Culinary arts is the art of preparing and cooking food. It encompasses a wide range of techniques and styles, from traditional to modern, and from simple to complex. Culinary arts include not only cooking but also plating, presentation, and food styling. It is a creative and dynamic field that combines passion for food with technical skills to create delicious and visually appealing dishes.
At Penn Highlands Community College, we offer a comprehensive Culinary Arts program that prepares students for careers in the culinary industry. Our program covers all aspects of culinary arts, including cooking techniques, menu planning, nutrition, kitchen management, and more. We take a hands-on approach to learning, giving our students plenty of opportunities to practice their skills in our state-of-the-art kitchens.
Our program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of cooking. Students learn about different cooking methods, ingredients, flavor profiles, and how to use various kitchen equipment effectively. They also gain an understanding of food safety and sanitation practices, which are essential in a professional kitchen setting.
In addition to the technical skills, our program also focuses on developing creativity and innovation in our students. We encourage them to experiment with new ingredients, flavors, and recipes, pushing them to think outside of the box and create unique dishes that will stand out in the culinary world.
The Culinary Arts certificate program provides learners with a solid foundation of proven culinary theory on which to build a repertoire of professional skills. Emphasis is placed on current industry cooking and baking methods and techniques.Â
What You’ll Learn
Our curriculum encompasses a wide range of topics, including fundamental cooking methods, advanced techniques, baking and pastry arts, and more.
- Basics of Cooking: Learn essential cooking methods and techniques that form the bedrock of any culinary creation.
- Baking & Pastry Arts: Dive into the sweet world of baking and pastry creation, learning techniques for cakes, pastries, breads, and more.
- Innovative Culinary Techniques: Stay ahead of the culinary curve with modern and trendsetting techniques.
- Food Safety and Sanitation: Understand the importance of maintaining hygiene standards in a professional kitchen.
Program Objectives
- Demonstrate a general business knowledge and skills base necessary to compete in the business world including familiarity with management principles concepts and styles.
- Describe the steps necessary to provide a safe and sanitary environment for customers and employees.
- Demonstrate knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, and procedures governing food operations.
- Plan, develop, and produce appropriate foods and menus for a variety of settings.
- Demonstrate knowledge of food service and culinary industry terminology.
- Use cost control techniques for internal operational decision-making.