Culinary Arts Program

The culinary arts program at City Colleges of Chicago – Kennedy – King College prepares students for a career as an executive chef, restaurateur, food and beverage manager, food writer, research chef, or a culinary educator. The program focuses on cooking related services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments. Program courses include: recipe and menu planning, preparing and cooking foods, supervising and training kitchen assistants, managing food supplies and kitchen resources, food presentation, and a variety of cuisines and culinary techniques. Get more details below including other Illinois colleges that offer culinary arts program.

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City Colleges of Chicago – Kennedy – King College

5801 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL

Kennedy-King College, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago embodies the commitment to academic excellence and civic responsibility espoused by its namesakes, slain civil and human rights activists Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The newly constructed state-of-the-art main campus located at 6301 South Halsted Street and its affiliated satellite campuses serve more than 14,000 students annually.

Average Class Size: 25 students per class

Student Profile:  The majority of full-time students are recent high school graduates; however, many adults also attend classes. The average student age is 28 years old.

Location:  Kennedy-King College is an urban campus located at the “gateway” to Chicago’s burgeoning Southside Englewood community.  The campus is accessible via public transportation:

• CTA Bus lines:  Halsted Street (north/south) and 63rd street (east/west) buses
• L-Trains:  The CTA Green Line train to Ashland stops in the heart of the campus at Halsted Street and the Red Line is two bus stops east of the campus.

Kennedy-King College offers:

• Associate Degree Transfer:

Take the first two years of a degree program and transfer to a senior college or university to pursue a Baccalaureate Degree. Students can earn an Associate of Arts (with areas of concentration in communications, social sciences, humanities and pre professional fields), Associate in Science, Associate in Fine Arts Music, or Associate in General Studies Degree.

• Career Certificate Programs

Specialized courses are available for students who intend to enter immediate employment or upgrade their professional and technical skills. Courses are offered in business, computer technology, culinary arts, broadcasting, theater, air conditioning and refrigeration, automotive technology, electronics, graphic communications, dental hygiene, child development, and mental health. Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree or a Certificate of Completion.

• Adult Education: Literacy, GED test preparation, and ESL (English as a second language)
• Continuing Education: The programs are designed to provide students with lifelong learning opportunities

Students Enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. City Colleges of Chicago – Kennedy – King College has offered the following program levels for students:

• Less Than One Year Certificate
• Less Than Two-Year Award
• Associate's Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Chefs and Head Cooks

Description

Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, chefs and head cooks employment is expected to grow at a rate of 8.9% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 2
  • Average Hourly Rate: $23.13
  • Average Annual Salary: $48110
• Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 100
  • Average Hourly Rate: $21.11
  • Average Annual Salary: $43910
• Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 240
  • Average Hourly Rate: $30.41
  • Average Annual Salary: $63240

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

Description

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

Cooks, Private Household

Description

Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.

Cooks, Restaurant

Description

Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, cooks, restaurant employment is expected to grow at a rate of 14.3% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 27
  • Average Hourly Rate: $11.75
  • Average Annual Salary: $24440
• Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 2
  • Average Hourly Rate: $9.99
  • Average Annual Salary: $20770
• Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 2
  • Average Hourly Rate: $13.32
  • Average Annual Salary: $27700

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).