Culinary Arts

The Culinary Arts program is designed to prepare students for entry-level career opportunities within the foodservice industry. With a diploma from Institute of Technology, you’ll become prepared to work not only as a chef, but also in many other culinary careers.

Students learn the concepts of the foodservice industry, create pastry and baking goods, develop and hone their kitchen skills, discover the art of Garde Manger, create contemporary and international cuisine presentations, take a culinary tour of American cuisine, learn and practice real-world catering applications, and participate in a 180-hour externship in a professional kitchen.

At IOT, students get the hands-on experience needed to succeed in the food industry, developing fundamental culinary preparation and presentation skills while also focusing on specialized areas such as Garde Manger and contemporary and international cuisine. IOT designs program schedules with your busy lifestyle in mind.

• A 180-hour externship in an industry kitchen.
• A personal uniform and cutlery set are available for purchase.
• Preparation for ServSafe exams and American Culinary Certification standards for Safety and Sanitation, Supervisory Management, and Nutrition.
• 40 weeks to a new career.

All students interested in applying must first meet with an Admissions Representative and successfully pass a 12-minute assessment test. Students must be a minimum of 18 years of age, or 17 years of age with the written consent of a parent or guardian, and possess a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid government or state issued GED, or proof of completing an officially recognized and accredited home schooling program (home-school applicants must also pass an entrance examination). Foreign education documents that cannot be confirmed must be evaluated by a third-party agency at the applicant’s expense.

Non-ATB applicants take the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam; diploma programs require a minimum score of 10. Students with delinquent student loans must resolve them before being considered, and students who have defaulted on a student loan will not be considered for admission.

No diploma or GED? Through a partnership with C4L Academy, students in an eligible career pathway program (ECPP) can earn a high school diploma while concurrently enrolled; ability-to-benefit applicants must pass the ACCUPLACER test (Reading 233, Writing 235, Arithmetic 230).

The program is 880 hours / 49 quarter credit hours. Classes are held Monday through Thursday for 40 weeks. See your Admissions Representative for available class times.

Graduates will be prepared to contribute in a broad range of entry-level occupations in the foodservice industry, including Restaurant Cook, Personal Chef, Executive Chef, Assistant Chef, Sous Chef, Short Order Cook, Institutional and Cafeteria Cook, Prep Cook/Line Cook, Bread and Pastry Baker, Dessert Specialist and Catering Specialist.

The school cites the following industry job trend breakdown (BLS): restaurants and other eateries 46%, traveler accommodation establishments 11%, special food services 10%, and amusement and recreation organizations 6%.

Uniforms and a cutlery set are required and are available for purchase; textbooks are provided as classroom resources or are purchased by the student. Coursework prepares students for the ServSafe exams and American Culinary Federation standards for safety and sanitation, supervisory management and nutrition.

The program ends with a 180-hour externship in a professional kitchen. Students who successfully complete the program are documented as “Graduate” and receive a Culinary Arts Diploma.