Frequently Asked Questions

ACC’s Culinary Arts program is taught at the Eastview Campus, located at 3401 Webberville Rd., Building 3000, Austin, TX 78702. Some applicable classes are available online or at off-campus locations, and general education classes can be taken at any ACC location. However, the bulk of the training occurs at the Eastview Campus in two state-of-the-art kitchens.

WE ARE EXPANDING! We now offer two of our introductory culinary classes, Sanitation and Safety (CHEF 1205) and Food Production and Planning (IFWA 1217), Saturdays at the Round Rock Campus!

STARTING SPRING 2020! We will be moving to the Highland Campus and growing our program from a small location with two kitchens to a much larger location with four brand new kitchens and a full-schedule restaurant!

The Associates of Applied Science degrees can be completed by a full-time student in two years (attending three semesters per year). The Certificate programs are designed to be completed in three semesters (one year), attending school full time. However, there is no minimum course requirement at Austin Community College. You can take as many or as few classes as needed, making it easy to tailor your education to your schedule. Please refer to the degree plans for more information.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) takes longer than a Certificate. The course plan for a Certificate only includes classes specific to the culinary industry. The Associate of Applied Science Degree, on the other hand, has general education courses (Mathematics, English Compositition, Oral Communication, Social/Behavioral Science, and Language/Culture & Creative Arts) in addition to culinary-specific courses.

Yes! This is considered dual major. You can either do one program after the other, or you can take the classes for both programs at the same time. If you want to dual major, you will need to meet with an academic advisor to have your student profile updated.

At Austin Community College you have access to an affordable, high-quality education. Remember, there are always options you can explore to help pay tuition and other school expenses, including financial aid and veterans benefits. Based upon your residency and district, our Tuition page can help you determine the cost of credit classes.

Credit hours from other schools can count towards a program at ACC. To determine which credit hours transfer to ACC your transcripts must be reviewed by an academic advisor. If you plan to advance to a University, ACC credits can be transferred in many instances. Please contact an academic advisor to get started.

Completing a Culinary Arts program is an excellent way to enter a high-growth profession and excel in your chosen service industry field. You may choose to work in a restaurant, hotel, resort, in catering, in grocery, or even start your own business. There are unlimited directions you can take your career once you graduate. People will always need to eat, which means there will always be a demand for culinary professionals. Students in ACC Culinary Arts programs receive instruction in the more academic aspects of the food service industry, such as purchasing, cost control, and menu engineering which will provide them with a competitive edge. Whichever path you choose, the ACC Culinary Arts program can offer you in-depth knowledge in a wide range of culinary concepts, as well as Hospitality and Business.

A skilled culinary professional must be able to demonstrate a well-developed sense of taste and smell, exhibit the technical skills of food preparation, understand costs and budgeting, work effectively as part of a team, and comply with health and sanitation standards to be successful in their career. The United States Department of Labor compiles statistics in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, where you can search for information on all different job titles. You can also do salary searches at SalaryFinder. There is no set range of salaries in the food-service industry, which are typically based upon experience and education combined. With the right education from an accredited school there are no limits of where your career can go!

ACC offers an array of exciting courses in Culinary Arts, including Basic Food Preparation, Nutrition and Menu Planning, Fundamentals of Baking, and International Cuisine to name a few. Depending on which certificate or degree you choose to obtain, you will be able to take a variety of hands-on classes specific to that degree or certificate.

Please refer to the Culinary Arts degree plans and course descriptions to review more information on the programs offered through the Culinary Arts Department. This list does not include the general education requirements that you may need to take to complete your certificate or degree.

All Culinary Arts students must be advised by the department, submit a petition to take Culinary classes, and have this approved before you are allowed to register. This ensures that all students are in the proper classes and that students will graduate in a timely manner. You can find detailed steps on our How to Get Started page.

If you find that after reviewing our website you still have additional questions, please contact us at 512.223.5179 or at culinary@austincc.edu.