Culinary Arts Tech Prep

The Culinary Arts Tech Prep program enables high school seniors to earn up to 11 credit hours through Schenectady County Community College, 15 credit hours through Johnson & Wales University, and certification through the American Culinary Federation (ACF) ACCESS program. Students who take Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology as juniors may move up to Tech Prep as seniors, or seniors may enroll in Culinary Arts Tech Prep as a one-year, stand-alone course.

Culinary Arts & Hospitality at the Albany campus is also certified by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) as an ACF ACCESS program. Faculty are ACF Certified Executive Chefs (CECs) and Certified Chef Educators (CCEs). Career & Tech is an ACF Blue Ribbon ACCESS School.

Learning takes place on campus in the classroom and professional kitchen, dining room and Cafe Anders, a student-run restaurant that is open to the public. Culinary Arts Tech Prep students participate in a 10-week internship and in a variety of public service events and culinary skills competitions. Students also may test for the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe Sanitation certification.

Students may compete for scholarships at several colleges and universities. A number of students from both campuses earn such awards each year and gain valuable financial assistance for college.

Career opportunities:
Cooking: prep cook, line cook, pantry, short-order cook, dishwasher
Baking: cake decorator, baker, pastry artist
Dining room: host, waitperson, bus person, maitre d'
Business: restaurant owner, front desk manager, food and beverage manager

Units of study:
Nutrition
Meal planning
Sanitation
Catering
Dining room service
Food production
Baking and cake decorating
Business math
Integrated science, math and/or English

Portfolio:
Students create a portfolio which they present to teachers, administrators, peers and/or industry professionals. The portfolio includes employability information and exemplary work in technical and communication skills that students have created and developed over the course of the year.

College credits:
Schenectady County Community College:
Food Preparation I - 3 credits
Elements of Baking - 3 credits
Math for Food Service - 3 credits
Basic Sanitation - 2 credits

SUNY Cobleskill - 4 credits

Johnson & Wales University - 15 credits

New England Culinary Institute - 3 - 9 credits

Pennsylvania Culinary Institute - 15 credits

Academic prerequisites:
English - 3 units
Math - Course I
Keyboarding
Biology or chemistry

Professional requirements:
Black work shoes
Checkered pants
Name tag
Calculator
Food thermometer

Application:
Students interested in Culinary Arts Tech Prep are requested to complete and mail back an application. Click below:
Culinary Arts Tech Prep application

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view/print the application.

Further study:
Students are prepared for further study at schools including:
Johnson & Wales University
Schenectady County Community College
SUNY Cobleskill
Culinary Institute of America
Pennsylvania Culinary School
New England Culinary Institute
Paul Smith's College
Adirondack Community College

Teacher Profile:
Chef Paul Dolan

Chef Iannacone