Albany Technical College is a 2-year public institution that confers technical certificates and associate’s degrees from its campus in Albany, Georgia. ATC is part of the Achieving the Dream program, which focuses on breaking down the barriers the...
Standing on your feet for long hours in a hot kitchen is not for everyone. But if your passion for food runs deep, becoming a chef offers some of the most unique rewards of any profession. Culinary arts majors learn the art of cooking and the business of the kitchen. You will practice the arts that keep customers coming back for more. But you'll learn more than how to sizzle a steak or balance colors and textures on a plate. You'll also learn the ins and outs of running a kitchen, from keeping it sanitary to training assistants. This major prepares individuals to serve as professional bakers and pastry specialists in restaurants or other commercial baking establishments. This includes instruction in bread and pastry making, bread and pastry handling and storage, cake and pastry decorating, baking industry operations, product packaging and marketing operations, and counter display and service. In this major, you can expect to spend anywhere from fifteen to forty hours a week in the kitchen and that's in addition to reading, research, and all other course work. In addition to learning about how to become a first class chef, a Culinary Arts major also gains practical knowledge in hotel and restaurant management, facilities management, and hospitality. Many Culinary Arts programs provide their students with hands-on experience through internships at restaurants. There's a lot of cooking, from the mundane to the elegant, but the major doesn't end in the kitchen. In complement to your instruction as a chef are courses designed to prepare you in basic business administration, from accounting to hotel law, so that by the time you complete your degree you will be ready to begin staking your claim as the next Master Chef.