Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services
Culinary Arts and Related Services
Focuses on the general study of the cooking and related culinary arts, and that may prepare individuals for a variety of jobs within the food service industry. Covers food preparation, cooking techniques, equipment operation and maintenance, sanitation and safety, communication skills, applicable regulations, and principles of food service management.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 12 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General
- Focuses on the general study of the cooking and related culinary arts, and that may prepare individuals for a variety of jobs within the food service industry. Covers food preparation, cooking techniques, equipment operation and maintenance, sanitation and safety, communication skills, applicable regulations, and principles of food service management.
- Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef
- Prepares you to serve as professional bakers and pastry specialists in restaurants or other commercial baking establishments. Covers bread and pastry making, bread and pastry handling and storage, cake and pastry decorating, baking industry operations, product packaging and marketing operations, and counter display and service.
- Bartending/Bartender
- Prepares you to professionally prepare mixed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and related products and manage bars, lounges, and beverage service operations in the hospitality industry. Covers mixology, oenology, accounting and cash management, inventory and cellar management, bar and lounge management, applicable laws and regulations, customer service, and labor/employment regulations.
- Culinary Arts/Chef Training
- Prepares you to provide professional chef and related cooking services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments. Covers recipe and menu planning, preparing and cooking of foods, supervising and training kitchen assistants, the management of food supplies and kitchen resources, aesthetics of food presentation, and familiarity or mastery of a wide variety of cuisines and culinary techniques.
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager
- Prepares you to plan, supervise, and manage food and beverage preparation and service operations, restaurant facilities, and catering services. Covers food/beverage industry operations, cost control, purchasing and storage, business administration, logistics, personnel management, culinary arts, restaurant and menu planning, executive chef functions, event planning and management, health and safety, insurance, and applicable law and regulations.
- Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
- Prepares you to serve under the supervision of chefs and other food service professionals as kitchen support staff and commercial food preparation workers. Covers kitchen organization and operations, sanitation and quality control, basic food preparation and cooking skills, kitchen and kitchen equipment maintenance, and quantity food measurement and monitoring.
- Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter
- Prepares you to receive, cut, and package animal meat products in commercial establishments and to function as licensed meat cutters/butchers. Covers product recognition for beef, veal, lamb, pork, poultry, and fancy and smoked meats; retail and wholesale cutting and specialty cuts; packaging and counter display; shop safety; meat sanitation, storage and rotation; quality control; meat handling laws and regulations; and customer service.
- Food Service, Waiter/Waitress, and Dining Room Management/Manager
- Prepares you to serve food to customers in formal or informal settings. Covers the nutritional, sensory, and functional properties of food and its ingredients; food services principles; table and counter services; dining room operations and procedures; service personnel supervision and management; communication skills; business math; safety; and sanitation.
- Institutional Food Workers
- Prepares individuals in production and service used in governmental, commercial or independently owned institutional food establishments and related food industry occupations. Covers selecting, storing, preparing, and serving food and food products; basic nutrition; sanitation, and food safety; the use and care of commercial equipment; serving techniques; and the operation of institutional food establishments.
- Culinary Science/Culinology
- Focuses on the blending of food science and the culinary arts and that prepares you to work as research chefs and related research and development positions in the food industry. Covers culinary arts, food chemistry, food safety and quality, food processing, nutrition, and business management.
Also called Cook
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- Median pay
- $44,080
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.4%
- Job openings a year
- 171,500
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career Growing fastCooks, Restaurant
- Median pay
- $37,390
- Hiring change through 2035
- 12.1%
- Job openings a year
- 218,600
To get hiredNo formal educational credential
Explore this career Growing with the economyCooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Median pay
- $37,450
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.8%
- Job openings a year
- 62,900
To get hiredNo formal educational credential
Explore this career GrowingChefs and Head Cooks
- Median pay
- $62,470
- Hiring change through 2035
- 6.6%
- Job openings a year
- 25,200
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career GrowingBartenders
- Median pay
- $34,340
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.0%
- Job openings a year
- 121,200
To get hiredNo formal educational credential
Explore this career GrowingFood Service Managers
- Median pay
- $69,390
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.8%
- Job openings a year
- 38,800
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career GrowingBakers
- Median pay
- $37,160
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.5%
- Job openings a year
- 36,500
To get hiredNo formal educational credential
Explore this career GrowingCooks, Private Household
- Median pay
- $47,940
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.1%
- Job openings a year
- 5,000
To get hiredPostsecondary nondegree award
Explore this career Growing with the economyButchers and Meat Cutters
- Median pay
- $40,140
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.4%
- Job openings a year
- 15,100
To get hiredNo formal educational credential
Explore this career GrowingCooks, All Other
- Median pay
- $37,690
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.2%
- Job openings a year
- 2,800
To get hiredNo formal educational credential
Explore this career Growing with the economyPostsecondary Teachers, All Other
- Median pay
- $77,640
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.0%
- Job openings a year
- 12,500
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this career Growing with the economySlaughterers and Meat Packers
- Median pay
- $40,130
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.0%
- Job openings a year
- 7,700
To get hiredNo formal educational credential
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
Most careers connected to this field involve in-person work. About 98 of every 100 openings require working close to other people or spending time on your feet.
College options
Where to study it
Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.
| College | Degrees a year | Admit rate | Average annual cost after aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence RI | 168 | 84% | $28,000 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Delhi NY | 22 | 88% | $19,000 |
| Drexel University PA | 10 | 78% | $35,000 |
| College of the Ozarks MO | 4 | 15% | $5,000 |
| Texas Woman's University TX | 3 | 95% | $11,000 |
| Central Washington University WA | 3 | 90% | $16,000 |
| Dominican University IL | 1 | 80% | $12,000 |
| Southern New Hampshire University NH | 1 | 96% | $37,000 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte NC | 1 | 75% | $25,000 |