Culinary Fundamentals

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Culinary Fundamentals is designed to develop basic skills in culinary arts for personal interest. The program provides instruction in culinary concepts, terminology, kitchen safety and sanitation, equipment usage, basic nutrition, scaling, food costing, and theory and practice in the production of culinary products. Courses emphasize fundamental cooking techniques and preparation of savory foods, breakfast items, salads, sandwiches, dressings, breads and pastries. Some of these CCL credits will apply to the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Culinary Arts (3564). Students seeking entry-level credentials for professional food service positions should speak with an academic and career advisor.

Details

Field of Interest
Business, Entrepreneurialism, and Management
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Culinary Fundamentals (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5532
Total credits required
16
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2022
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Students are required to obtain a Maricopa County Food Handlers Card before the start of in-person culinary arts courses.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Utilize classical and modern culinary techniques in the effective production of savory foods and baked/pastry products.
  2. Practice national standards for the safe and sanitary handling of food and kitchen equipment.
  3. Describe procedures for back of house operations that address purchasing, inventory, cost controls, and nutritional guidelines.
  4. Practice professional and ethical behavior in the hospitality industry.
  5. Demonstrate effective communication skills to facilitate teamwork and time management.
  6. Compose multiple flavors, textures, and colors into products that are reflective of industry trends.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

$34,439

There are additional career opportunities associated with this certificate that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
  • Cooks, All Other
* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
CUL101 Culinary Basics 3
CUL102 Hot Foods 3
CUL103 Breakfast and Cold Foods 3
CUL104 Bakery and Pastry 3
CUL+++ Any CUL Culinary Arts prefixed course(s) other than the courses listed above 4
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm?id=174683).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.