"Practice is the best of all instructors" - Maxim from ancient Rome

Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools || General Educational Resources
Professional Culinary Academies || Two-year Colleges

Professional Culinary and Hospitality Management schools have mushroomed in the last 25 years. Before 1970 there were few schools and not many true apprenticeship programs to be had. Today there are hundreds of public and private culinary colleges. Chef’s Associations’ apprenticeship programs have become more developed and popular as well.

The value of a formal education is eternally argued about among cooks and chefs. Like many artistic trades, professional cooking requires a lot of technical knowledge. Good culinary schools organize this information and help aspiring chefs learn more efficiently, training them to become safer, more knowledgeable and probably more responsible employees. Schools are, without question, the best place to learn about sanitation and safety, nutrition, laws, personnel management, business practices and marketing. Schools can be [but not always] the best place to develop cooking skills.

Moreover, it is rare that a school will instill more than a modicum of the innate common sense, natural honesty, raw intelligence and cultural sensitivity required of an accomplished chef; let alone give students discerning palates or imbue them with much more than their natural artistic potential. But, when a student shows up on day one possessing many of these excellent character traits and attributes (including humility, patience and humor) and that student is burning with intellectual curiosity coupled with a passion for good food, then the school might turn out a pretty good cook.

If this culinary school graduate then enters the work force with the realization that more stovetime and experience (especially at leading, training and supervising others) are going to be expected of him or her before the control of a kitchen will be given to them, then their school will have done a responsible job.

Culinary schools also offer short courses that focus on specific aspects of cookery and kitchen management. These courses are often targeted at professionals who already have a basic knowledge of kitchen skills. Consequently, their content is rich, fast-paced and of immense value to busy chefs.

Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Alliant International University
http://www.alliant.edu/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Boston University
http://web.bu.edu/SHA/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Cal Poly Pomona
http://www.csupomona.edu/~cshm/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Conrad N. Hilton College - Univ. of Houston
http://www.hrm.uh.edu/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Cornell University - Ithaca, New York
http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/
A major hospitality program is offered.
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Florida International University
http://www.fiu.edu/~hospman/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Golden Gate University - San Francisco, California
http://www.ggu.edu/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Johnson State College - Vermont
http://www.jsc.vsc.edu/htm/
Located in the Resort area of Vermont, this program offers a 4-year batchelor's degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management featuring concentrations in Resorts and Lodging, Food Service and Tourism Management. They integrate classroom learning with real-world experience.
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Long Beach State (California)
http://www.csulb.edu/~hfhm/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Michigan State University
http://www.bus.msu.edu/shb/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Mississippi University For Women
http://www.muw.edu/interdisc/
Culinary Arts Institute
This University is for Smart Men too!
Prepare for lifelong career opportunities with a four-year Batchelor of Science in Culinary Arts. Study Food Art, Food Journalism, Entrepreneurship and more on an Historic Campus.
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
New Mexico State University
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Northern Arizona University
http://www.nau.edu/~hrm/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Pennsylvania State University
http://www.hrrm.psu.edu/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN
http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/RHIT/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Southern New Hampshire University - Hospitality
http://www.snhu.edu/386.asp
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Texas Tech University
http://www.hs.ttu.edu/enrhm/rhim/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
University of Las Vegas Nevada
http://www.unlv.edu/Colleges/Hotel/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
http://www.isenberg.umass.edu/htm/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
University of New Haven
http://www.unh.edu/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
University of New Orleans
http://business.uno.edu/hrt/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
University of North Texas - Denton
http://www.scs.unt.edu/smhm/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
University of San Francisco
http://www.usfca.edu/sobam/under/hosp/hospitality.html
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
University of Wisconsin - Stout
http://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bshrtm/
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Washington State University - Pullman
http://academics.wsu.edu/fields/study.asp?ID=HBM
 
Four-year Colleges & Graduate Schools
Widener University, Chester, PA
http://www.widener.edu/
 
General Educational Resources
American Academy of Independent Studies
http://www.123ce.com/
A school offering distance learning classes required for many ACF Certifications such as Sanitation & Safety as well as courses for Dietitians.
 
General Educational Resources
Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education
http://www.cafemeetingplace.com
"CAFE's mission is to provide foodservice educators with easy and affordable access to the resources they desire that will help them better prepare students for successful careers in the hospitality industry.
 
General Educational Resources
Cooking Schools.com
http://www.cookingschools.com/
Just what the name implies. A comprehensive site that will help you in your search for a good professional start to your career.
 
General Educational Resources
National Restaurant Assn, Educational Foundation
http://www.nraef.org/
The Educational Foundation assists both academia and the food service industry by developing and distributing class materials and full educational programs for aspiring and professional culinarians and food service managers.
 
 
Shaw Guides to Schools
http://www.shawguides.com/
This site provides you with a very complete guide to Culinary Arts schools for professionals as well as non-professionals.
The Guide is also available in print through their website.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
American Culinary Federation Certification
http://www.acfchefs.org
The ACF educational activity encompasses certifying the worthiness of existing culinary training school programs, educating and
conducting exams for professional certification at various levels of culinary expertise and also conducts its own very comprehensive
apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program takes 3 years, 6,000 hours of work experience plus hundreds of hours of college
coursework. (It’s not easy to be a chef.)
 
