Become a Chef
If you love to entertain your party guests with exotic appetizers and succulent dishes, you have the beginnings of a career in the Culinary Arts. Complete one of the Culinary - Arts degree specialties and the world will be on your plate.
What is a Chef?
The Culinary Arts professional is the star of the show in many high class hotels and restaurants. Chefs design and create award winning meals for a variety of events. From weddings on locale to the hot spot for American fare, professional Chefs are culinary artists. And because billions are spent on entertainment each year, graduates of Culinary Arts colleges are experiencing unprecedented growth.
Opportunities as a Chef
One of the biggest benefits of a career in the Culinary Arts is the fact that you can work in virtually any area of interest that you have. From out of the way eateries to marquee lights on the esplanade, Culinary Arts professionals are in demand. You can even choose to cook in a culinary specialty that is your passion. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of Culinary Arts professionals and chefs is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations over the 2004-14 period.
Desired Skills for a Chef
- Teachability. As a chef, you will need to quickly grasp complex cooking techniques during your program.
- Creativity. The name of the game in the culinary arts business is how to present old dishes in ways that are new and exciting.
- Flexibility. As minor emergencies come up in the kitchen, keeping your cool and being a leader is what will separate you from your competition.
The Road to a Career in the Culinary Arts
To get your piece of the Culinary Arts-pie, check out the culinary schools and chef colleges that offer degrees in your desired specialty. There is even financial aid options that will allow you to pay for your education while you are attending school. The time is now to make this move!
Culinary Arts Schools and Programs
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What They Offer: Culinary Arts, Culinary Arts & Restaurant Ownership, Culinary/Restaurant Management, Entrepreneurship & Restaurant Ownership, Hospitality & Restaurant Business Management, Hospitality Management, Hotel & Restaurant Management, Restaurant & Catering Management, Restaurant & Catering Operations, The Art of Cooking, Wines Spirits & Beverage Management The Buzz : Turn your passion into a four-star career. At The Art Institutes, you'll explore traditional, fundamental cooking skills and get hands on training in our student-run restaurants. Need to Know: Exact programs vary by location, and may change without notice. Locations: |
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What They Offer: Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts Management or Associate degree in Culinary Arts What You Learn: In the 21 month Associate degree program, students learn classic cooking methods and culinary techniques. They also receive an introduction to baking and pastry, and participate in an internship. The 38 month Bachelor's degree program provides additional kitchen experience, along with management and business training. The Buzz : The Culinary has outstanding teaching facilities that include 41 kitchens and bakeshops. |
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What They Offer: Culinary Arts Associate degree What You Learn: Basic and advanced food preparation skills, classical and international cuisine, and baking and pastry preparation. Need to Know: 3 month internship allows students to get on the job experience. |
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What They Offer: Certificate in Culinary Arts What You Learn: Food preparation, front of the house and back of the house management skills, bakery, beverage preparation, and more. Need to Know: Students receive hands-on instruction in a four star restaurant. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: How to use classical techniques to prepare a wide variety of menus, including appetizers, entrees, pastries, and desserts. Additional courses teach kitchen procedures and management skills. Need to Know : Students spend 12 weeks in an externship following the main course of study. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree or Diploma in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: Classical French culinary techniques in a 15 month program that includes a three month internship. Lab classes are taught by chef-instructors who monitor each student's progress. Need to Know: The degree program is offered at the Pasadena campus, while the diploma program is offered at the Hollywood campus. The Buzz: The combination of the Le Cordon Bleu diploma with modern American cooking methods gives graduates a leg up when seeking employment. * |
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What They Offer: Certificate or Associate degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: The program includes training on food preparation, baking and pastry, and kitchen management After classroom instruction and hands-on experience, each student participates in an externship. The Buzz: Learning facilities include 13 fully equipped kitchens. Students prepare and serve meals at the CHIC Cafe, a restaurant that is open to the public. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Culinary Arts What You Learn: After beginning with culinary fundamentals and techniques, students learn meat and fish preparation, a la carte cooking, baking and pastry, and kitchen and front of the house management skills. Need to Know: The two year program includes an internship. |
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What They Offer: Culinary Arts Associate Degree What You Learn: Culinary concepts and production cooking skills, along with different styles of cuisine, baking and pastry, and an introduction to restaurant operations. Need to Know: The program includes on the job training during a Chicago area internship. |
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What They Offer: Associate and Bachelor degrees in Culinary Arts What You Learn: In both programs, students learn the cooking skills needed to work in the professional kitchen, along with the preparation of different types of food and styles of cuisine. The bachelor's program features advanced studies in different regional cuisines, including Asian and South American, along with kitchen and restaurant management techniques. The Buzz: Culinary students have the opportunity to be chefs at the school's Zagat rated restaurant. |
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What They Offer: Commercial and Professional Cooking Diplomas What You Learn: Featuring "Learning by Doing", the culinary programs include courses on food preparation, quantity food production, and catering skills. Both programs feature an internship. Need to Know: The Commercial Cooking diploma is offered on the evenings, while the Professional Cooking diploma is for full-time day students. The Buzz: 9,000 square foot facility has a design similar to a commercial kitchen. |
