A.A.S. in Culinary Arts: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
The A.A.S. degree in Culinary Arts is a two-year, career-focused program that prepares students for work in professional kitchens. While the degree could be a stepping stone to a four-year degree in culinary management, it can also serve as a perfectly acceptable alternative for people who don't want to spend extra time in school and can get right to work in a kitchen. Many schools across the country offer an A.A.S. in Culinary Arts, including National Louis University's Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, which is ranked the No. 1 culinary program in Chicago.
What Is an A.A.S. in Culinary Arts?
Most Culinary Arts Associate Programs begin by teaching students the fundamentals of cooking and then progress to more advanced techniques across a variety of cuisines. Along with the cooking techniques, the student will also learn the fundamentals of restaurant and food service management. Many Culinary Arts Associate Programs also include a significant amount of time for a restaurant internship. Most programs are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC).
Kendall College's A.A.S. program in Culinary Arts consists of 90 quarter hours of coursework. 72% of the program consists of the culinary arts, while 28% consists of students' general education courses. Students will complete a 300-hour internship at a Chicago restaurant under the mentorship of an experienced chef. The program can be completed in 7 quarters of full-time study or in 13 quarters of part-time study. The college also offers an Accelerated A.A.S. in Culinary Arts that can be completed in 5 quarters by students who hold a Bachelor's degree and can waive most general education courses. The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation accredits the Accelerated A.A.S. program.
Why Pursue an A.A.S. in Culinary Arts?
There are many reasons to pursue an A.A.S. degree in Culinary Arts, but one of the biggest is that it offers a direct, hands-on path into the professional cooking world. By gaining training in real commercial kitchens with top chef instructors, culinary students can develop the skills needed to succeed in the culinary world. Another reason students pursue the A.A.S. in Culinary Arts is that it gets them into the workforce faster and at a lower cost than a Bachelor's degree would.
This degree also works well for people looking to transition into a career in the food service industry. Most Culinary Arts programs are designed to train students as quickly and effectively as possible, allowing them to enter the workforce as soon as possible. The accelerated nature of the degree programs can also work well for students who already hold a bachelor's degree and are looking to enter the culinary industry.
Culinary arts programs can also be valuable to individuals seeking to become food entrepreneurs. Many culinary arts programs provide students with the necessary food service skills as well as restaurant and food service management skills. Many culinary arts programs also provide students with the opportunity to apply the food service skills that they have learned in class. The culinary student can apply these food service skills in a variety of settings, including restaurants, hotels, clubs, and other food service establishments. In addition to learning food service and management skills, the culinary student will have the opportunity to learn about several types of food service establishments, including but not limited to restaurants, hotels, and clubs. The culinary student will also have the opportunity to learn about several careers, including but not limited to being a chef and other roles in the food service industry.
Key Questions About This Degree
Do I need prior cooking experience to enroll?
No. Most culinary programs are designed for students with no prior experience in food service. However, if a student has worked in food service in other capacities, such as at a family restaurant, they may find some of the material familiar.
What does the internship requirement typically involve?
Internship requirements: Most accredited culinary programs require a few hundred hours of supervised work in a professional kitchen during students' final semester. This experience allows them to work with professionals, gain industry contacts, and obtain letters of recommendation before graduation.
Why does ACFEFAC accreditation matter?
The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC) is the primary specialized accrediting body for culinary arts programs. It ensures that programs meet recognized industry standards, such as the Associate Degree in Culinary Arts offered by Kendall College. Therefore, it is one of the more reliable ways to evaluate and compare various programs.
Are there accelerated options for students who already hold a bachelor's degree and are looking to pursue an A.A.S. in Culinary Arts?
Kendall College offers an accelerated A.A.S. in Culinary Arts for students who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to complete their culinary education in a shorter period. These students typically waive all General Education Requirements and progress directly to the Culinary Arts program. Students can complete the 90-quarter-credit degree in as few as 5 quarters.
Career Outcomes
Graduates with a degree in Culinary Arts can become line cooks, sous chefs, kitchen managers, and even head cooks and chefs. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employment of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. To find out the current projections, wage information, and much more for Chefs and Head Cooks, go to the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the BLS website.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Chefs and Head Cooks.
When combined with culinary skills training, the restaurant management fundamentals found in Culinary Arts programs can prepare a student for a variety of career paths in the food service industry. These can include managerial positions in restaurants or in companies that provide catering and events. Also, some graduates go on to open their own restaurant(s), applying the restaurant management fundamentals from their degree. In large culinary markets, such as Chicago, with a high concentration of restaurants, there are often many job opportunities for recent culinary graduates in entry-level and early career positions.
Keep in mind that in the culinary field, compensation can vary greatly from one role to another, and in different cities and establishments. While a line cook in a casual restaurant may earn lower wages than a sous chef in a fine dining restaurant, the higher cost of living in culinary hubs like Chicago may be offset by higher wages. It's best to research the typical salaries for different roles in the field and follow the career path that offers the best pay progression in the student's target city and at the types of establishments where they hope to work.
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts at National Louis University's Kendall College
The A.A.S. in Culinary Arts program at National Louis University's Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management is a 90-quarter-hour degree program accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission. The degree culminates in a 300-hour restaurant internship. Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree can opt for the 5-quarter accelerated program.
