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Cooking College Degree Programs
As with numerous other industries or professions in Wisconsin, there are multiple degree option programs that are available in the culinary arts. At the most elemental level, you can enroll in a local cooking course, which are more casual in nature and can last from just a few hours to a number of weeks. Typically a diploma or a certificate is offered upon completion. They may be comprehensive in nature, such as teaching how to cook Italian meals, or they may be quite specific and focus on one dish, such as Crepes Suzette. Of course if you are looking for a more formal education geared towards a career in the restaurant profession, you will most likely choose to enroll in a degree program. With a degree program, you will be obligated to invest significantly more time.
- Associate's Degrees can take anywhere from 6 months to two years to complete.
- Bachelor's Degrees generally call for as much as four years of instruction.
- Masters Degrees can take an added 2 years or more after attaining a Bachelor's.
More advanced degree options may be available, such as Doctoral programs or specialized programs made available by culinary arts institutes. Probably the most important issue to remember when determining which degree to pursue is ensuring that it furnishes the education and degree necessary to advance your ultimate career goals.
Culinary Arts Colleges
Once you have made your decision regarding the kind of training and degree that you want to pursue, you can launch your search for the culinary school, college or institute that offers it. For instance, if your desire is to train to be a chef specializing in German cuisine, then of course you will focus on those schools that provide the proper training. Or you can select a school based on its reputation or other factors (we'll review some of those later) and then pick the most suitable degree program available that is simpatico with your career goals in Wisconsin. However you arrive at your decision, cooking schools typically fit within 3 distinct categories:
- Cooking Schools. Some cooking schools do offer degree programs, but generally they offer certificates or diplomas. Their courses tend to be more specialized in nature, and they can range anywhere from one or two months to as long as 3 to 4 years.
- Community Colleges. Area community colleges can be more inexpensive than the majority of private schools and a large number have outstanding programs. They almost solely offer Associate's Degrees and are established and managed by either state or local governments.
- Culinary Arts Schools and Institutes. The advanced degrees and training are furnished by culinary colleges and institutes. A few institutes provide the most highly regarded and highest level of training in academia. But bear in mind, since they are private schools they tend to be more costly than their public counterparts, some much more.
Choosing a culinary college will not only be based on the type of program or degree you would like to pursue, but also how much you have to spend on your education. If you decide to enroll in a public school to reduce costs, remember that out-of-state residents generally must pay a higher tuition than in-state residents. Also, many community colleges and regional public schools have lower tuition fees for area residents. So be sure to explore the public alternatives within Wisconsin to discover the most affordable options.
Culinary Arts Online Classes
Some potential students may find that there are no culinary arts programs that are within travelling proximity of their Wisconsin residence. One option is to enroll in online classes within the convenience of one's residence. The convenience and flexibility makes it the only solution for many students that are still working full time while attending school. Also there are more schools online than ever before that are accredited. Keep in mind that a substantial part of the instruction will be provided through an externship. Externships are programs where students work with area chefs or other cooking practitioners to ensure 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 acknowledged organization (more on this later). And so if you are dedicated enough to be able to go to classes and study in this more independent fashion, earning a culinary degree online just might be the right choice for you.