Associate degree in culinary arts: cook up your career potential

Jobs for chefs and food preparation workers are widely available without earning a culinary arts degree, but if you want to become a chef or achieve a professional career in food service management or hospitality related careers including catering and banquets, earning an online degree in culinary arts takes about two years and can improve your career potential. Earning an online culinary arts degree can provide flexibility for scheduling course work around work and family needs. You can also complete an associate degree in culinary arts through a traditional campus based program.

Culinary arts degree enhances career prospects

Chefs working in restaurants, resorts, and hotels typically have culinary education beyond high school. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that restaurant chefs earned a mean hourly wage of $11.11 and a mean annual salary of $23.110 as of May 2009, while chefs and head cooks earned a mean hourly wage of $21.27 and a mean annual salary of $44,240. Comparing these figures illustrates how your career can progress after earning a culinary arts degree.

Your associate degree in culinary arts: what to expect

You'll learn plenty about selecting, storing and preparing foods, but culinary arts graduates also learn how to manage a kitchen, keep a budget, and direct and supervise employees. In addition to core courses required for earning an associate degree , you may study subjects including:

• Food storage
• Food handling and safety
• Nutrition
• Food preparation and cooking techniques
• Menu planning
• Catering, banquets, and specialized food preparation and presentation
• Business aspects of managing a kitchen / restaurant
• Regional and international cuisines

Holding an associate degree in culinary arts indicates to employers that you are serious about your career in culinary arts, and a traditional or associate degree in culinary arts provides a foundation for a bachelor's degree in culinary arts and related fields.

Using your culinary arts degree for career success

You can select from multiple career venues once you've gained work experience and earned a culinary arts degree. Examples of employment venues for culinary arts professionals include:

• Restaurants: A variety of mid-range restaurants (somewhere between fast food and five star fine dining) hire cooks, chefs and restaurant managers.
• Owning your own restaurant/cafe/bakery: Although likely not your first career option in culinary arts, preparing for owning your own business with a culinary arts degree assists with learning about buying, storing and preparing food along with business basics. Student planning to own their own culinary businesses can also take business courses.
• Hotels and resorts: These venues prepare a variety of cuisine in their restaurants, which can vary from coffee shops to celebrated fine dining establishments. Hotels and resorts also provide events with catering and buffet services.
• Limited access eating places: These may include private clubs and dining rooms, kitchens in schools, government facilities and private residences
• Health care: Hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities provide food for patients and residents.

Find out more about earning a traditional or online associate degree in culinary arts today. Admissions counselors and school financial aid officers can help with applying for degree programs and federal financial aid.

• Online Associate Programs