A Guide to Finding a Culinary School
June 30, 2010
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Le Cordon Bleu
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You love food! You love to prepare it and serve it to friends and family. For you it does more than just feeding your hunger, it is a way for you to express yourself and your creativity. Food is about art and beauty as well flavor. For these, and many other reasons, you have decided to pursue a culinary education. You want to learn how to cook like a professional and join the ranks of professional chefs.
There are many considerations when thinking about pursuing a culinary education, but one of the most important is the type of program. There are typically three types of programs made available to culinary students:
- Certificate/Diploma
- Associate’s
- Bachelor’s
Time requirements differ from just a few months to four-year degrees. Depending upon your career status and educational needs, all of them can prepare you for a variety of culinary jobs.
Let’s take a look at the program types and their key characteristics.
Diploma and Certificate ProgramsThere is a huge variety of culinary arts diploma and certificate programs offered from culinary schools, technical/trade schools, community colleges, and even some traditional four-year colleges and universities. Some of the most common diploma programs include:
- professional cooking
- baking and pastry arts
- culinary arts
- restaurant management
Diploma and certificate programs typically take 9 months to complete. These programs can be good for students wanting to get a very basic education for entry-level work, or for students who already have a higher-level degree, but wish to incorporate some specialized training such as pastry arts.
Associate’s ProgramsSpecialized associate’s programs are the most common programs available at culinary schools throughout the country. They typically take 15 to 21 months to complete. If you are not sure which area of the industry you'd like to work in, an associate's degree in Culinary Arts might be a good starting point. This well-rounded program option typically includes the basics, such as knife skills, nutrition, kitchen procedures, and presentation. Some programs may also offer more advance or specialized courses such as baking and pastry, international cuisine or dining room operations. Many professional chefs began their careers with associate’s degrees in the culinary arts.
Bachelor’s ProgramsMost bachelors’ programs are provided by 4-year colleges that also offer beverage management or hospitality management programs. Most bachelors’ programs focus on the management side of the business with much less attention spent on hands-on cooking techniques.
As with any other bachelors’ program, a lot of time is spent in non-culinary related course offerings. Basic degree requirements in the sciences, mathematics, humanities, languages, and physical education are mandatory.
A 4-year culinary degree is often the best choice for someone who is looking to enter the corporate side of the restaurant business.
Online degree completion or otherwise known as 2+2 completion programs are also available. If you have an associate degree in culinary arts, pâtisserie and baking, or hospitality and restaurant management; this program provides an opportunity to obtain your bachelor's online. These programs are designed for those who need are looking for the flexibility to fit advanced education into their busy lives.
Do Your Homework … Before Going to SchoolAfter determining which type of program is right for you, you must decide which school is right for you. There are many considerations from tuition to location to the style of cooking you will learn. Culinary schools are not all the same and you must find the school that is the best fit for your individual needs.
Gut CheckCulinary schools expect a very high level of dedication and execution. Ask yourself, are you up to it? Becoming a professional chef takes a lot of hard work. Weekend evening hours are the busy and demanding times in the culinary industry. Again, ask yourself, are you up to it? You will be asked to commit to lifestyle where most weekends and most holidays belong to the job and not to you. Not only you, but your family and friends will have to sacrifice time so that you can achieve the career success you dream of. Are you up to it?
Becoming a Professional Chef Begins with a Good EducationRegardless of the program you choose, your passion and love for food will be well-served with a good culinary education. It can provide valuable hands-on experience with basic techniques required in the food service industry as well as more advanced techniques that are beyond the level of entry-level cooks. These cooking techniques can provide the platform from which you can launch your career as a professional chef.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu in North America. Le Cordon Bleu offers culinary arts, pâtisserie and baking, hospitality and restaurant management, and online training programs across the United States. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit
Chefs.edu for more information.