Culinary Arts

Do you dream of a career where you can be creative, travel the world and choose from a variety of culinary careers? Business is sizzling in the foodservice industry and those businesses need employees. Food service is the largest non-governmental employer in the U.S. and the field is expected to continue growing. Chefs work in restaurants, hotels and resorts, catering, health spas, schools, hospitals, cruise lines and as personal chefs. If you find one of those career opportunities appealing, the TSTC West Texas Culinary Arts Program could help you achieve your dream.

In the Culinary Arts Program, you’ll train with our faculty, who are all professional chefs, and learn basic and specialized culinary principles and techniques. You’ll receive hands-on experience in food preparation and learn the professionalism required for on-the-job success. Menu planning, catering, butchering skills, sauce creation, sugar and chocolate work, cake decorating, and the artistry of plate presentation are just some of the skills you will learn at TSTC.

Courses you’ll take include:

  • Sanitation and Safety
  • Basic Food Preparation
  • Intermediate Food Preparation
  • Food & Beverage Cost Control
  • Hospitality Supervision
  • Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Meat
  • Fundamentals of Baking
  • Catering
  • Specialized Food Preparation
  • Advanced Pastry

Our restaurant-quality commercial kitchen and classroom dining area provide an excellent setting for you to develop skills in preparing and presenting a variety of foods. As part of your experience, you’ll have the chance to plan, prepare, and present four- to seven-course meals for large groups. And, if you pursue an associate’s degree, you’ll get on-the-job training and receive college credit in an industry-based internship.

Students have served internships with:

  • Abilene Country Club
  • Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital
  • Perini Ranch
  • Seafood Tavern
  • Cogdell Memorial Hospital
  • The Beehive Restaurant
  • Copper Creek Restaurant

Graduates have found careers with these and similar businesses:

  • Perini Ranch Restaurant
  • Elegante Suits
  • Cogdell Memorial Hospital
  • Copper Creek Restaurant
  • Hoffman’s Cake Cottage
  • The Cliffs Restaurant at Possum Kingdom
  • Institutional Foodservice (college)
  • Carino's Restaurant

Culinary Arts Location In-state
Tuition		 Out-of-state
Tuition		 Time to
Complete
Culinary Arts Technology A.A.S.  SWTR $5,875.00 $14,065.00 20 Mo.
Culinary Arts Technology Certificate  SWTR $3,395.00 $7,958.00 12 Mo.