What Is The Difference between Culinary Arts and Culinary Management Programs
Every day I get emails from future chefs, restaurateurs and culinary managers looking for top culinary schools and how to pursue a culinary education. One of the questions I'm often asked is "What's the difference between a culinary arts program and a culinary management program." Great question and one I'd like to explore in this post.
Choosing a career in the culinary field is a great first step for a profitable future. With positions all throughout the restaurant industry on the rise, more and more opportunities for new graduates are expected to open up. This can mean exciting possibilities for individuals with an interest in food preparation.
However, before you sign up for culinary school, you must first decide between the types of culinary programs offered. Two of the most popular are culinary arts programs and culinary management programs. Although these programs offer much of the same basic education at their cores, they are geared toward different professions.
What is a Culinary Arts Program?
Culinary arts programs are what most of us think of when it comes to cooking as a professional. Chefs, sous chefs, celebrity cooks, bakers, line cooks - many of these individuals graduated or attended a culinary arts program. These programs are all about food science, from understanding the nutritional content of raw materials to combining flavors and mastering tricky culinary techniques. The "art" side of the program comes into play because of how much individual creativity goes into combining flavors to create dishes that others will enjoy.
Most culinary arts professionals work in a kitchen of some kind. Although well-rounded culinary arts programs will include some coursework on issues of restaurant management, food safety, and the more technical aspects of kitchen maintenance, most of the focus is on the food: how to prepare it, how to cook it, and how to make it look like a work of art.
What is a Culinary Management Program?
Culinary management is an educational course that prepares graduates to work on the practical side of running a restaurant. Unlike culinary arts programs, which focus mostly on the cooking aspect of the restaurant industry, culinary management goes beyond food preparation to include restaurant management, human resources issues, safety in the kitchen, menu development, and front-of-the-house issues.
Ideal for students who enjoy cooking but want to take a more business-oriented approach to their career, culinary management is all about working with the customers and with the staff to make the restaurant run most effectively. It takes some general business acumen and more accounting, law, and general education learning than the culinary arts program alone. It also takes a strong leader who knows quite a bit about food and how it is best prepared.
Getting a Culinary Degree
One of the biggest differences in culinary arts programs and culinary management programs is the type of education students receive. Although there certainly are exceptions, most culinary arts programs are offered as diploma, certification, or Associate Degree courses, while culinary management tends to fall under a more "scholarly" approach.
Many culinary management programs are offered in conjunction with private and public universities, and students hold anything from a two-year Associate Degree to a six-year Master's Degree. The primary reason for this difference is the more business-oriented approach of culinary management since students may have first to get a strong base in economics, finance, and marketing before they learn about the specializations of the culinary market.
Job Opportunities in the Culinary Field
Individuals who graduate from culinary arts programs typically go on to work in restaurants, bakeries, and commercial kitchens. They may work as line cooks, making roughly $10.00 an hour, or they may work as executive chefs in their own restaurants, with an income of $60,000 to $100,000 per year. The work tends to be physically demanding, fast-paced, and requires weekend and evening work; however, those who love to cook often find that there is nothing else they'd rather be doing.
Individuals who graduate from culinary management programs go on to work in restaurants (either supervising the kitchen or the front of the house), hotels and other hospitality trade businesses, and catering companies, among others. The average salary rests between $40,000 and $70,000 per year, with higher wages offered at the upper management levels. A love of food is still a bonus since many culinary managers are in charge of menu development or even jumping on the line to help during a rush.
Which Culinary Program is Right for You?
Each type of culinary program has pros and cons. While culinary management offers higher wages, it typically requires more education and time away from actual food preparation. The culinary arts, though emotionally satisfying for those who love the field, can cause burnout and quite a bit of competition when it comes to landing the higher positions.
Because both types of programs have a foundation in basic culinary skills, it may be best to find a culinary school that offers both programs. Once you start discovering which aspect of the culinary field appeals to you the most, you can specialize and get firmly on track to your future as a culinary professional.
Is A Culinary Career Right For Me?
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Brandon
I don't know which route to go, but I'm sure i want to be in this field or work one day. I live in the Inland Empire so I'm close to the school. Any Ideas.....
Hi Brandon, I'm not exactly sure what you are asking for, but I would start by reading everything you can about the industry, speaking with professionals in the field and contacting schools about requirements. There is a ton of articles, information and interviews on my web site to look at too. - RG
kirin
i'm a international student and i also in a dilemma in choosing my program.the essential problem for me is to get an employment,could you tell me which can easy to get a job,please?
