- Bachelor’s Degree Program
Food Business Leadership
Program Overview
Online Bachelor’s Degree for CIA Associate Graduates Only
Looking for a promotion? Ready to advance your career? Let’s make it happen. You’ve got the fundamentals and hands-on kitchen skills. Now master the business side of food, enhance your career, and boost your earning potential with CIA’s online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Food Business Leadership.
There’s no better way to turn your CIA associate degree into a bachelor’s! With convenient, accessible part-time study, you’ll advance your career while you work—at your own pace. This online bachelor’s program is designed specifically for CIA associate degree alumni with at least four years of full-time, progressive work experience after graduating. You’ll gain advanced knowledge from the same world-class faculty that mentored you before, and make essential connections with business leaders that you’ll carry with you throughout your career.
Whether you want to become a leader outside the kitchen or lead a kitchen, you’ll be fully prepared to grow your career with this online bachelor’s degree.
Quick Facts
Start Date: September
Campus: Online
For CIA Associate Degree Graduates Only
Program Highlights
- Benefit from the convenience of a curriculum that’s 100% online—you can earn your bachelor’s degree without interrupting your work schedule.
- Get the comprehensive, food business-specific skills you need to become a next-level leader and prepare for what’s coming in the food world.
- Explore career-relevant topics such as economics, sustainability of food systems, and key principles of business leadership—all vital to your future advancement and success.
- Apply up to 30 transfer credits from a college other than CIA to complete your degree even faster.
- Grow your earning power—per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bachelor’s grads earn nearly 42% more weekly than those with associates.
Careers
Take Your Place as a Leader
The food industry is bursting with opportunities and looking for leaders. Couple that with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that bachelor’s degrees lead to 42% more weekly earnings than associates, and you can see why this food business leadership program is so vital to your career.
It’s the ideal formula for success. Greater opportunity + greater earning potential = an amazing food business career. And with your CIA bachelor’s degree in hand, you’ll have plenty of next-level leadership paths to choose, in areas such as:
- Food and beverage management
- Corporate foodservice
- Restaurants and catering
- Hotels and resorts
- School foodservice
- And so much more!
Curriculum
Cutting-Edge Curriculum
You will get a carefully designed mix of in-depth food- and beverage-focused management, business, and liberal arts courses that build on CIA’s renowned culinary or baking and pastry arts core.
The 60-credit Bachelor of Business Administration in Food Business Leadership includes:
- 30 credits in liberal arts requirements
- 30 credits in business leadership requirements
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, and sommeliers.
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
The Value of a CIA Education
If you’re looking to advance your career in food, there is no better investment than a CIA education. From hands-on opportunities and expert faculty instruction to unique concentrations and exclusive networking events, our education and experiences are unparalleled. We are also committed to making your CIA education as affordable as possible. Our costs are comparable to similar colleges, with more than 90% of our students receiving some form of financial aid.
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 Business and Management
The food-focused business education offered through the School of Business and Management is unprecedented—this level of high-end food, beverage, and hospitality instruction is not found in any MBA program. The depth of research and experience provided by our expert faculty delivers industry-relevant learning ideal for today’s ever-expanding food world. These instructors have helped shape the advancement of foodservice and hospitality into the global business model we see today. Students also have access to leading food business professionals who share their insights.
FAQs
Are you considering a career in food business? These FAQs are a great way to get to know us a little better or to find the answer to a specific question you may have. If you don’t see the information you’re looking for below, please contact us at 1-800-CULINARY or [email protected].
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Will I need to move to a CIA campus location to complete my studies?
No—it’s 100% online. The BBA degree program has been specifically designed for distance delivery only. Students can complete the program from any location with an Internet connection. -
Is it possible to work a full-time job while enrolled in the online bachelor’s degree program?
Yes—while the academic rigor of the online BBA degree program does require commitment, we believe the workload and pacing will allow most students to achieve a reasonable work/life/study balance. Students will be enrolled part-time with the flexibility to take one to three 3-credit-hour courses per semester. Courses will be delivered in either a seven-week or 15-week format. Study time is flexible; students can spread class work across multiple short study sessions or fewer blocks of longer duration to meet their schedule needs. Some of the courses may require simultaneous participation from enrolled students. Assignments and associated timelines will vary by course and be clearly outlined in the syllabus provided at the start of each course. -
Can I enroll in the program if I have an associate degree from a college other than CIA?
No—you must have completed an associate degree from CIA to be admitted to this program. -
Are there other requirements, beyond completion of a CIA associate degree, for admission into this program?
Yes—to be considered for enrollment in this online bachelor’s program, you must provide evidence of four years of progressive work experience after you earned your associate degree from CIA. -
How long will it take me to finish CIA’s online bachelor’s degree program?
This program is specifically designed to fit your life. Set your own pace—or even change pace as the demands of your life change. You can take anywhere from three to nine credits per semester as you work toward the 60-credit total. Have transfer credits from another college? You can complete the degree even faster! -
Who is teaching the courses in the online bachelor’s program?
Each of the core online courses will be taught by CIA full-time and adjunct faculty who are experts in their fields. Most coursework is offered in an asynchronous delivery, meaning that students can work on the material at any time that fits their schedule, but still need to adhere to the structure of assignments, interactions, and evaluations. There will be a few courses that will require class meetings/sessions at a set time/day. -
How do faculty and students interact?
Within the online platform (Moodle), faculty can set up many kinds of student interactions between faculty and a student, and between students. Examples include online group chats, forums, announcements, group discussion boards, and workshops.