What is the Best Degree to Get for Culinary Arts?
Culinary arts is a diverse discipline. The degree you could earn should be tailored to your desired career path. What are some options for degrees in the culinary arts and why are they important to those pursuing a career? How can you choose the right degree program for your goals? How does education benefit those who want to work in the food service industry?
Culinary Arts Degree Options
There are a number of popular degree programs for those interested in the culinary arts.
- A degree in baking and pastry arts prepares students to produced baked goods in grocery stores, bread bakeries, patisseries, and large commercial manufacturers. Graduates should gain the skills necessary to start their own baking operation.
- A degree in food service management gives graduates the tools to run the daily details of a commercial operation. They are an essential part of every successful commercial eatery.
- Culinary nutrition degrees focus on the calories, vitamins, and minerals provided in each meal. These food scientists work on making recipes healthier, analyzing content for labeling, and preparing menus that fit specific health needs.
- A general culinary arts degree is an overview of all the important aspects of the food service industry. Students learn how to plan, prepare, and plate foods along with lessons on management and service.
Each program features curriculum tailored to the student's future job position. A combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction ensures graduates are prepared to take on the challenges in their new roles.
Choosing the Right Degree Program
Getting a degree ensures you start your food service career off on the right foot. However, it's important to choose the right program. Without the right instruction, you could find yourself struggling to reach your goals. How can you determine which path best fits your dream?
- Do you have a special love of confections and cakes? Is decorating a big part of your desire to be in the food industry? Then a degree in baking and pastry arts is the best move for you.
- Are your administrative skills some of your strongest assets? Do you love organizing, planning, and creating infrastructures and policies that support good service? If that sounds like you, consider a degree in food service management.
- Do you see food as more than just something to please the palate and fill the belly? Are you interested in exploring the ways food can be used to support healthy lifestyles? Take a look at culinary nutrition degrees.
- Do you dream of serving customers in a high-class restaurant? Or would you like to learn the food business from the ground up in preparation for opening your own eatery? A degree in the culinary arts gives you a solid foundation that you can use to build your own personal career path.
There are a number of food preparation and serving occupations as recognized by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each position has a unique set of required skills and knowledge. Make sure you're ready for your particular path by choosing the right degree program.
The Value of Education in Food Service Careers
Many food service workers start their careers with little to no training or experience. However, getting your degree first boosts your career in some important ways.
- Getting a degree gives you a wider knowledge base, which means you'll qualify for a variety of different positions and settings.
- In your studies, you'll meet other students who could help you find jobs, provide references, and become valuable partners in your future career.
- Entry-level positions that offer on-the-job training are usually low paying. With a degree, you could usually negotiate a higher starting salary.
- Your degree puts you ahead of the competition for high-demand job openings.
- If you decide to change career paths, your degree gives you the flexibility needed to change jobs without taking a huge pay cut.
Are you interested in the culinary arts field? If you want to study one of these exciting degree paths, consider ECPI University's Culinary Institute of Virginia. With accelerated classes and a blended learning program, you could achieve your culinary dreams on your own terms. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Food Service Management - Bachelor’s
Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Arts - Associate’s
Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Nutrition - Associate’s
Gainful Employment Information – Baking & Pastry Arts – Associate's
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