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Culinary College Degree Options
As with a number of other professions or trades in Florida, there are multiple degree option programs that are available in the culinary arts. At the most elemental level, you can sign up for a local cooking course, which are more casual in nature and can run from a few hours to a number of weeks. Typically a certificate or a diploma is provided after completion. They may be broad in nature, for example demonstrating how to cook Italian dishes, or they may be very targeted and focus on one dish, for example Crepes Suzette. Naturally if you are looking for a more conventional education applicable for a career in the restaurant profession, you will most likely want to pursue a degree program. With a degree program, you will be obligated to commit considerably more time.
- Associate's Degrees can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to finish.
- Bachelor's Degrees generally call for as much as 4 years of instruction.
- Masters Degrees may take an additional 2 years or more after attaining a Bachelor's.
Additional advanced educational alternatives may be available, such as Doctoral or specialized programs made available by culinary arts institutes. Probably the most important point to remember when deciding on which degree to strive for is making sure that it provides the degree and education necessary to advance your ultimate career objectives.
Culinary Colleges
When you have made your decision regarding the kind of instruction and degree that you would like to pursue, you can begin your search for the cooking school, college or institute that offers it. For example, if your dream is to become a chef specializing in German cuisine, then naturally you will concentrate on those schools that furnish the proper training. Or you can opt for a college based on its reputation or other factors (we'll cover several of those later) and then choose the most suitable degree program available that is consistent with your career goals in Florida. However you arrive at your decision, culinary arts schools basically fit within three different categories:
- Cooking Schools. Certain cooking schools do offer degree programs, but typically they offer certificates or diplomas. Their courses tend to be more specialized in nature, and they can range anywhere from a couple of months to as long as 3 to 4 years.
- Community Colleges. Regional community colleges can often be more economical than most private colleges and a large number have outstanding programs. They almost solely offer Associate's Degrees and are founded and maintained by either state or local governments.
- Culinary Arts Schools and Institutes. The more advanced degrees and training are furnished by culinary arts colleges and institutes. A few institutes provide the most renowned and highest standard of training in academia. But bear in mind, since they are private institutions they generally can be more costly than their public counterparts, some much more.
Selecting a culinary school will not only be dependent on the kind of program or degree you would like to pursue, but also the amount of money you have to invest in your education. If you decide to enroll in a public institution to lower costs, keep in mind that out-of-state residents usually are required to pay a higher tuition than in-state residents. Also, numerous community colleges and regional public schools have lower tuition fees for local residents. So don't forget to research the public options within Florida to locate the most economical options.
Online Culinary Arts Programs
A number of potential students may discover that there are no culinary arts schools that are within commuting proximity of their Florida home. One solution is to attend online training within the comfort of one's home. The practicality and flexibility makes it the only solution for many students that are still working full-time while attending school. In addition there are more schools online than ever before that are accredited. Remember that a considerable part of the training will be provided through an externship. Externships are programs where students work under area chefs or other culinary arts professionals to ensure that they receive hands-on training outside of the online classroom. Just make certain that the online college you decide on is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved organization (more on this later). And so if you are disciplined enough to be able to participate in classes and study in this more independent fashion, attaining a culinary arts degree online just might be the ideal option for you.