Anna
So in my city there is a Johnson and Wales University. I am currently in high- school and plan on going there after graduation. At Johnson and Wale they have a major for Culinary Arts and Food Management, it is a combined major and I would really like to do that . Do you think this is a good idea? Or should I stick to just one or the other.
Hi Anna, I think you should speak with you guidance counselors, the school's representatives and your parents to figure out what is the best path for you. I would also ask the school if they could put you in contact with current student or recent graduate who has completed the combined major before you make your decision. Let me know how it turns out for you when you get to school. - RG
Brother Beno, Storyteller
As a storyteller I've been searching the web for resources on things I hadn't thought of and this is now on my favorites list. I had never considered the difference between the management of the restaurant being so closely related to the kitchen as what you have shown here. I'm glad I found it and now that I have this knowledge and resource it is more likely that I will be able to develop a story that contains it. Brother Beno, Storyteller
Hi Beno, can't wait to read your story about restaurant management and the kitchen. - RG
Daniel
Is there anything to be said for just entering the field without a degree and working your way up? I have several friends who went that route and continue to get job offers across the city. Granted they end up job hopping a bit. But they seem to be happy with the lifestyle. Daniel Hansen
Hi Daniel, great point. I know several chefs personally and have read about many more who have come up the ranks and now own their own restaurants. On the other hand, I have spoken with chef owners who say they only interview graduates of culinary school. So there is lots to be said about entering the field without a degree and learning on the job, but for many people, they need the confidence of having an education behind them. - RG
Diegado Times
@Daniel, The biggest incentive to go education, is the pay and position. You could be a senior in the kitchen in terms of time spent, and still a guy with credentials could be brought in house simply because he had the credentials. People find comfort in the idea that you entered into the available educational programs and successfully completed them.
Robert
Great post. I like how you detailed the difference between the two programs. Very helpful information.
Thanks Robert - RG
Damon D
Very informative post, has really open my mind to the culinary world. I always wondered why people went to culinary schools. Speaking of me I'll would definitely be someone who would pursue a culinary arts program, because i don't see myself dealing with human resource like in the management program. I wanna do my job, which is cooking, and that's it, no overhead. Damon D
Thanks for your post Damon D - RG
James
Thank you for the information on differentiating the culinary arts and culinary management. Very educational. James Pizana
You are welcome James - RG
Vann
I loved your article because I was just wondering what my Culinary Management degree after college. I do have a love for food, but I really love to prepare it as well. Should I look into a Culinary Arts degree after college or wait a couple of years?
Hi Vann, not exactly sure what you are looking for but I think you should do as much research as you can, talk to as many people as you can and then weigh all your options before making a decision. - RG
joycee
what is required for me to get in an culinary art school?
Hi Joycee, that really depends on the school you are interested in going to. Where do you live and what school are you thinking about.? - RG
Steve
I have been looking at schools on the internet to satisfy my desires for culinary programs. I am in the military and look forward to attending a school when I get out. It seems so difficult to make a decision and apply to one school or the other. I recently toured the CIA at Greystone campus and was very interested in what that school has to offer. I will also be touring Johnson and Wales campus in Denver soon. I am leaning towards J&W because they do have the option of a bachelors degree focusing on what I want to learn about, being able to successfully manage my own restaurant and develop a menu for my customers that brings them back for years. Thanks for your post. I wish everyone luck in their adventures.
And thank you Steve for serving our country. Please keep me updated with you schooling. Would love to hear from you once you decide and then while you are in school. - RG
chef Dhanapal
i read this page and i like this really it usedful for all chefs
Ahmad
A very useful article, Thank you !!
I am a computer engineer with 10 years experience now, my passion for cooking is growing and I want to have my own restaurant one day , so from your article I guess the best thing is to go for the management program, which i guess also will contain some cooking courses as well.. the question is that how much time in average does it take to finish the degree?
Ahmad, it really depends on the school and the program. You'll have to contact the school(s) you're interested in for that information. Good luck - RG
Akki
I am not sure whether i must choose BSc or BBA in culinary management. Please Help.
Samara
Hi my name is Samara, i am in my last highschool year, i love to cook and im always cooking on my free time, i would love to attend to a culinary school, but i dont know if attending to one would be the best decision for me; im so desperate and i dont know what to do. Attending to the culinary institute of america had always been my dream but i dont know now. My dream has always been having restaurants, bakeries and everything that relates food. I dont know if it will be better to go for a business administration degree first or go for the culinary arts and managment in once. Please give me an advice that would help me in my future. Thank you
joe
Thank you for educating me, I just made the best descision of my life at least for now.However,it appears to seem like culinary management has a slight advantage over culinary art.
