Get Real-World Experience as You Train in Culinary Arts

With fully equipped state-of-the-art kitchens, knowledgeable professors and a direct line to connections within the industry, Westmoreland can train you to be a successful culinary chef.

We have one of the region’s best culinary programs and have graduated some of the state's (and country’s) top chefs. One of our alumni, Rich Rosendale, holds the prestigious title of Certified Master Chef.

Westmoreland offers both a degree and a diploma in the Culinary Arts - Apprenticeship Option. The degree program is accreditated as Exemplary through the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation.

What Will I Learn?

• Prepare, season and cook according to recipe and local,
  regional and international traditions and diversity: soups,
  sauces, salads, meats, fish poultry, game, vegetables and
  desserts using acceptable standards of sanitation and safety
• Apply standards of nutrition and wellness in food preparation
• Design set-up and prepare meals and buffets and serve meals
• Design menus with descriptive wording and layout designs
• Plan and execute food production and requisitions within an
  established food and labor budget
• Recognize quality standards in fresh vegetables, meats,
  poultry, game and all other foodstuffs
• Demonstrate basic skills in culinary artistries including ice
  carving, tallow sculpting, cake decorating and garniture
  display
• And more!

What Will I Earn?

If you plan to stay in the region, there are many occupations related to this program degree and certificates. In the 10-county region* surrounding Westmoreland County Community College, the earnings for occupations in this field range from $16.13 - $37.88 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $25.45. 

It is important to remember that wages vary based on level of education, experience, job location and other factors. 

Source: Data provided by Lightcast™ (https://lightcast.io/) 2023.1

* 10-county region includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland.

The Apprenticeship 

This apprenticeship degree program combines 63 or 64 credits of academic course work with 4,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training in a participating restaurant, club, hotel, resort or institution for an associate degree. The diploma requires 45-46 credits of course work.

Classes are scheduled so that students have a sufficient block of uninterrupted time to complete their 40-hour week. Academic work can be completed as a full-time student in two years or as a part-time student over a period of three years.

The apprenticeship may be completed through a partnership with Nemacolin Woodlands Resort or Seven Springs Mountain Resort as well as other approved apprenticeship sites.

• View Culinary Arts, AAS - Apprenticeship Option in the College Catalog
• View Culinary Arts, Diploma - Apprenticeship in the College Catalog

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the culinary arts program may accept jobs with the following titles: cook, working chef, sous chef, personal chef, sales representative, executive chef, culinary educator and manager.