CULINARY ARTS
WHAT IS CULINARY ARTS?
The culinary arts relate to the art, science, and business of preparing food for the public or for larger institutions. More involved than just whipping up delicious meals—although cooking is a sizable part of this degree—this amazingly rich and varied major addresses everything related to the food and restaurant industry from purchasing and budgeting to food storage, sanitation issues, government regulations, presentation, and customer service.
WHAT COURSES DO YOU NEED TO TAKE?
Culinary programs vary depending on whether you attend a four-year college or university or a culinary academy. At a four-year institution, you will receive a broad liberal arts and sciences education along with your culinary training. Your education at a culinary academy will focus entirely on food-related topics, resulting in an associate's degree in contrast to the four-year bachelor's. Whatever direction you choose, you will get plenty of hands-on experience; culinary programs generally operate and staff their own restaurants, so chances are you will "taste" every aspect of restaurant work from menu design to waiting tables. Here are some classes you might complete:
- Accounting
- Baking
- Basic Cooking
- Chemistry
- Dining Room Service
- Economics
- Food Sanitation
- Internship
- Management Information Systems
- Nutrition
- Personnel Administration
- Saucier
- Statistics
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN CULINARY ARTS?
Most people think that culinary arts majors automatically become executive chefs at expensive restaurants. This is certainly one career path. But culinary arts majors also choose to serve as personal chefs in people's homes, as caterers, as food managers in hospitals, schools and nursing homes, as event planners, hotel administrators, or pastry chefs. Others open restaurants, manufacture gourmet foods, or with additional training, become dieticians and nutritionists.