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Culinary Arts Institute Degree Programs
As with many other industries or trades in Tennessee, there are several degree programs that are available in the culinary arts. At the most basic level, you can sign up for a nearby cooking class, which are more casual in nature and can run from just a few hours to several weeks. Generally a diploma or a certificate is provided at the time of completion. They can be broad in nature, for instance demonstrating how to cook Italian dishes, or they can be quite specific and concentrate on one dish, for instance 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 required to commit considerably more time.
- Associate's Degrees can require as long as 6 months to two years to complete.
- Bachelor's Degrees normally call for as much as four years of instruction.
- Masters Degrees can take an additional 2 years or even longer after receiving a Bachelor's.
More advanced degree options may be available, such as Doctoral or specialized programs offered by culinary arts institutes. Probably the most important issue to keep in mind when deciding on which degree to pursue is ensuring that it provides the education and degree necessary to advance your ultimate career objectives.
Cooking Schools
When you have made your decision regarding the kind of training and degree that you would like to pursue, you can launch your search for the cooking school, college or institute that offers it. For example, if your dream is to become a chef specializing in French cuisine, then obviously you will focus on those institutes that furnish the suitable training. Or you can choose a school based on its ranking or other factors (we'll review several of those later) and then choose the best degree program offered that is compatible with your career objectives in Tennessee. However you arrive at your decision, culinary arts schools basically fall under 3 distinct categories:
- Cooking Schools. Some cooking schools do offer degree programs, but typically they offer certificates or diplomas. Their courses tend to be more focused in nature, and they can last anywhere from 1 or 2 months to as long as 3 or 4 years.
- Community Colleges. Regional community colleges can often be more inexpensive than the majority of private colleges and a large number have outstanding programs. They almost exclusively offer Associate's Degrees and are established and managed by either local or state governments.
- Culinary Schools and Institutes. The advanced degrees and training are provided by culinary arts colleges and institutes. A few institutes provide the most highly regarded as well as the highest standard of training in academia. But bear in mind, since they are private institutions they often can be more expensive than their public counterparts, some much more.
Picking a culinary college will not only be based on the type of program or degree you wish to pursue, but also how much you have to spend on your education. If you decide to attend a public institution to lower costs, remember that out-of-state residents normally must pay a higher tuition than in-state residents. Furthermore, numerous community colleges and regional public schools have lower tuition charges for area residents. So don't forget to look into the public options within Tennessee to discover the most economical options.
Culinary Arts Online Programs
A number of prospective students may find that there are no culinary institutes that are within commuting proximity of their Tennessee home. One option is to attend online classes within the comfort of one's home. The accessibility and flexibility makes it the best solution for many students that are still working full time while attending school. Also there are more schools online than ever that are accredited. Remember that a substantial part of the instruction will be provided under an externship. Externships are programs where students work under area chefs or other culinary arts professionals so that they obtain practical training beyond the internet classroom. Just make sure that the online college you decide on is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization (more on this later). And so if you are dedicated enough to be able to participate in classes and study in this more independent fashion, attaining a culinary arts online degree might be the best option for you.