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Culinary Arts School Degree Options
Just as with many other professions or trades in California, there are a variety of degree option programs that are available in the culinary arts. At the most basic level, you can enroll in a local cooking course, which are more casual in nature and can last from a few hours to a number of weeks. Generally a diploma or a certificate is offered upon completion. They may be comprehensive in nature, such as teaching how to cook Spanish dishes, or they may be very targeted and concentrate on one dish, for example Crepes Suzette. Of course if you are searching for a more formal education applicable for a career in the restaurant profession, you will probably want to enroll in a degree program. With a degree program, you will be obligated to invest considerably more time.
- Associate's Degrees can take as long as 6 months to two years to finish.
- Bachelor's Degrees normally entail as much as four years of education.
- Masters Degrees can take an added 2 years or even longer after receiving a Bachelor's.
More advanced training alternatives may be available, such as specialized or Doctoral programs offered by culinary arts institutes. The most important issue to remember when deciding on which degree to pursue is making sure that it supplies the education and degree required to advance your ultimate career objectives.
Culinary Colleges
Once you have made your selection regarding the type of training and degree that you wish to pursue, you can launch your search for the culinary arts school, college or institute that offers it. For example, if your goal is to train to be a chef specializing in French cuisine, then of course you will concentrate on those colleges that provide the suitable training. Or you can choose a school based on its ranking or other criteria (we'll cover several of those later) and then choose the most ideal degree program available that is simpatico with your career goals in California. However you arrive at your decision, culinary arts schools typically fit within 3 different categories:
- Cooking Schools. A few cooking schools do offer degree programs, but usually they offer certificates or diplomas. Their programs tend to be more specialized in nature, and they can last anywhere from 1 or 2 months to as long as three to four years.
- Community Colleges. Local community colleges tend to be more affordable than the majority of private colleges and a large number have exceptional programs. They almost solely offer Associate's Degrees and are established and maintained by either local or state governments.
- Culinary Schools and Institutes. The advanced training and degrees are provided by culinary arts colleges and institutes. Some institutes provide the most highly regarded and highest standard of training in academia. But bear in mind, since they are private schools they tend to be more expensive than their public counterparts, some much more.
Choosing a culinary arts college will not only be based on the kind of degree or program you wish to pursue, but also the amount of money you have to spend on your education. If you decide to enroll in a public school to minimize expenses, keep in mind that out-of-state residents generally have to pay a higher tuition than in-state residents. In addition, numerous community colleges and regional public schools have lower tuition fees for local residents. So don't forget to look into the public alternatives within California to locate the most economical options.
Culinary Online Degree Programs
Many potential students may find that there are no cooking institutes that are within driving distance of their California home. One alternative is to enroll in online classes within the convenience of one's home. The convenience and flexibility makes it the best solution for a number of students that continue working full-time while attending college. In addition there are more schools online than ever that are accredited. Remember that a considerable part of the instruction will be furnished under an externship. Externships are programs where students train under area chefs or other cooking professionals to ensure that they receive practical training beyond the internet classroom. Just be sure that the online college you choose is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization (more on this later). And so if you are disciplined enough to be able to go to classes and study using this more independent method, obtaining a culinary arts degree online might be the best choice for you.