Culinary Arts Degree Programs - myFootpath

Now is a great time to pursue a culinary arts degree. The restaurant industry currently employs almost 13 million people, or about one out of every ten employed people in the U.S. – second only to the government in terms of size – and the National Restaurant Association estimates that millions more jobs will open up in this area in the coming years.

Outside of the tourism industry, the food service sector is the fastest growing of the U.S. economy, with more than $400 billion in sales every year.

A culinary arts degree is a must if you want to make a career out of cooking.  And that is exactly what most people with culinary arts degrees find work doing: cooking for restaurants, hotels, private clubs, corporations or catering companies.  But positions are also available in other areas, such as kitchen management and shift supervision.

Types of Culinary Arts Degree Programs Available
There are three types of culinary arts degree programs for you to choose from: associate, bachelors and certificate programs.  All of the culinary arts degrees will involve hands-on cooking classes, and the bachelors programs also tend to include more training in management.

The associate degree in culinary arts is the most popular type of degree that is offered and usually takes about two years to finish.  Certificate programs are shorter and can be completed in as little as eight to ten weeks; they can give you a very basic education that will help you find entry level work in a culinary environment.

Featured Campus Schools for Culinary Arts Degree Programs:

• The Art Institutes – Request Information
• Le Cordon Bleu – Request Information
• Virginia College – Request Information

What a Culinary Arts Degree Teaches You
An associate or bachelors degree will give you an overview of the culinary arts and teach you about knife skills, kitchen procedures, food presentation, beverage selection, nutrition, sanitation and safety and other fundamentals of cooking.

Specialized certificates or focused degree programs will give you specific training in a certain area; the most popular are baking, pastry programs, international cuisine, dining room operations and restaurant management.

Featured Careers in the Culinary Arts:

• Chef
• Pastry Chef
• Caterer

Questions to Ask About Culinary Arts Degree Programs:

1. Do I enjoy working with my hands?

2. Will I be comfortable in a position that is fast-paced and requires me to be on my feet for long periods of time?

3. Do I enjoy serving and helping others?  Am I interested in a hospitality position?

4. Am I adventurous and not afraid to try and experiment with new things?

5. Can I handle and even thrive when under lots of pressure?

Culinary News
Whether you want to start a culinary career or you’re an experienced chef looking to learn more, you need to know the latest industry news. Our culinary news page is updated daily with headlines from sources across the web. Read more >>

Still have more questions?  Talk with one of our education advisors at 1-866-305-8525 to assist you in your search for schools that offer culinary arts degrees.