Professional Culinary Academies
California Culinary Academy
http://www.baychef.com/
Located in San Francisco, the CCA features an 18 month classically-based, culinary arts program
and a 30 week baking and pastry track as well. Among its resources are three in-house restaurants,
a new training facility in Salinas, non-degree short programs and the rich culinary experience of the
Bay Area.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Canadian Chef de Cuisine Certification
http://www.cfcc.ca/
This program is provided by the Canadian Culinary Institute which is the educational branch of the Canadian Federation of Chefs de
Cuisine (La Fédération Canadienne Des Chefs et Cuisiniers). It consists of a combination of extensive work/self-study combined with
college coursework and results in national professional certifications at various levels of culinary achievement.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Chef John Folse Culinary Institute
http://www.nicholls.edu/jfolse/
This academy confers both two and four year degrees in culinary Arts. One unique aspect of its
curriculum is its focus on Louisiana cuisine. Key instructional staff possess well respected
educational accomplishments and credentials.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago
http://www.chicnet.org/
Accredited by the ACF. Offers Associate of Applied Science Degree. Curriculum is based on European
traditions and emphasizes hands-on training in culinary skills including baking.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Culinary Colleges Info
http://www.culinarycolleges.info
A very convenient way to find all the Cordon Bleu Professional Culinary Academies in the United States. This site provides overviews of each campus program and enables you to request more information for particular programs.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Culinary Institute of America
http://www.ciachef.edu
Well worth a special mention. The "CIA" has developed a reputation for quality. Many of today’s
prominent chefs are graduates. The upstate New York campus primarily trains aspiring chefs
entering the field (and offers a 4 year program, too) while the Napa Valley campus in California is
geared more for chefs continuing their education. Continuing education classes are given in both
locations.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners
http://www.icif.com
A splendid way to blend your desire to travel and grow professionally.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Johnson & Wales University
http://www.jwu.edu/
 
Professional Culinary Academies
La Varenne - Burgundy, France
http://www.lavarenne.com/
A private Academy where many food writers, personal chefs and caterers study.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Lake Washington Technical College - Culinary Arts Department
http://www.lwtc.ctc.edu/
Lake Washington Technical College offers two Culinary Education paths: a three quarter certificate designed to prepare you in the culinary field and a six quarter AAS degree designed to take you to a professional level.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Le Cordon Bleu
http://www.cordonbleu.net/
Now affilliated with a select group of Professional chef training Academies in the United States, this global family of Culinary Training Centers enjoys a solid reputation for excellence.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Pennsylvania Culinary
http://www.paculinary.com/
The third largest culinary school in the US, this Pittsburgh academy offers a 12 and a 16 month
program, the latter including a paid externship. Its accelerated, fully accredited training program is
geared toward hands-on, skill-development as well as a broad grounding in professional culinary
and restaurant operations theory.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Peter Kump's New York Cooking School
http://www.newyorkculinary.com
Founded in 1975 by the late Peter Kump, founding president of the James Beard Foundation, the school offers an intensive career program in the Culinary Arts and Pastry and Baking Arts with externship and job placement. In addition, the school offers over 650 recreational courses a year in food and wine.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Scottsdale Culinary Institute
http://www.scichefs.com
This Arizona culinary college offers a 15 month Occupational Associate’s Degree Program that
includes 70% hands-on training including a 3 month paid externship at the end of the program. Its
curriculum is broad, classical and it features its own restaurant.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
The Art Institutes
http://www.artinstitutes.edu
With eleven locations around the US, Culinary Arts is a key field for which these schools are
becoming very well known and distinguished.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
The French Culinary Institute
http://www.frenchculinary.com/
Situated in New York City, the FCI is distinguished by its faculty and alumni. This academy’s
instructional credo and approach is based on classical French training practices and a sincere love of
fine food and dining.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
The New England Culinary Institute
http://www.neculinary.com
Located in Vermont, the NECI has become a well recognized culinary arts institution. It offers three
primary educational tracks: 1 year certifications, 2 year Associates Degree and a 3 year Bachelor’s
program.
 
Professional Culinary Academies
Western Culinary Institute
http://www.westernculinary.com
Located in Portland Oregon, the curriculum is based on the principles of Escoffier with emphasis on
modern technique.
 
Two-year Colleges
Algonquin College
http://www.algonquinc.on.ca
Their Hospitality & Tourism School offers a comprehensive two-year Culinary Arts Program. The website is very informative.
 
Two-year Colleges
Alvin Community College, Culinary Arts
http://www.alvincollege.edu/business/culinary_arts.cfm
One year certificatesin culinary arts and culinary management. Two year AAS degree in Culinary Arts. Personal enrichment and professional development. custom workforce training.
 
Two-year Colleges
Galveston College Culinary Arts Academy
http://www.gc.edu/gc/Culinary_Arts.asp?SnID=2
Galveston College offers one year certificates in culinary arts, culinary/hospitality management, baking and pastry and a two year A.A.S. degree in Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management.
 
Two-year Colleges
Indiana University of Pensylvania – Culinary Arts
http://www.iup.edu/culinary/
A nationally recognized program offering a Batchelor of Science degree as well.
 
Two-year Colleges
New York Institute of Technology - Culinary Arts
http://iris.nyit.edu/culinary/
 
Two-year Colleges
North Dakota State College of Science
http://www.ndscs.nodak.edu/instruct/cul_arts/
Offering a well-rounded curriculum in Chef Training and in Restaurant
Management. Practical labs as well as traditional classroom training.
AAS degrees conferred.
 
Two-year Colleges
Seattle Central Community College
http://seattlecentral.org/seattleculinary/
One of the best Community College Programs in the U.S.
 


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