Build Your Future in Culinary Arts

Discover new ingredients, techniques, flavors, and so much more with Cypress College’s Culinary Arts Program. We provide students with fundamentals in the methods of food safety, cooking, and culinary management. The program includes exposure to various styles of cuisines, and proper use of culinary applications and equipment. The program is designed to help students develop a working knowledge of what is required to be successful for fast-track culinary management potential.  

Our Culinary Arts Program is not just a cooking school. We are an accredited Hospitality Management Program offering certificates and associate degrees in culinary arts, pastry arts, and hospitality management, with direct opportunities for transfer to Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Long Beach. Cypress College’s Hotel, Restaurant, Culinary Arts Department engages students in a hands-on, state-of-the-art learning environment designed to prepare them to become leaders in the hospitality and culinary industries. 

Program highlights include:

  • Comprehensive, hands-on, and high-quality education
  • Experienced and passionate faculty
  • Cypress Bistro, a student-managed and student operated restaurant
  • Chef demonstrations, tours, and guest speakers
  • Job opportunities with local hospitality employers

Steps to Becoming a Chef

  • Attend culinary school.
  • Find a job working in a restaurant kitchen and obtain practical work experience.
  • Obtain culinary certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Students have the option to earn the following certificates and degree:
Culinary Fundamentals Certificate = 15 units (1–2 semesters)
Culinary Arts Certificate = 36 units (2–3 semesters)
Associate in Science in Culinary Arts = 60–61 units (2 years)

Most full-time students taking 15 credits per semester can complete a certificate in one to three semesters and an associate in science degree in two years. Students may elect to attend part time as well.

The program is $46 per unit for California residents, not including books, fees, and supplies. Units vary by course, but the average is 3 units per course. Unit fees for the 15-unit certificate would be $690; the 36-unit certificate would be $1,656; and the 60-unit associate degree would be approximately $2,760. Most students also qualify for some form of financial aid.

Centrally located in the heart of the Anaheim Resort District and Orange County, our students are employed at Disneyland Resort, Knotts Berry Farm, Hyatt Hotels, Hilton Hotels, and Marriott Hotels.

There are no additional requirements to enroll in this program; however, some courses do have prerequisites that can be viewed in the Cypress College Catalog and the Schedule of Classes.

Steps to Becoming a Chef

  • Attend culinary school.
  • Find a job working in a restaurant kitchen. Knowing how the kitchen and restaurant works is vitally important to becoming a chef.
  • Obtain practical work experience.
  • Obtain culinary certification.