- Associate Degree Program
Baking and Pastry Arts
Program Overview
Sweet Dreams
Have you had a desire to run your own bakery or café as far back as you can remember? Or to design spectacular cakes or prepare desserts for elegant catered affairs? CIA’s Associate in Baking and Pastry Arts degree program is where you can make these dreams happen! In less than two years, you’ll be well on your way to a successful career in this creative profession thanks to the best hands-on learning experience with our expert, industry-proven faculty.
Quick Facts
Start Dates: September, January, April*
Campuses: New York, California, Texas
CIA Core Advantage: Baking
Internship Included
*April start not available in Texas
Program Highlights
- Learn how to craft delicious high-end products like chocolates, confections, pastries, artisan breads, cakes, and plated desserts.
- Study pastry techniques, baking ingredients and technology, and principles of design.
- Gain real-world experience through a paid internship semester at one of the CIA’s 2,000+ food industry partners. (Already have experience? Check out our Turbo Option.)
- Hone your business skills with study in management, communications, and finance.
- Discover how a retail bakery operation is run—hands-on in CIA’s bakery café, one of our live-action restaurant classrooms that serve thousands of customers annually.
- Network with top baking and pastry employers who recruit at CIA throughout the year.
Careers
Rise to the Top in Baking and Pastry
Explore all your career options at exciting venues such as:
- Bakeries
- Bistros
- Hotels
- Private clubs
- Resorts
- Restaurants
Curriculum
Cutting-Edge Curriculum
New York and California Campuses
The 66-credit Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS) in Baking and Pastry Arts degree program includes:
- 52.5 credits in baking and pastry arts requirements
- 7.5 credits in liberal arts requirements
- 6 credits in business management requirements
You will get a hands-on experiential foundation in the baking and pastry arts, including specialty breads, confectionery art, production desserts, design, advanced baking principles, menus, and café savory foods.
- As part of your degree program, you’ll get real-world experience during a semester-long internship at one of more than 2,000 CIA-approved businesses, as well as in the kitchens and dining rooms of CIA’s award-winning public restaurants.
Texas Campus
The 69-credit Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Baking and Pastry Arts degree program includes:
- 52.5 credits in baking and pastry arts requirements
- 10.5 credits in liberal arts requirements
- 6 credits in business management requirements
You will get a hands-on experiential foundation in the baking and pastry arts, including specialty breads, confectionery art, production desserts, design, advanced baking principles, menus, and café savory foods.
As part of your degree program, you’ll get real-world experience during a semester-long internship at one of more than 2,000 CIA-approved businesses, as well as in the kitchens and dining rooms of CIA’s award-winning public restaurants.
Cool Courses You’ll Take…
Let your creativity flow in CIA baking and pastry arts degree program, with courses that may surprise you.
CIA Restaurants and Internship Experiences
High-Energy Experience in Our Restaurants
The CIA restaurant experience will really make you stand out to food industry employers. The hands-on work you’ll do in our restaurant kitchens and dining rooms is exactly the kind of experience they value—and they often look to CIA grads first when hiring.
Internships: Real, Life Experience
You have a world of choices for your semester-long internship, giving you unprecedented access to Michelin three-star restaurants, international hotel groups, innovative test kitchens, and more throughout the food and hospitality industry.
Faculty
Learn From Top Industry Experts
We want you to become the best of the best, which is why our faculty members are masters in their fields. Learn from acclaimed chefs, industry executives, world-famous restaurateurs, restaurant owners, published authors, sommeliers, and more.
Admissions
Have Questions? We Have Answers!
Whether you’re curious about our degree offerings, need guidance on the application process, or want to know more about campus activities and student life—we’re here to help! Just submit your contact information and we’ll ensure that you:
- Learn more about our programs and find out which one is right for you
- Hear what our students love about their CIA journey
- Receive help with the application process from your admissions counselor
Get an Up-close look at CIA
Tour Campus or Attend an Online Event
Whether you’re looking to visit one of our campuses or would prefer the convenience of a virtual event, there’s no better way to learn more about CIA than with one of our admissions events.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Culinary School Costs
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—more than 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 CIA an affordable investment in your future in the world of food.
Chat With a Student
Are you curious about what it’s really like to attend CIA? We’ve got you covered. Our students are ready to answer the questions you haven’t asked anyone else, share their own personal experiences, and give you genuine advice—because they’ve gone through it, too.
School of Baking and Pastry Arts
The School of Baking and Pastry Arts advances baking and pastry skills in state-of-the-art bakeshops, classrooms, and restaurants on campus. Through the college’s vital industry partnerships and gift-in-kind program, students work in spectacular facilities such as the public-facing Apple Pie Bakery Café and have access to premium products like Ghirardelli chocolates. They also explore contemporary methods and concepts, such as baking for vegan, gluten-free, no-sugar, and dairy-free diets. The faculty’s expertise and extensive industry experience bring vibrant creativity and inspiration to learning.
CONNECT WITH US
Just try not to drool on your screen…