Like baking and pastry associate degree programs, bachelor degree programs require lengthy time to be invested toward your culinary education. With a four year bachelor degree program, students will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge base about baking and pastry arts and graduate with well rounded culinary education that make them qualified for a broader range of baking and pastry career opportunities with potentially great income. Off course, the best career opportunities goes to those with the highest level of education, specialization and extensive industry experience. Bachelor degree programs in baking and pastry arts are usually offered by private and public four-year universities and colleges in addition to some stand alone culinary schools. While some universities and colleges offer bachelor degree programs that focus solely on baking and pastry arts discipline like Johnson and Wales University and The Culinary Institute of America, other culinary schools and universities offer bachelor degree programs in culinary management for students who already have an associate degree in baking and pastry arts, culinary arts, or hospitality-restaurant management, and want to climb up the ladder for potential career advancement. Example of the latter schools include Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts and Lincoln College of Technology. Others, offer bachelor degree programs in culinary arts with minor concentration or specialization in baking and pastry arts like The Art Institutes.
Overview of Bachelor Degree Programs in Baking and Pastry Arts:
Students attending bachelor degree programs will have the chance to be thoroughly trained on all aspects of baking and pastry arts field through extensive theoretical and practical courses as well as industry-related internships and externships opportunities sponsored by the school. Students enrolled in baking and pastry arts bachelor degree programs are taught classical and contemporary baking and pastry techniques, kitchen leadership and restaurant management, general business skills necessary for successful career in this field, professional use of baking and pastry equipment and tools, the hidden chemistry behind baked products, baking for competitions and events, in addition to actual hands-on production of exquisite pastries, bread, cakes, cookies, bars, rolls, sugar creations, chocolate, candy, fudge, caramel, ice cream, soufflé, truffles, petits fours, tarts and pies, and all kinds of culinary and plated desserts. Bachelor degree programs in baking and pastry arts prepare students to become pastry chefs, pastry chef specialists, and bakery managers and/or owners. To be eligible for entry into these kinds of programs, a high school of general education diploma is required. Some culinary schools require prior work experience in the baking and pastry industry while others demand possession of an associate degree in baking and pastry art before entry into the program.
Baking And Pastry Courses Offered:
Bachelor degree programs in baking and pastry arts feature baking and pastry courses in addition to a combination of required and elective liberal arts and business management courses as part of the general education requirements. Typical liberal arts courses may include history, foreign languages, math, economics, literature, creative writing, and a selection of social sciences. Business management courses on the other hand, may include food service management, business and food marketing, cost and inventory control, accounting, financial management, management of human resources, leadership and business ethics, consumer behavior, business planning and others. As for the baking and pastry courses, bachelor degree programs teach among other courses-baking and pastry arts fundamentals, chemistry of baking, menu development, nutrition, food safety and sanitation, kitchen and restaurant management, baking for competitions and events, bread, pastries, cookies, confections, sugar artistry, chocolate and candy, tarts and pies, wedding cakes and designs, and professional cake decorating.
Aspiring pastry chefs with entry level positions have the chance to advance their career opportunities through specialized pastry chef certification programs. Although it is not required for employment, pastry chef certification programs are invaluable qualifications that exhibit proficiency and competence of its holder, lead to career advancement, and higher income potentials. The American Culinary Federation, a leading organization for professional chefs do provide accredited education programs and certifications for pastry chefs at four different levels including:
Entry level applicants holding a bachelor degree in baking and pastry arts or in culinary arts may apply for the Certified Pastry Culinarian certification without prior work experience being required. However, successful completion of three 30- hour courses in sanitation and food safety, nutrition, and supervisory management are required, and documentation of such must be submitted for eligibility. The higher the level of pastry chef certification programs you are aiming for, the longer the required work experience will be. Additional prerequisites may apply, depending on the level of certification programs you choose to pursue.
Culinary Schools, Institutes, Universities and Colleges Offering Bachelor Degree Programs:
Below are few names of popular culinary schools, institutes, universities and colleges offering bachelor degree programs in baking and pastry arts in addition to online and on-campus bachelor degree in culinary management.
Below are few names of popular culinary schools, institutes, universities and colleges offering bachelor degree programs in baking and pastry arts in addition to online and on-campus bachelor degree in culinary management.
The Culinary Institute of America: Hyde Park, NY.
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Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts: *Program: Online Bachelor Degree in Culinary Management
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The Restaurant School –Walnut Hill College: Philadelphia, PA
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Lincoln College of Technology-West Palm Beach: West Palm Beach, FL.
*Program: On Campus Bachelor Degree in Culinary Management
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Johnson and Wales University: Providence, RI.
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Stratford University: All campuses.
*Program: Bachelor Degree in Culinary Arts Management
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Johnson and Wales University: Denver, CO.
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Johnson and Wales University: Charlotte, NC.
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Johnson and Wales University: Online distance learning.
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Johnson and Wales University: North Miami, FL.
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