With campuses located across the country, Le Cordon Bleu plans to close its Pittsburgh school in 2012. It no longer accepts applications from new students but will remain open until already enrolled students finish their training. Considered one of the top culinary schools in the world, Le Cordon Bleu offers associate degrees to students trained in American and international cuisine, baking and patisserie, food science, and hospitality and management. Many graduates go on to become chefs and cooks in high-ranking restaurants.
A four-year technical college, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh offers certificate, associate and bachelor's degree art programs. The culinary programs include the art of cooking, culinary arts, baking and pastry, culinary management, and hotel and restaurant management. Depending on specialty choice, students can study knife skills, baking, pastry, American cuisine, plating and presentation, menu and beverage management, nutrition, cost control, safety and sanitation in the kitchen, as well as various business, human relations and leadership skills.
A two-year college, the Community College of Allegheny County offers diplomas and associate degrees in culinary arts. A culinary arts student trains to be a cook or chef through class work, laboratory work and a minimum of 300 hours of hands-on experience. The school also offers diplomas and associate degrees in food service, lodging and recreation management, as well as non-credit cooking classes through its community education program.
A two-year college with business and health science programs, Bidwell Training Center offers a diploma in culinary arts to qualifying students. Courses comprising the 45-week program include hot and cold food preparation, food service, cooking principles and methods, baking, hospitality and beverage management, nutrition and sanitation. Graduates of the program qualify for entry-level positions as cooks, sous chefs, bakers, cake finishers and manager trainees at hotels, restaurants, catering companies, cafeterias, fast food industries, grocery stores, country clubs and bakeries.