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What They Offer: Professional Culinary Arts Diploma What You Learn: High-Demand skills used in professional kitchens, including preparation techniques for meats, seafood, and vegetables, cold cuisine, baking and pastry, and the operations of the typical brigade in a restaurant. The Buzz: The school's unique Accelerated Training System can have you ready to start a culinary career in just nine months, including an internship. * |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: In the 12 month classroom/lab program, students learn food preparation and culinary techniques, along with restaurant management skills. In the final three months, students practice their skills in an externship. Need to Know: Graduates receive the Le Cordon Bleu diploma in addition to their degree, indicating the mastery of Le Cordon Bleu culinary techniques. The Buzz: Recently opened facility features professional commercial kitchens and an on-site restaurant. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: Classical cooking methods and techniques through a combination of demonstration by experienced chefs, and then practice in the school's classroom kitchens. Students also learn about food preparation and kitchen skills, as well as restaurant operations. Need to Know: 15 month program includes a three month internship. |
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What They Offer: Culinary diploma What You Learn: Food cooking techniques for a variety of cuisines, including French, Asian and American Regional; Baking and Pastry skills, and kitchen management. Need to Know: The school has fully equipped learning kitchens, and has qualified for American Culinary Federation accreditation. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in What You Learn: The knowledge and practical skills needed to begin your future as a chef, cook, or caterer. Coursework includes food science, nutrition, and dietetics, food fabrication and meal preparation, and kitchen management skills, including inventory control and front of the house procedures. Need to Know: Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Portland is the only culinary school in the Pacific Northwest that is affiliated with Le Cordon Bleu. In addition to receiving their associate's degree, graduates also earn a Le Cordon Bleu Diplome, indicating a mastery of hundreds of culinary proficiencies. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: The principles of food preparation for different types of cuisines, including European and Asian, along with cooking methods, and culinary business training in both the front of the house and the back of the house. Courses include Introduction to Garde Manger, Introduction to Baking and Pastry, Wine and Beverage, Restaurant Guest Services, and more. Need to Know: The student-run 175 seat restaurant, Tropibleu, provides a hands on education as you spend time on the hot line, pantry, pastry, prep, and dining room. |
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What They Offer: Associate of Applied Science in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: French cooking techniques made famous by Le Cordon Bleu, along with food science, culinary tools and equipment, purchasing and cost control procedures, and kitchen management skills. The Buzz: In addition to the hands on culinary education provided in the school's learning kitchens, students show off their skills in the student-managed restaurant, and in a 12 week internship. |
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What They Offer: Associate of Applied Science in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts What You Learn: Over 450 specific proficiencies of specific culinary techniques, based on classical French cooking methods. Students also learn about restaurant operations and management theory. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Culinary Arts What You Learn: How to prepare, handle, and cook meals and specialty items, including American and French cuisines, pastries, and desserts through a combination of laboratory, classroom, and hands-on experience. Need to Know: The Center for Culinary Arts of Keiser University, Tallahassee and Melbourne campuses, is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Inc., 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095, (904) 824-4468. The Buzz: Internship program provides real-world experience prior to graduation. |
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What They Offer: Culinary Arts Diploma Program What You Learn: The essential skills needed for a position in the kitchen. Includes hands-on training in knife skills, meal preparation, and kitchen/restaurant operations. Need to Know: The program focuses on the basic skills that are in demand by employers, without the extras offered by other programs. This allows a quality culinary education at a lower cost. |
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What They Offer: Associate of Specialized Technology in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts and diploma in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Techniques What You Learn: Advanced technical skills in the art of food preparation and kitchen operations. Students are exposed to a variety of cuisines and menu types, and learn about kitchen equipment, back of the house and front of the house management. A paid internship rounds out the program. The Buzz: The school has industry current teaching kitchens, and instructors with real world experience in the culinary field. |
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What They Offer: Culinary Essentials diploma and Culinary Arts Associate Degree What You Learn: Both programs help develop the student's culinary and baking skills, along with customer service and front of the house operations. The degree program introduces the student to advanced food preparation techniques and international cuisine. Need to Know: The 60 week diploma program and the 90 week degree program each include ten week internships. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts and Bachelor degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Management What You Learn: Students in the associate's program are encouraged to develop their culinary style as they learn classic cooking methods and meal preparation techniques. In the bachelor's program, students learn the skills needed to operate a restaurant or other dining establishment, along with advanced culinary skills. The Buzz: The school's Titanium Chef competition among students is based on the Food Channel's Iron Chef series. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in Culinary Arts What You Learn: The art of food preparation and creative cooking methods, along with a background in purchasing and inventory control. Students participate in Garde Manger and Baking labs, and serve a practicum in a restaurant. Need to Know: The program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation 's Accrediting Committee. |
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What They Offer: Associate degree in What You Learn: Classical cooking methods in over 400 Le Cordon Bleu proficiencies. The school uses a format of demonstration classes, where students observe an executive chef, followed by lab time in the school's professionally equipped learning kitchens, where they have a chance to practice what they have seen. Students are encouraged to develop their creative skills in the kitchen, and demonstrate those skills during an internship. |
* The jobs mentioned are examples of certain potential jobs, not a representation that these outcomes are more probable than others. These schools do not guarantee employment or salary.
The Le Cordon Bleu logo is a registered trademark of Le Cordon Bleu BV.
