Guide to Culinary Arts Degree Programs

Certification or degree programs in the culinary arts are usually provided by a specialized baking and pastry school, or a more generalized cooking school.

A typical certification program will usually include basic culinary skills, health and safety procedures, food safety, larder management, menu planning and cost control; it might also give students the opportunity to specialize in a particular area, such as baking and pastry cooking, hors d-oeuvres, and charcuterie or regional cooking.

Baking and pastry schools usually focus only on breads and desserts, so students concentrate on the skills associated with this type of cooking - for example, the making of artisan and specialty breads, chocolate artistry, classical and European pastries or tortes and special occasion cakes.

Both baking and pastry schools and cooking schools also offer longer, degree programs in the culinary arts that give students more time to gain both practical skills and theoretical knowledge.

Graduates in this field are well qualified to seek entry-level positions within the food service industry.