Culinary Schools - Campus Life

Author: Erik Johnson

The experience of going to culinary school varies from one school to the next. Some culinary arts programs are part of traditional community colleges or four-year universities, so the experience will be similar to any other college experience at that school. Other people choose to get their culinary arts degree from an institution that is dedicated to training chefs. In this case, the experience will immerse the student in the world of food and drink, surrounding them with their peers and with experienced faculty who are all as crazy about cooking as they are. While every culinary education experience is different, there are a few things that every chef-in-training should expect.

One thing that makes culinary school different from other schools is the kitchen facilities. While traditional students attend classes in lecture halls and perform school work in labs, culinary students complete their courses in kitchen facilities that are similar to a professional kitchen. Even if the culinary school program is part of a larger institution that offers a wide variety of degree programs, the culinary students will have a different experience because they have to dress the part and they will probably be cooking almost every day. While the typical college student is wearing jeans and t-shirts, a culinary student will need to wear white chef's clothing to prepare for the real world of cooking.

The tools that students use in preparation for their culinary arts degree are much different from the tools that an English student, art student, engineering student or any other type of college student needs to use during their academic career. The school will provide some equipment during classes, but chefs also need to have things like professional knives, food processors, blenders and other cooking tools to use on their own.

Culinary students can earn many different levels of degrees just like other students, ranging from certificate programs and associate's degrees all the way to bachelor's degrees and even doctorates. A culinary arts degree is just like any other – it must be from an accredited institution to be valid. With this kind of education, there's no telling what a chef can do.