The Art Institute of Tennessee offers students the option of a Culinary Arts Diploma in Baking and Pastry. The program offered at the Nashville campus consists of 48 credit hours and spans four academic quarters. Courses in the curriculum include introduction to baking and pastry, advanced baking and pastry, and nutrition and safety practices. This program is designed for those who are already working in the food service industry and would like to broaden their skill set. Federal financial aid is available and students are encouraged to complete a FAFSA to determine individual eligibility.
Walters State offers students a Culinary Arts Certificate with a Pastry and Baking option. This certificate program consists of two semesters (fall and spring) of full-time courses followed by an internship for a total of 28 to 29 credit hours. The internship will consist of 525 contact hours and must be in place, signed by the host company and on file, in order to gain acceptance into the program. Courses include culinary math skills, bakery skills and bistro operations. Cost of tuition in 2011 is $111 per credit hour up to 12 credit hours and $6 per hour thereafter. Walters State does not participate in federal student aid for this program. Students may pay their tuition online, in person by check or credit card or set up a payment plan via automatic withdrawal from a checking account.
Nashville State Community College offers students a Culinary Arts Technical Certificate. Students in the program complete a total of 21 credit hours to earn the certificate. Nashville State Community College developed the certificate as a segue to the Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts. After students complete the courses and paid internship they may begin working in the field and gaining experience before beginning coursework for the degree. The school participates in federal financial aid. Students may complete a FAFSA in order to determine eligibility to receive grants and loans.
Ashworth is a distance learning educational institution. Students have the option of working toward Career Diploma in Gourmet Cooking and Catering. The course contains a total of 20 lessons with several of them focusing on baking and pastry. Exams for the course are open-book and online. Students study at their own pace, completing the course in as little or as much time as needed. The entire course tuition as of January, 2011 is $509. Monthly, interest-free financing payments of $29 are available. If you are already employed in the food service industry, Ashworth participates in tuition reimbursement under the Employee Education Assistance Act.