Blend Your Passion, Skill and Creativity with a Degree in Culinary Arts
The culinary arts associate in applied science (AAS) program offers a cooking school experience with diverse culinary classes designed to prepare individuals for leadership roles in food service. Through a mix of classroom learning and hands-on practice, students develop a strong foundation in culinary arts.
The program covers food preparation and service, world cuisines, ingredient identification, nutritional cooking, food production, advanced culinary skills, basic baking and pastry and culinary management. The program culminates with students showcasing their knowledge for guests in a dining room during a restaurant meal service.
What is Culinary Arts at St. Louis Community College?
Culinary arts are the art and science of preparing, cooking and presenting food. It encompasses a wide range of skills and techniques used in professional kitchens. Culinary professionals create appetizing, nutritious and appealing dishes that highlight taste, texture and visual presentation.
During the program, students learn the following:
- Established guidelines for safety and sanitation
- Benchmark recipes
- Basic culinary techniques and equipment
- Professionalism and hospitality industry standards
- Food service operations and finances
- Functions and food services of the major nutrient in food preparation and storage
What Can You Do with a Culinary Arts Associate Degree?
It takes a lot of people to make a memorable meal for restaurant guests. This means there is a lot of opportunity to build your career in the culinary industry. With this degree, you'll learn from executive chefs who leverage real-world experiences to teach you how to create an excellent meal and dining experience for guests. As a student, you'll hone your skills and knowledge and position yourself for careers in restaurants, hotels, catering businesses and establishments around the world.
AAS in Culinary Arts
- Degree offered: Associate in applied science
- Locations: Forest Park, Online
- Hours to complete: 65
- Program contact name: Ellen Piazza
- Program contact email: epiazza@stlcc.edu
- Program contact phone: 314-644-9767
- Accreditation: American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) Accrediting Commission
Tuition for district residents is $122 per credit hour for in-district students. Find out more about our straightforward and low-cost tuition structure.
Enjoy Culinary Arts Capstone Lunches and Dinners
STLCC culinary arts students invite you to join them as they present their capstone meals. Lunches cost $15 per person and dinners are $20. All meals are open to the public and located at the Forest Park Anheuser-Busch Dining Room of the Jack E. Miller Hospitality Center. Dinners include soup, salad, entrée (pork or chicken), dessert and a beverage. Lunches include soup or salad, chicken or pork, dessert and a beverage.
Why You Should Choose STLCC's Culinary Arts Program
Highly Ranked
STLCC's culinary arts program is ranked #9 in the United States by Best Choice Schools.
Successful Alumni
Multiple students, graduates and faculty have been featured in television cooking shows on Food Network, TLC and Netflix.
Healthy Job Market
The hospitality industry is the third-largest employer in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.
Comprehensive Culinary Education
"Before I took classes at STLCC, I had some knowledge of the basics but no experience making American foods or working in commercial restaurants. The College helped me learn all the fundamentals." - Jane Chatham, culinary arts graduate
STLCC. What's your reason?