Have you ever watched Hell’s Kitchen and dreamt of being one of the lucky few chefs to not get yelled at? Have you found yourself glued to the Food Network for days on end? Have you ever “made” Easy Mac and wanted to challenge yourself?
Our list of hot culinary degree programs will prepare you for all of these and more for 2011 and beyond.
Our recommended culinary degrees and culinary schools
- Art Institute of Pittsburgh: Online
Years ago, chefs, hotel management or restaurant owners could make their way in the world using just their two hands, knowledge, and work experience. But now, a culinary degree is crucial for even an entry-level position. Competition is heating up, and you need to know the ins and outs of what a culinary degree program involves and what a culinary career takes. And there’s not just one kind of culinary degree out there–there are a variety to consider depending on what segment of the hospitality industry you want to enter. Here’s a breakdown of today’s culinary degree programs.
Culinary Arts Degree Program
Culinary Degree Basics:
A Culinary Arts degree is the go-to degree for anyone looking to make a career out of making food. You learn everything from cooking skills and techniques to international cuisine, plus the basics of business skills for surviving in the industry and real world experience in culinary setting.Types of Culinary Degrees:
Culinary arts programs and degrees come in a variety of packages, and it all depends on what level of education you want to pursue. Institutions offer culinary certificate programs, associate’s degrees in culinary and bachelor’s degrees for culinary arts.Resulting Careers with a Culinary Degree:
A culinary arts degree can ready you for most careers in the field. While in the program, many students work as line cooks or other entry-level positions. With a culinary degree or certificate, you can work as a chef or caterer. You can also combine the culinary degree with some education in science to work as a research chef.
Pastry and Baking Degree Program
Pastry Degree Basics:
Bread and pastries are a part of the food pyramid that everyone is required to eat. Go ahead, look it up. Pastry chefs and bakers are the ones that have the weighty responsibility to prepare these foods. Coursework includes artisan bread production, chocolate/confectionery classes and wedding cake design. One of the first classes you are required to take at some institutions is “Pastry Theory.” Who wouldn’t want to take a class like that?Types of Pastry Degrees:
Culinary institutions offer certificate, associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in baking and pastry. The important thing is to make sure that the institution is accredited.
Resulting Careers with a Pastry Degree:
A career as a baker or pastry chef is the end game for this degree program, and that path can land you a job in restaurant and hotel kitchens, food corporations, or even owning your own business.
Restaurant and Food Service Management Degree Program
Food Service Management Degree Basics:
Even the best chefs need a suitable place to work, and that’s where restaurant managers operate. This path combines culinary and business know-how in order to successfully run a restaurant or other food service industries. The degree program involves classes on fine dining and legal issues involved in the industry. It takes a great chef to win over the toughest critic, but it takes a better restaurant manager to get him to the table.Culinary Degrees Needed:
The degree program varies depending on the institution. Some culinary schools offer Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programs in culinary arts management, while others offer B.A. programs in business with a specialization in restaurant management.
Resulting Careers with Food Service Degree:
Any business that requires food management is a viable option for your career, such as a catering manager or food and beverage manager.
Hotel and Hospitality Management Degree Program
Hospitality Degree Basics:
Much like restaurant managers, people working in hotel and hospitality work behind the behind-the-scenes, making sure that everything in lodgings and hotels are perfect. Coursework in this degree program includes structures and economics of modern tourism, management of sales and promotions, and basic interior design principles.Type of Hospitality Degrees:
Associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees are all offered for hotel and hospitality management degree programs; it all depends on what you are looking for in your career. Just make sure that the program is accredited.
Resulting Careers with Hospitality Degree:
Management positions in hotels, clubs and casinos can be reached with this degree path.
Sources: kendall.edu, ciachef.edu, chefs.edu
