Culinary Schools

Culinary schools can be found all over the country and in some prominent international cities. Many of them offer both certificates and undergraduate degrees. Culinary schools teach students all about the food industry. Students not only learn to create their own recipes, but also about hospitality, beverage management, nutrition and food technology. Not all schools and programs are the same. Because of the number of programs available, it’s best to do some research and find one that fits your career goals. Undergraduate career opportunities are numerous.

When researching culinary schools, look for schools that have up-to-date curricula. Teachers should be instructing their students on the latest technology and cooking procedures. Students should be learning skills to create recipes that are relevant to the job market. Because cooking is a hands-on job, culinary schools should be giving students many opportunities to work in the kitchen. Most culinary schools create a student-run restaurant so that students have real-life experience working under pressure in a busy kitchen.

Good culinary schools also have ties to the community. Teachers should be able to recommend the top students to well-paying chef jobs at local restaurants and hotels. Top-notch culinary schools also should offer a variety of programs and degree options to fit the needs of a diverse student population. There should be many specializations and different ways to achieve a degree, such as full-time, part-time, online and at an accelerated pace.

If you want to obtain a degree from a well-known, top-notch school, here are some culinary schools to check out:

• The Art Institutes – The Art Institute’s International Culinary School is one of the most popular programs in the United States. The Art Institute has 30 locations across the country. The school focuses on international cuisines and progressive cooking trends.
  
• Kitchen Academy – The Kitchen Academy has two culinary schools in the United States: one in Sacramento, California and the other in Seattle, Washington. The academy is known for placing graduates in entry-level positions and offering accelerated programs, designed to have students working as a chef in as little as 30 weeks.
  
• Le Cordon Bleu – Known for fine dining, Le Cordon Bleu is a world-famous culinary school. Originally founded in France more than 100 years ago, Le Cordon Bleu now has many culinary schools located in the United States, as well as in England, Japan, Korea, Australia and Canada.