Pathways for becoming a Chef

Culinary Arts Department

Do you aspire to be a chef? Are you thinking about a career in food service, or operating a restaurant or a bakery? There are several pathways you can take to reach your career goals in an international setting, right at the crossroad of Eastern and Western cuisine:

Associate in Science Degree, Food service with specializations in either Culinary Arts or Patisserie Arts.

-The Associate in Science degree, Food Service with a specialization in Culinary Arts, is a four-semester and one summer session program of study. This program option is designed for students who are interested in becoming chefs and those who intend to transfer to a four-year college. The challenge provided each AS degree candidate will be to apply the knowledge gained in courses taken in the Certificate of Completion and the Certificate of Achievement programs to operate and manage a food service operation as a profit center.

Certificate of Achievement in Culinary Arts (hot food), or Patisserie Arts

-The Certificate of Achievement, Culinary Arts, is a three-semester program of study. This program option is designed for students who are interested in gaining technical skills for skilled level positions in hotels, restaurants, and institutions. It provides students a solid foundation in concepts, skills, and techniques in cookery; it exposes them to the principles of menu planning, equipment use and maintenance, and station organization through misé-en-place. The strength of the Culinary Arts program is the reinforcement of theories learned in class in a hands-on laboratory setting in the College's restaurant, bistro, and cafeteria.

Certificate of Completion with specializations in either Culinary Arts (hot food), or Patisserie Arts

-The Certificate of Completion, Culinary Arts, is a one-semester program of study. Its primary objective is to prepare students for entry-level jobs in hotel, restaurant, cafeteria, and coffee shop kitchens. Basic technical cooking skills, the development of proper work habits and attitudes and professionalism, and the practice of safety and sanitation procedures are stressed. This program is recommended for students who wish to seek immediate employment in entry-level food preparation positions (i.e., cook's helper, kitchen help, fry cook).

Apprenticeships are also offered through our “Get Paid to Learn” on-the-job training program.

Come explore the possibilities

at Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College