The Culinary Institute of America is considered a top culinary arts school.
The Culinary Institute of America is a selective culinary arts institution which requires not only a high school degree but placement testing, even before application in some of its programs. Students pay around $14,000 a semester as of 2011 and must complete a rigorous academic and experiential program for graduation.
Academic Requirements for Admission
Applicants must have a high school diploma or General Education Degree to enter CIA. Generally, the school has no minimum grade point average requirement. But applicants may be required to take math, reading and writing assessment tests through COMPASS. They may be exempt from one or more test is they can present SAT scores of 500 or better on a test taken in the last five years; ACT scores of 19 or better in the same period; transcripts from completing a college English composition or culinary mathematics course with a C or better grade; and/or receiving a score of four or higher on the English AP writing test.
Experience and Recommendations to Begin
Applicants must have two letters of recommendation. In addition, they must have accrued six months (working at least ten hours a week) of hands-on food service preparation, using fresh ingredients in a professional kitchen or bakery. At least half the food made in the kitchen must be made to order.
Financial Requirements
Total tuition including supplies and room and board for the San Antonio, Texas culinary arts certificate program was about $14,000 a semester for two semesters as of April 2010. The associate's degree program costs roughly the same but extends for four semesters. The St. Helena, California associate's degree program for 2011-2012 is about $1,500 more for the first semester as is the New York program. The St. Helena accelerated culinary arts and wine and beverage programs average about $15,000 a semester for two semesters. The bachelors culinary arts program in Hyde Park, New York, averages about $14,000 a semester for eight semesters. Financial aid is available.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements depend on which program you sign up for. In addition to passing academic classes, with the associate's degree in Texas, for example, students spend part of the last year working in one of three restaurants, dividing their time between cooking or baking and serving. In the California and New York associate's degree and bachelor's programs, students do an 18-week "externship" at one of 1,200 food service facilities around the world connected with CIA.
Tags: culinary arts, associate degree, about semester, Culinary Institute, Culinary Institute America, Institute America, must have