Culinary Studies
How to manage a kitchen staff. The history of Asian food. Running a specialty bakery. Sharpening your cooking skills. These are just a few things you can learn in the Culinary Studies program at MCC.
Whether you take a single class or pursue an associate’s degree, our program will help you develop skills in all facets of the food service industry. Our classes emphasize the skills you’ll need for a job in a commercial food operation where food is prepared and served in volume. Our instruction includes principles of professional cooking and baking, volume food production, food sanitation and safety, purchasing, menu planning, customer service, basic nutrition concepts, and more. Hands-on training is provided in state-of-the-art facilities.
Quick Stats
- Example Titles
- Chef
- Baker
- Foodservice Manager
- Caterer
- Entrepreneur
- Types of Employers
- Restaurants
- Hotels and Resorts
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Corporations
Career Profile
Culinary arts is one of the fastest growing industries in the nation today. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers are expected to continue to be plentiful. Foodservice positions in specialized industries such as grocery store take-out, home meal replacements, and casual family restaurants are expected to grow even faster.
Culinary professionals often:
- Have more training as a chef than dinner cooks
- Direct the work of other kitchen employees
- Work in very fast-paced environments
- Wear uniforms
- Work mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays
Available Associate Degrees and Certificates
| Degree / Certificate | Title | Required Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Associate in Applied Science (AAS) | Culinary Studies | Required Courses |
| Certificate of Completion (CCL) | Culinary Studies | Required Courses |
Notice
Beginning Fall 2012, Mesa Community College will no longer offer Culinary Studies courses. Scottsdale Community College will offer the same schedule of classes that MCC would have offered.
Students are also able to take culinary classes in the Maricopa District at Phoenix College and Estrella Mountain Community College. Each College is prepared to assist students interested in enrolling in their Culinary Arts programs.
Prospective students are also welcome to contact any of these colleges for more information on the program, including the process to enroll. Full advisement and registration assistance is available daily.
We hope you take the opportunity to contact any of the Maricopa Community Colleges for more information.
