The Culinary Institute of America

  • Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program

    Broaden Your Career Options with ACAP

    Do you have a degree in hospitality management, food science, or nutrition? And do you want to gain an understanding and command of the dynamic, challenging, and rewarding world of professional kitchens? With your current degree, you're certainly primed to excel in some areas of your chosen profession. But how prepared are you to tackle the "food" side of the equation?

    The Culinary Institute of America has the solution—the Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program (ACAP). Designed exclusively for graduates of hospitality management, food science, nutrition, and related bachelor’s degree programs, ACAP provides food-focused professionals with extensive culinary knowledge and professional kitchen experience. Completed in just 30 weeks, it's the perfect program to enhance your effectiveness in foodservice and increase your career marketability.

    Apply Now

    In the accelerated culinary arts certificate program in California, you will:

    • Learn about food ingredients and professional equipment.
    • Build knife skills and learn cooking principles for proteins, starches, and vegetables.
    • Prepare cuisines of the Americas, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
    • Learn about flavor strategies and healthy cooking methods.
    • Explore baking and pastry principles and production techniques.

    Prerequisites

    This program is designed for individuals who possess an approved bachelor's degree in hospitality management, restaurant management, food science, nutrition/dietetics, or related fields, and have a serious interest in advancing their culinary knowledge.

    Curriculum

    FIRST SEMESTER

    CourseCredits
    Culinary Fundamentals*
    		6 credits
    Ingredients and Techniques of Fabrication
    		3 credits
    Introduction to À la Carte Cooking
    		3 credits
    Contemporary Topics in Culinary Arts
    		3 credits
    Total Credits: 15

    SECOND SEMESTER

    CourseCredits
    Baking and Pastry Skill Development
    		3 credits
    Cuisines of the Americas
    		3 credits
    Cuisines of Asia
    		3 credits
    Culinary Practical Examination I
    		Non-Credit
    Cuisines of the Mediterranean
    		3 credits
    Garde Manger
    		3 credits
    Total Credits: 15

    Total Credits for Certificate 30 in 30 weeks

    Costs

    The CIA is very committed to making your CIA education as affordable as possible. Our costs are comparable to similar colleges, and here's even better news—approximately 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid.

    Don't let applying for financial assistance keep you from going to the world's premier culinary college. No matter what your individual circumstances are, we will work with you to help make attending the CIA an affordable investment in your future in the world of food.

    Careers

    Design a Career That's Just Right for You

    When you combine your bachelor's degree with the skills you'll learn in the ACAP, your career options will instantly multiply. Take a look at just a few of the positions in which CIA ACAP alumni are working:

    • Country club sous chef
    • Culinary concept specialist
    • Demonstration chef
    • Dietitian
    • Director of culinary innovation
    • Educator
    • Food science/lab technician
    • Food technologist
    • Guest services manager
    • Hotel line cook
    • Manager of culinary services
     
    • Marketing manager
    • Media spokesperson
    • Nutrition consultant
    • Private chef
    • Research assistant
    • Restaurant assistant manager
    • Restaurant general manager
    • Sous chef
    • Specialty store manager
    • Technical service scientist
    • Test kitchen chef
     

    Related Links

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    Spotlight On: Epsilon SellasAccelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program (ACAP)

    “I really liked working in the kitchen but knew I needed additional education,” she says. “When I did my research, I found that The Culinary Institute of America is the best out there, especially for a graduate with a four year degree. I didn’t want to enroll in another two or four-year program, so the 30-week Accelerated Culinary Arts Program (ACAP) offered at the Greystone campus was perfect. In just nine months, I had my certificate. The CIA was the only school that offered such a program.”
    Read More