Culinary arts
Description
Culinary Arts is a major that prepares students to pursue a career as a leader in the food
service industry. Graduates go on to be chefs, executive chefs, caterers, restaurant manager, restaurateurs, among other professions. The food service industry is demanding, fastpaced, and multi- -dimensional. The culinary arts major prepares the student not just to
be a superb cook, but to be able to manage all aspects of a successful food service operation, including employee supervision, inventory management, safe and sanitary food service production, and customer service. Job opportunities vary by region, but are generally good, in part due to high industry turn-over. This speaks directly to the demands of
sustaining a successful food delivery system. Many students pursue this program of
study at a culinary arts school, but more and more colleges are introducing Bachelor degree programs as well.
Plan of study
The plan of study is broad, for it aims to prepare the student for all aspects of the industry.
Course work in cooking, nutrition, banquets and catering, and food service sanitation testify to the breadth of the required courses in this major. Students will have a liberal-arts
course of study to complete as well. Students will begin actual food production early in
the major. These will likely be co-op or internship placements in on-going commercial
businesses, where the quality of the student’s work will be closely monitored. It is likely
the hours spent in internship or co-op placements will increase as the program advances.
Typically, final year students balance a full work and academic schedule.
Expect to take
Food service management, banquets and catering, human resources management, applied mathematics, food service sanitation, food service management, applied economics, nutrition.
Suggested high school subjects
A strong liberal arts preparation in high school is recommended.
General interest areas
Cooking, entertaining, restaurant management, public health.
Some career possibilities
Baker
Executive director
Pastry chef
Caterer
Fda official
Restaurant manager
Chef
Food/beverage director
Restaurateur
Some related majors
Food science
Human resources management
Hospitality administration nutrition
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Copyright 2009 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.
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