About the Nationally Acclaimed Culinary Arts School
Do you dream of a career in food… as a master chef, restaurant owner, or creator of a signature cuisine? Come learn your craft at Kendall, ranked No. 1 in Chicago for preparing students for careers in the culinary arts. Working in our commercial-grade kitchens under the guidance of professional chefs and bakers, you’ll practice making dishes from all over the world.
Our program integrates classroom learning with hands-on experience in the kitchen. This comprehensive view of the foodservice industry will help you get a leg up on other applicants in a competitive job market.
Degrees & Certificates
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts & A.A.S. in Culinary Arts Accelerated
Kendall’s two-year* associate in culinary arts degree fuses the art and science of cooking together with an introduction to restaurant management practices. Alongside rigorous culinary training, you’ll investigate some of the leadership and collaboration strategies you’ll need to excel in a career in food.
B.A. in Culinary Management
Kendall’s bachelor in culinary management is a four-year* degree that combines rigorous culinary foundations with a solid set of business, hospitality and general education studies.
Culinary Arts Certificate
Our certificate program is an ideal stepping stone for those who want to change careers, start a small business, or complement their current work experience with foundational professional cooking skills.
What You Will Learn
Our rigorous curriculum prepares you to excel as a chef, restaurant owner, food innovator and more. Learning in our commercial-grade kitchens from professional chefs, restauranteurs and pastry chefs, you will perfect your craft by learning foundational skills and advanced techniques from recipes around the world; while applying them in real world environments.
Culinary Skills
Food preparation theory; Foundational cooking methods; Food history and ethics; Advanced cooking methods; Quick service and fine dining production; Catering and banquets; international cuisines; Beer, wine and spirits.
Business and Management
Entrepreneurship; Marketing for the food industry; Foodservice public relations; Accounting techniques; Cost control and purchasing; Storeroom management; Leadership strategies; Menu design.
Innovation and Theory
Food science; Chemistry and physics of food; Flavor theories; Flavor perception, description and design; Food service research and development; Designing a foodservice facility; Product flow, sanitation and storage.
Culinary Wellness and Sanitation
Nutrition; Dietary needs; Plant-based cooking; Food allergies; Healthy beverages; Proper storage and hygiene; Food-borne illnesses; Restaurant health code requirements.
Career Outlook
An education from Kendall College at National Louis University helps you become a competitive candidate for a culinary job in the real world. Our alumni have gone on to succeed in a variety of fields armed with real-world culinary training and business skills.
Job opportunities for chefs and head cooks are expected to increase 6 percent from 2019-2029, faster than the average for all other occupations.* And with over 5,195 restaurants and the 4th highest employment rate of chefs in the country, Chicago is the ideal place to launch your culinary career.
The following are some notable career paths you can pursue with a Culinary Arts degree from Kendall College:
- Caterer
- Executive Chef
- Personal Chef
- Sous Chef
- Restaurant Manager
- Cook
- Pastry Chef
