Have you ever wanted to learn to be a cook? From preparing delicious appetizers and entrées to creating amazing sauces and desserts, cooks are an essential part of any kitchen team.
Due to the hands-on nature of this job, you might think it isn’t possible to take a culinary school class online and gain the real-world experience you might need in your career at a restaurant, hotel or private residence.1 Not true! In fact, participating in a hybrid culinary degree program could be a great way to enjoy the flexibility of online classes while gaining the experience of an in-person course.
Before getting into the specifics of a hybrid program, let’s dive into more about the culinary industry and how you can become a cook.
About the culinary industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cooks of all levels are involved in the preparation of food for restaurants, private households and other establishments where food is served. The specific responsibilities of cooks vary depending on both job title and where they work. For instance, a personal chef plans and prepares meals in private homes. Typically, a person in this role is also responsible for ordering groceries and cleaning the kitchen. By contrast, restaurant cooks prep a wide selection of dishes each day and cook most orders individually.
The culinary industry as a whole is growing steadily. The BLS projected food preparation related occupations, which includes a variety of types of cooks and culinary managers, to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is faster than the average for all occupations. 2 The industry is projected to gain about one million jobs over the next decade.2
How to become a cook
While there generally aren’t any formal educational requirements to become a cook, some cooks complete a culinary arts program at a trade school.1 Most cooks kick off their career by working in other entry-level positions, such as in food preparation, and move up gradually. Many professional cooks spend a lot of time in kitchens before gaining enough experience to be promoted to a chef or head cook position.
At Remington College, we’re proud to offer both a culinary management degree and culinary skills essentials diploma program in hybrid format to help prepare aspiring cooks for entry-level positions in the field.1
What is a hybrid culinary skills course like?
Hybrid courses can offer a balance between online and in-person learning. Students can study class materials digitally and be exposed to the theories of the course. Then, they have the opportunity to apply this information first-hand in their cooking lab. For instance, you might research, discuss and complete an assignment about the preparation and use of various sauces then practice actually preparing a sauce and pairing it with a dish during your lab session.
In addition to mixing the convenience of online learning with hands-on applications, hybrid courses allow students to make face-to-face connections with their instructors and classmates. All culinary programs at Remington College are led by industry-experienced instructors who are dedicated to providing hands-on experience for students.1
1 Employment not guaranteed for students or graduates.
2BLS statistics represent national job growth expectations and are not necessarily reflective of local market conditions.
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