Build Your Future as a Food and Beverage Manager
Cypress College is the perfect venue for students focusing on a career in food and beverage management. Our hands-on learning environment prepares students to become skilled leaders in the restaurant and food service industry. Students learn by doing in our student-managed and student-operated restaurant, Cypress Bistro.
The Food and Beverage Management program provides students with a broad and thorough foundation in restaurant management, beverage operations, managed food services, and special events. Coursework emphasizes the role of guest services, effective oral and written communication, teamwork, management and leadership strategies, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking. Students will be prepared for a career in the thriving restaurant and food service industry.
Program highlights include:
- Comprehensive, hands-on and high-quality education
- Experienced and passionate faculty
- Tours and guest speakers
- Job opportunities with local hospitality employers
- Cypress Bistro, a student-run restaurant
Frequently Asked Questions
Food Service Fundamentals Certificate, 15 units
Food and Beverage Management Certificate, 36 units
Food and Beverage Management Associate in Science in Food and Beverage Management, 60 units
Students who earn an associate degree have the option to transfer to a Bachelor in Science in Hospitality Management program.
Associate in Science in Hospitality Management for Transfer (beginning Fall 2019), 60 units
The program is $46 per unit for California residents, not including books, fees, and supplies. Units vary by course, but the average is three units per course. Unit fees for the 15-unit certificate would be $690, the 36-unit advanced certificate would be $1,656, and the 60-unit associate degree would be $2,760. Most students also qualify for some form of financial aid.
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 median wage for food service managers in California is $50,820 annually.
Food and beverage management students have many career opportunities, particularly with local employers. Some of the many employers of program graduates include the Aramark Gastronome at CSU Fullerton, Sodexo Disney Castmember Cafeteria, Fairview Commons MBK Senior Living, Jay’s Catering, House of Blues Live Nation, Young’s Market, St. Jude Hospital, Hyatt, Marriott, Pelican Hill, Disneyland Resort, Cellar, Vaca, Pueblo, and Urban Plates.
I have enjoyed teaching hospitality management classes at Cypress College since 1999. I hold the Certified Hospitality Educator certification from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and believe that learning is most effective when classes are hands on and interactive. I enjoy the small class sizes in our program and the opportunity to collaborate with students, especially in our student run restaurant, the Cypress Bistro.
I have been teaching online and face-to-face classes in hospitality and management for 15 years with Cypress College, Cal State Long Beach and the University of California, Irvine. I have nearly 25 years of management, leadership, special events and human resources experience. In addition to teaching, I was employed as a human resources professional by Marriott International for nearly two decades.
Program Mapper: View course options for these programs, below.
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.
