School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts
From meeting planning to menu planning to service, you will gain skills that are transferable around the world. But don’t forget, you’re already in the hospitality capital of the world where exciting career opportunities are abundant.
Recipe for Success
Do you enjoy cooking, entertaining or seeing a smile on a guest’s face? Is your dream to work with innovative chefs in the restaurant or culinary industry? Do you imagine yourself planning captivating conventions or making vacationers’ dreams come true? Whether you’re into four-star resorts or five-diamond restaurants, a career in the hospitality or culinary field may be just right for you.
One out of every five jobs in Central Florida is in the hospitality industry. With Orlando as the hospitality capital of the world, career opportunities are abundant. From cruise ships to convention centers, four-star restaurants to five-diamond resorts, theme parks and travel operations, exciting career opportunities are waiting to be filled. Get help with job search strategies, employment readiness, interviewing and more at one of our four on-campus Career Centers.
Associate in Science Degree Programs
Baking and Pastry Management
If you are creative and love baking, consider a career in baking and pastry management. This program will give you the opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art production kitchen and gain hands-on instruction in confectionery artistry, breads, pastries, cakes, chocolates and more. Graduates will be prepared for the following tasks:
- Baking and other pastry making, including breads, cakes, pies, icings, puddings, fillings and desserts
- Catering and banquet management, including training service personnel, preparing food cost estimates and stewarding control sheets
- Perform confectionery artistry
Potential Careers:
- Assistant Bakery Manager
- Assistant Pastry Chef
- Baker’s Commis
- Baking and Pastry Chef
- Executive Pastry Chef
- Lead Bread and Pastry Baker
Culinary Management
This program provides you with some of the best chefs in the industry as your teachers, and provides instruction in sanitation, nutritional analysis and the basic elements for great classical, international and American cuisine. Graduates will be prepared to:
- Create recipes for healthy cuisine including classical, international and American regional cuisine
- Plan menus, estimate food needs, order the proper amount of food, track costs and trend analysis
- Produce quality food with an emphasis on presentation
Potential Careers:
- Culinary Manager
- Executive Chef
- Food and Beverage Manager
- Lead Cook
- Prep Cook
- Sous Chef
Hospitality and Tourism Management
If you have always wondered how so many memories are made in Central Florida, consider an A.S. degree in Hospitality Management. You’ll study in the tourist mecca of the United States and train in a sophisticated computer lab with a dynamic point-of-sale system and a hotel front desk simulation area. Graduates will be able to perform the following tasks:
- Analyze and control food and labor costs, monitor sales, evaluate competition and develop a marketing plan
- Plan and execute banquets, conventions and other major events
- Plan, organize and manage the operation of restaurants, hotels, motels and other eating and lodging facilities
Potential Careers:
- Catering/Sales and Services
- Food and Beverage Specialist
- Food Service and Lodging Manager
- Front Office Supervisor
- Guest Services Supervisor
- Rooms Division Specialist
Technical Certificate Programs
Prepare for entry-level employment or upgrade your skills for job advancement. Most programs can be completed in one year or less.
- Baking and Pastry Arts
- Baking and Pastry Specialist
- Bar and Beverage Management
- Chef’s Apprentice
- Culinary Arts
- Culinary Arts Management Operations
- Event Planning and Management
- Guest Services Specialist
- Hotel Operations and Management
- Restaurant and Foodservice Management
- Pastry Chef’s Apprentice
- Theme Park and Attractions Management
Advanced Technical Certificate Program
Supplement your associate degree with advanced specialized training in as little as a year.
Valencia College provides equal opportunity for educational opportunities and employment to all. For more information, please visit valenciacollege.edu/equalopportunity