Cert in Culinary Arts and Related Services

This certificate gives students a concentrated, hands-on start in professional cooking at Lamar Institute of Technology. It is available only to high school students taking part in the Dual Credit Program, and it runs for about nine months. Training covers cutting techniques, preparing ingredients and several cooking methods. Students also look at why food behaves as it does, studying chemistry, taste and nutrition, and they get an introduction to running a kitchen through lessons on controlling stock, managing costs and leading a team. After finishing, graduates are ready for beginning positions in restaurants, hotels and catering companies. They may also continue into more specialized culinary education elsewhere. The course is offered only to dual credit students. Students interested in cooking can begin building a career path through it.