Last Updated on July 28, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
BA in Culinary Arts is one of the best professional culinary arts courses available in India. Unlike Hotel Management programs, this course is not generalized and focuses on the topic of culinary arts very well. This course has been tailor made to churn out innovative chefs! In this article, you will be reading about BA in Culinary Arts course details, eligibility criteria, admission process, syllabus and career prospects.
What exactly is culinary arts, you may ask. Culinary art is about all things cooking. It covers topics like food preparation, cooking, presentation of food and serving etiquette.
BA in Culinary Arts course trains young chef aspirants in the above mentioned aspects and turn them into qualified professionals chefs, who are capable of working under supervised and independent setups (like Hotels, Resorts, Clubs, Restaurants, Bars etc).
In short, if you want to become a professional chef at high profile Hotels, Resorts, Restaurants and other such setups, BA in Culinary Arts course will be of help to you. Let us check out course details one by one-
Course details
BA in Culinary Arts is a 3 years long Undergraduate Degree program. It is a Bachelor of Arts program. The academic program consists of classroom lectures, cooking demonstration and practical sessions.
Evaluation is done through written examination as well as practical examination.
Eligibility criteria
Students who have passed 10+2 board examination (any stream- Science/Commerce/Arts) from a recognized board are eligible to pursue this course. Minimum aggregate marks criteria may apply in case of most institutes (around 50% marks, may vary from one institute to another).
Admission process
Many Institutes follow merit wise admission process. Marks scored in 10+2 board exam are considered while allotting seats to candidates. Some institutes follow direct admission process. Few institutes have their own qualifying test and interview, when it comes to admissions!
Syllabus
To get a better idea about the course structure, let us check out some of the important subjects present in BA in Culinary Arts program. Note: Not all subjects have been mentioned. Important ones have been listed.
- Food Production
- Food and Beverage Services
- Communication Skills
- Hygiene and Sanitation
- Kitchen Training
- Food and Beverage Matching
- Management and Organizational Behaviour
- Baking and Patisserie
- Material Management
- Culinary Art and Concepts
Along with classroom theory sessions, hands on practical sessions are also present in this program. Work training session is also organized by many institutes.
Career prospects and job opportunities
Prominent places where BA in Culinary Arts graduates may find a job include-
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Clubs
- Bars
- Restaurants
- Cafeterias
In the beginning, one may work at any of the above mentioned setup as a trainee chef. With time, one may rise through ranks, like- Chef, Sous-Chef (second in command of kitchen) and finally become an Executive Chef!
If working under someone is not your cup of tea, you may start your own venture. Having entrepreneurship skills and access to good financial resources will help you start your own Hotel, Restaurant, Cafeteria or Club!
Also read: Culinary Arts courses and careers in India
Other than the above mentioned regular recruiters, some MNCs, Cruise lines, Airlines and Catering firms are also known to recruit qualified chefs.
After pursuing relevant management programs, such as MBA in Hotel Management, one may take on management related jobs in hotel management and catering sectors.
Salary
Starting salary depends on numerous factors. Prominent ones are- profile of the employer, job location, skills of the employee etc. Average starting salary is around 20-30K Rupees per month.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.