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Culinary cooking on a gas range with fire

Culinary Arts

AAS Diploma
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The Culinary Arts program prepares students to be professional chefs, making the opportunities and possibilities for lifetime careers endless.

Instructors

DEGREES IN Culinary Arts

Culinary Arts Associate of Applied Science

AAS
With hands-on cooking experience, management classes, and broad liberal arts classes, the AAS will provide grads the opportunity for a career as a chef, kitchen manager, dining room manager, caterer, or in hospitality.
Course List

By the Numbers

66
Credits

Culinary Arts Diploma

DIP
With a diploma, graduates will be licensed in ServSafe and may enjoy a career as a chef or cook, with experience in kitchen procedures, menu planning, recipe development, and more.
Course List

By the Numbers

38
Credits

Why Choose This Program

With a Culinary Arts degree from SCTCC, you are certain to find success in your future career. From cooking fundamentals, to twists on culinary classics, this program has something for all learners!

Students learn every aspect of the culinary world they need for a successful career at SCTCC. We teach our students safety and sanitation procedures, the formulation of stocks, sauces, soups, starches, breakfast, baking, and even the fabrication of steaks, poultry, and seafood. 

SCTCC students also spend time learning food presentation and food art to create plates of food to be proud of. We even train students in nutrition, sanitation, and the appropriate, safe operation of equipment. 

At SCTCC, we give students in the Culinary Arts program the opportunity to participate in college and community events that provide practical experience in the field, so all graduates will be prepared to take on the workforce.

100%
2023 Program Placement Rate
$28
Minnesota Median Wage

Placement rate is self-reported data of graduates available for work in field of study up to one year post graduation. Wage data is from Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). SCTCC Consumer Information.

From Degree to Career

When you choose the Culinary Arts program at SCTCC, you’ll gain skills that will directly transfer to the workplace. There are several employers in the St. Cloud area that are ready to hire chefs in the restaurant industry.

Through the Culinary Arts program, students learn skills related to all aspects of the food service industry including culinary history, kitchen math, kitchen financial planning, food safety and sanitization, nutrition, recipe development, customer service and relations, and all aspects of food production. 

Specifically, Culinary skills at SCTCC are developed in the following areas; stocks, sauces, soups, sandwich and salad production, vegetable and starch preparation; breakfast cookery, basic baking and cooking principles; meat, poultry, and seafood fabrication; and food presentation and food art. 

At SCTCC, we emphasize developing teamwork and professionalism skills in every course you take. Students will learn to master kitchen procedures and operations, menu planning, recipe development, nutrition facts, and human resources. 

Every Culinary Arts degree graduate from SCTCC will be licensed in Serv-Safe, ensuring that you will be ready to take on your future career. 

Quick Glance
  • Kitchen procedures and operations  
  • Fabrication of meat, poultry, seafood  
  • Menu planning  
  • Recipe development  
  • Nutrition  
  • Food presentation  
  • Financial planning  
  • Customer relations  
  • Graduates of the Culinary Arts will be licensed in Serv-Safe.


View all program learner outcomes

Our SCTCC graduates have gone on to create successful careers in the Culinary Arts field. From sous chef, product development, to kitchen manager, a graduate from SCTCC is certain to find a career perfect for them. 

With a Culinary Arts degree, your options are limitless. You can become an executive or station chef, a grocery retailer, a dining room manager, caterer, or even a restaurant owner. Graduates also have opportunities in positions for food styling, food sales or brokerage, or various hospital management. 

A day in the life of a SCTCC Culinary Arts graduate consists of working as an executive chef at local restaurants or clubs, and using the skills taught at SCTCC to stand out in their career. 

Quick Glance

Types of Careers

  • Sous Chef  
  • Executive Chef  
  • Station chef  
  • Grocery Retail 
  • Product development  
  • Food styling  
  • Kitchen Manager  
  • Dining Room Manager  
  • Caterer  
  • Restaurant Ownership  
  • Food Sales or Brokerage positions  
  • Various Hospitality Management positions 
     

Potential Employers 

  • Hotels/Resorts  
  • Restaurants/Clubs  
  • Healthcare Facilities  
  • Grocer/Fresh Food Service 
  • Schools  
  • Brokerage Houses  
  • Food Service Distribution  
  • Product and Development Services

In our Culinary Arts program, we ensure every student has the opportunity to graduate with a ServSafe Certification. At SCTCC, it is our mission that every graduate is ready to take on the workforce, learn more about the certification below.

ServSafe Certification

At SCTCC, you can easily transfer your Culinary Arts AAS to earn a bachelor’s degree from several top colleges in the area. From Mayville State University (North Dakota), Concordia University (St. Paul, MN), and many others. Our students have the choice of top colleges to master their skills before entering the workforce.

Culinary students with instructor
culinary student
taco salad with condiments
bottles of spices
culinary student

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Are you ready to learn more about the Culinary Arts program and being a student at SCTCC?

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Request Information

Fill out this form to receive useful information that's specific to your program.

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Connect with the Admissions team

  • Call us at 320-308-5089
  • Email us at recruitment@sctcc.edu

  • On campus Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Visiting campus is an excellent opportunity to learn about SCTCC programs, the application process, and tour the state-of-the-art-labs and classrooms.

5.30.25 09:00am
Main entrance: 1540 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN

Cyclone Tour

6.3.25 01:00pm
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Cyclone Tour

6.5.25 08:00am
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Express Enroll for Fall 2025

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Paying for College

Students choose SCTCC for a lot of reasons, but saving money is one reason we hear from almost every student at SCTCC. We’ve got a breakdown of the costs for the program, along with information on financial aid and scholarships.

Apply just once and you are considered for all eligible SCTCC scholarships. There are scholarships available specifically for students in the Culinary program.

Program Costs   Applying for Financial Aid   SCTCC Scholarships
SCTCC is the best value with tuition at $6124. MinnState university is $9959. UofM is $14962. MN private university is $50979. *Based on average 2024 tuition & fees for 15 credits or full-time for an academic year. Some institutions charge additional fees.  Fees vary by program. For exact costs, contact the institution that interests you. The listed costs do not include room & board.

Program Info for Current Students

Culinary Arts students have the opportunity to be involved with Skills USA - Culinary. This club is active in various catering events at SCTCC and the students compete in local, state, and national Culinary Arts competitions. Skills USA – Culinary also volunteers in the local community through various service-learning events. Students even have the opportunity for leadership roles, to strengthen their skills as a culinary artist.

SCTCC Student Clubs

Culinary Arts Instructor

Jay Thomas

James Thomas

Culinary Arts Instructor

JThomas@sctcc.edu
320-308-5037

Good Stuff

03.07.25
Kate Wallace
Several people clapping with semi trucks in background

BrewLäsh 2025 Sends Chef Jay off with a Blast

SCTCC’s 2025 BrewLäsh marked several milestones, including a record number of dollars raised for student support and sending Chef Jay off with a semi horn blast. The SCTCC Foundation hosted the 7th...
03.06.23
Kate Wallace
Brewlash crowd from above

SCTCC Brings Back BrewLäsh 2023

The SCTCC Foundation was happy to bring back BrewLäsh, a fundraising event for student scholarships, on Wednesday, March 1. SCTCC welcomed more than 250 people to BrewLäsh 2023, and the Foundation...
05.09.22
Kate Wallace

SCTCC Students Secure Wins at SkillsUSA Competition

Several SCTCC students took part in the statewide SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference held April 7-10 in Minneapolis, and two are set to represent SCTCC at the national level. The state...
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