Top 5 Culinary Schools in America

A common misconception is that education is not required to become a chef. While a small number of people can work their way up through the kitchen, most of the top chefs have some form of formal education. Just like other professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, the school a chef attends has a great impact on their future. Listed below are the top 5 culinary schools in America.The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) - CIA not only includes the basics of cooking in their curriculum, they also include management theories and interpersonal skills as well. Their programs include much hands on experience with students spending at least 1,300 hours in the kitchen. There is also an 18 week internship at one of 1,600 top restaurants around the world. Associate degrees are typically 21 months, and bachelor degrees are 38 months.Texas Culinary Academy - Texas Culinary Academy offers a culinary arts program as well as a patisserie and baking program. They have a number of degree and certificate programs. Students will learn basic cooking skills along with other skills they will need in the field, such as butchering, purchasing, and cost control.Johnson & Wales University - Johnson & Wales prides itself on being more than just a cooking school. They offer an intense hands-on approach in their real-life kitchens. They offer associate degrees in baking & pastry arts and culinary arts. They also offer bachelor degrees in baking & pastry arts and culinary arts. However, they also have programs in culinary nutrition, food marketing, food service entrepreneurship and food service management.Sullivan University - Sullivan offers a total of seven different programs. These range from a nine month professional baker diploma to a 36 month bachelor degree in hospitality management, and everything in between. They have state of the art facilities including five bake shops, a gourmet dining room, a demonstration lab, and a catering service.Liaison College - Liaison College offers diploma programs in basic cook, advanced cook, personal chef, and hospitality administration. The basic cook program lasts for 15 weeks and incorporates classroom work with hands on experience. All of the instructors are master chefs giving students the best training in classic culinary techniques.Whether you are already a cook or just starting out, a culinary education is a must in order to succeed in the industry. All of the top culinary schools are accredited and often offer financial aid and scholarships.