Jason
I am 34 and about to go get my culinary management degree. I have worked as a line cook for years and also been lead line cook. I have worked under a sous chef that worked for wolfgang puck at one time. I am every eager to do this I want to own my own restaurant at one point. I have a very unique menu in mind. I am going to school in Minneapolis there is a very rich culinary scene there. I am very interested in seeing what kinds of things I can learn that I don't know yet. I do not expect to make very good money to start however you get out what you put in.
The Reluctant Gourmet
Best of luck Jason with your upcoming culinary management program and please write back once you start and keep me updated with your progress. I'm very interested in hearing how it goes.
john
Our son is a sophmore at Southern New Hampshire University majoring in Culinary Arts. He can continue into the Culinary Mgt program. I see there are a few online programs where he can finish the Mgt program should he decide graduate with an Associates degree. We are concerned a online culinary education would not be as rewardful as attending class. What do you think? Is there a really good online program you recommend?
The Reluctant Gourmet
Hi John and I can understand your concern. My advise would be to ask the online school to send you a list of people who have graduated from their courses so you can contact these individuals and get feedback directly from them. I personally like live, in person classes because that's what I know but there are more and more online programs for a variety of subjects now being offered. Please come back and update me.
Dakota Hobson
I'm 21 years old and still live at home but I would like to go to the art institute in austin. I love cooking but I really want to own a restaurant some day but be the head chef still. Kind of like doing both culinary arts and culinary management. I'm really not sure what the best route is for me. I would like to specialize in an exotic yet still palletable asian style such as filipino food and japanese foods and I want it to be fine dining like reservations to eat and suit and tie. Serve lumpia shanghai or edamame for appetizer some days type of thing. So as I was saying. I don't know which to choose. Idk if I should do culinary arts first then use that associates to do culinary management. That would take 6 years and $17, 000 per year. Idk if its worth it to do that. Also idk how to afford going to college at all my parents don't support me and they make too much for financial aid to go in their name idk please write me back
Dakota Hobson
Also, I'm not a big fan of talking to customers. Or well people in general however I am a great leader. Very ocd about how a kitchen should be ran. Idk if I should get a culinary management degree and eventually open my own restaurant and hire a manager for the front while I run the kitchen.
thea sorrell
Hello, i have a big interest in cooking. however i am a single mother and i would really love to get into being a baker. I heard the hours of being a pastry cook is early in the mornings which really would not suit my parenting plan as a single mother.
Is it best to just go get a job in a bakery or am i able to fullfill my dreams as a pastry chef?
Sia Uppal
Hi, i live in India and wants to persu a course in Culinary Arts but a bit confuse about which parth to go for. I am thinking about joining Le Cordon Blue for it but for which country to go for? And weather to go for Culinary Arts and Management, Culinary Arts and Business or Culinary Arts? And what to do a deploma, advance deploma or to go for a degree course? Can you please help me?
G. Stephen Jones
Hi Sia, thank you for contacting me. You will not be able to go to Le Cordon Bleu in the United States because they have closed their campuses but there are still schools around the world that you can read about on their website. As for what degree in what program, I suggest you read as much as you can, contact the schools and try to meet individuals in each field to get the best understanding you can about each program. Going to school takes a huge investment in both time and money so I recommend you do as much homework as you can to learn everything possible before deciding. In the end, it is up to you to make the most informed decision you can.
sajin
i am intrested to study cooking course in canda so which course i have to take
C
I am an "uneducated" chef in my late 40s... I have found recently that the job is becoming quite painful(arthritis). I love the business, I've been in it for 30 years and done pretty well considering I have no degree. I just wonder if getting on the other side of it this late in my game is worth it.
G. Stephen Jones
Hi C., this is one of those decisions I can't help you with. I would say if you have the ability to give it a try while still doing what you do, see if you like it.
Chance Cook
I would like to take a culinary art program that talks about restaurant management. Mainly so that I know what to do once I start working in one. Or even better, I would have experience with how to run one if I can ever have my own restaurant.
Tarek Hassaniyeh
Thank you for this insightful article. Do you recommend top universities that provide the joint approach of Culinary management that you can refer me to. Tarek