Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Online
Is a Culinary Arts Degree Right for You?
Culinary arts degrees teach students about a lot more than just learning to prepare and cook food. Students of culinary arts degree programs study important and necessary areas, such as food purchasing, sanitation, food preparation, wine and beverages, employee management, and baking and pastry arts. If you like to learn about different foods, have a strong desire to cook, enjoy creativity, and have a keen sense of taste and smell, then a degree in culinary arts may be great for you.
Culinary arts students study and learn different types of cooking techniques, food storage, portion control, cost-control, food safety, nutrition, and presentation, amongst many other concepts and foundations in culinary arts. In addition, to learn and retain the training and knowledge needed to succeed in the culinary industry, students must practice clean habits and good personal hygiene, have strong leadership skills, be able to work well with others, and have the ability to motivate others that may be part of their team in the kitchen.
Advice for Earning Your Culinary Arts Degree Online
Culinary arts degrees can be earned online and are offered at many different colleges and universities. Students can earn associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees in the field. Regardless of what degree you decide to earn, you should ensure that the learning institution you plan to earn your degree from is accredited. An institution that is accredited means that the school has taken the necessary steps to provide and ensure that students receive a quality education. Schools should be accredited regionally or nationally. Many employers will not hire individuals who hold a degree from a learning institution that is unaccredited, though this may depend on your employer.
Required Courses
Most culinary arts degree programs offered online consist of general education courses as well as courses that focus specifically on culinary arts topics, techniques, and fundamentals. To learn the concepts needed to succeed in culinary arts, students enroll in courses about general culinary arts aspects, such as food safety and sanitation, laws in hospitality, hospitality accounting, hospitality marketing, hospitality management, customer service, cost controls and food production. To prepare for culinary arts in the professional and career world, students are also required to take courses such as techniques, traditions, and food styling.
Common Career Paths
Job opportunities for culinary artists are expected to grow. Common career paths for culinary arts graduates include (but are not limited to):
- Chef
A chef is generally responsible for overseeing the daily food service operation of a kitchen in a restaurant or food service establishment. They are normally responsible for supervising and directing other cooks and staff in the kitchen, working on issues or concerns related to food, and serving as a leader to other employees that work in the establishment. Chefs, who are normally the most skilled cooks in their establishment, are also usually responsible for hiring, training, and supervising the staff in the kitchen. Other job responsibilities of chefs include preparing cost estimates for food and supplies needed in the kitchen, creating the work schedule for other cooks, ordering supplies, and ensuring that the establishment runs efficiently and effectively.
The employment outlook is expected to be good. However, there will be keen competition for upscale and higher paying jobs, so those with educational and work related experience are likely to have the best job prospects. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the annual salary of chefs will vary widely between region and employer, the median annual salary of chefs were $38,770 in 2008.
- Food Service Manager
Food service managers are generally responsible for the daily operations and productivity of restaurants and other food service establishments in which meals are served. They are responsible for administrative and human resources of the business, which may include recruiting and hiring new candidates, training new hires, ensuring that employees are performing their jobs correctly, and terminating employees who are not fulfilling their job requirements. Food service managers also ensure that customers are satisfied with their meals. Other job responsibilities include making the schedules for their staff, monitoring the actions of employees, ensuring the safety of their employees, and ensuring that customers are receiving quality food and service.
The employment outlook and job opportunities for food service managers is expected to be good, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that jobs in the field should grow by 5% over the next several years. The BLS also reported that the median annual wage of food service managers was $46,320 in 2008.
- Culinary Arts Teacher
Culinary arts teachers are vocational instructors that teach culinary arts students about food, cooking, and a wide range of other foundations, techniques, and concepts. Students who wish to go to school to learn about culinary arts enroll in courses taught by culinary arts teachers. Culinary arts teachers prepare students for everything they will need to know to succeed in the culinary arts industry, from basic cooking to food technology. They teach students about sanitation, food safety, food preparation, food storage, and nutrition, as well as how to cook, bake, and decorate.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the need for vocational teachers is expected to grow by 9% over the next several years, which is about as fast as the average occupation. The BLS also reported that the median annual earnings for vocational teachers was $47,870 in 2008.
