The Culinary Institute of America has campuses in New York, Texas, California and Singapore. Students can earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in culinary arts. The curriculum includes training in restaurant operations, food writing and leadership in addition to extensive hands-on cooking practice. The bachelor's degree program is geared to students who are enrolling immediately following high school or those who have some culinary experience but haven't yet attended college. Students who have a bachelor's degree or are changing careers are advised to enroll in the associate's degree program. Regardless of program, all students complete a restaurant rotation to gain experience in both cooking and serving.
The culinary arts college at Rhode Island-based Johnson & Wales University offers two- and four-year degree programs in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. Students in the bachelor's degree program in culinary arts can select from concentrations such as culinary nutrition or food service entrepreneurship. The culinary nutrition program is accredited by the American Dietetic Association. Students who hold associate's degrees in culinary or pastry arts can finish a bachelor's degree online. Johnson & Wales also offers an accelerated, 12-month degree program for students who have a bachelor's degree and wish to change careers.
Students at Philadelphia's JNA Institute of Culinary Arts can complete certificate programs in professional cooking or culinary arts and restaurant management. The professional cooking program takes 30 weeks to complete and the culinary arts and restaurant management takes 60 weeks to complete. Courses in the professional cooking program cover topics such as cooking science, sauces and soups, vegetarian cooking, and job readiness. Culinary arts and restaurant management students take the same cooking courses as their counterparts in the professional cooking program, along with classes in foodservice supervision, the hospitality industry and catering menu management. Students in both programs are required to complete externships, either at the institute's on-campus restaurant or at a restaurant in the area.
If you're seeking an intensive introduction to French cooking, then consider the 6- to 9-month program at the French Culinary Institute in New York. The Classic Culinary Arts Program provides students with a solid grounding in classic French cooking techniques that are the foundation of preparing a variety of western cuisines. Students in the Classic Culinary Arts program learn through a total immersion method that consists of lots of repetition; students also benefit from classes of no more than 12 participants. The curriculum covers knife skills, food storage, nutrition principles, plating and food pairing. Students learn how to prepare high-volume meals and get experience working in a French restaurant.