts: Certificate of completion (CC), certificate of achievement (CA), and associate in science (AS) degree. The CC requires satisfactory completion of 17 credits of course work; the CA, 44 credits; the AS, 69-71 credits. This specialization is set up as a "career ladder." What this means is that if you decide to enter and complete the CC or CA program, you have the option to continue your enrollment and pursue a higher certificate or degree. For example, after earning a CC, you may choose to continue toward a CA or an AS.

Patisserie: Certificate of completion (CC) and associate in science (AS) degree. The CC requires satisfactory completion of 17 credits of course work; the AS, 60-62 credits. This specialization is set up as a "career ladder." That is, you have the option to complete the CC first, then continue your enrollment to earn the AS.

School Food Service: Associate in science (AS) degree. The AS requires satisfactory completion of 60-62 credits of course work.

Dining Room Service: Certificate of completion (CC). The CC requires satisfactory completion of 17 credits of course work.

Do I need to maintain a certain grade or grade point average in these courses?
Yes. For an AS, CA, or CC, you must earn:

• a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 ("C" average) or higher for all required courses and
• a grade of "C" or better in all required FSHE courses.

When can I enter the program?
You can enter in the fall and spring.