Culinary Arts and Hospitality Professional
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Build a rewarding career in Culinary Arts and Hospitality without leaving Southeast Texas. Â鶹Æƽâ°æ's program gives you hands-on experience in professional kitchens, restaurants, hotels, and the wider hospitality industry, with real-world training that local employers recognize and respect. You'll gain practical skills that translate directly into better job prospects and stronger earning potential. Start your path toward a stable, fulfilling future in food service and hospitality.
Top Careers in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
A career in culinary arts and hospitality can lead to top roles like Executive Chef, Restaurant Manager, Caterer, Food and Beverage Director, or Personal Chef. Most professionals work their way up from entry-level positions that build the experience these careers demand. Starting as a Line Cook or Prep Cook opens the door to becoming a Chef, while a role as a Restaurant Server or Hospitality Associate can lead to management. Catering Coordinators often advance into catering management, and kitchen supervisors move into food service leadership. These first jobs give you the hands-on foundation to grow into a better-paying, rewarding career in the field.
The pay outlook is strong, and it grows with experience. In the Beaumont–Port Arthur area, chefs and head cooks earn a median of $58,440 a year. Across Texas, the median climbs to $56,080 a year. And there's real room to advance: top earners in Beaumont–Port Arthur make $92,500 or more a year, while the top 10% statewide earn $92,290 or more. As you build skills and step into leadership roles, your earning potential climbs right along with you.
Schedule a Meeting
Michelle A. Watson
Instructor/Coordinator
The Press Building, Office 106C
Phone: 409-681-4311
Email: watsonma@lamarpa.edu
Dr. Blas A. Canedo-Gonzalez
Chair of Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts
Sam and Linda Monroe Performing Arts Center Building, Office 144
Phone: 409-984-6547
Email: canedoba@lamarpa.edu
Program Information
| Course | Title | SCH |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| CHEF 1301* | Basic Food Preparation | |
| CHEF 1305 | Sanitation and Safety | |
| HAMG 1321 | Introduction to Hospitality | |
| PSTR 1301 | Fundamentals of Baking | |
| RSTO 1313 | Hospitality Supervision | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEF 1310 | Garde Manger | |
| CHEF 2331 | Advanced Food Preparation | |
| CHEF 1264 | Practicum – Culinary Arts | |
| RSTO 1325 | Purchasing for Hospitality Operations | |
| RSTO 2301 | Principles of Food and Beverage Control | |
| Third Semester | ||
| MATH 1324 | Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | |
| CHEF 1441 | American Regional Cuisine | |
| CHEF 2302 | Saucier | |
| HAMG 2301 | Principles of Food and Beverage Operations | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ELECTIVE | Humanities/Fine Arts Course | |
| ELECTIVE | Social/Behavioral Science Course | |
| SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking | |
| HAMG 1340 | Hospitality Legal Issues | |
| RSTO 1380 | Cooperative Education-Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager | |
| Total | 60 | |
| course | title | sch |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| CHEF 1301* | Basic Food Preparation | |
| CHEF 1305 | Sanitation and Safety | |
| RSTO 1313 | Hospitality Supervision | |
| PSTR 1301 | Fundamentals of Baking | |
| HAMG 1321 | Introduction to Hospitality Industry | |
| Total | 15 | |
| course | title | sch |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| CHEF 1301* | Basic Food Preparation | |
| CHEF 1305 | Sanitation and Safety | |
| HAMG 1321 | Introduction to Hospitality | |
| PSTR 1301 | Fundamentals of Baking | |
| RSTO 1313 | Hospitality Supervision | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEF 1310 | Garde Manger | |
| CHEF 2331 | Advanced Food Preparation | |
| CHEF 1264 | Practicum – Culinary Arts | |
| RSTO 1325 | Purchasing for Hospitality Operations | |
| RSTO 2301 | Principles of Food and Beverage Control | |
| Total | 30 | |
An Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Culinary Arts and Hospitality credential opens the door to a long career in food service, restaurant management, and hospitality. After finishing the program, graduates can:
- Step into the workforce ready to contribute. Graduates often begin as Line Cooks, Prep Cooks, Restaurant Supervisors, Catering Coordinators, or Hospitality Associates — roles in steady demand at restaurants, hotels, and food service operations across Southeast Texas and beyond.
- Keep building on your credits. Coursework from the program may count toward additional credentials or related degrees, depending on the college and degree plan. With a Foundation Certificate, a Specialist Certificate, and a full Associate of Applied Science, Â鶹Æƽâ°æ lets you advance at the pace that fits your life.
- Continue toward a four-year degree. Once you finish the Associate of Applied Science, you can transfer to a university and pursue a Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, or a related field, where available.
- Grow into leadership roles. As you gain experience and earn industry credentials, doors open to positions like Executive Chef, Food and Beverage Manager, Restaurant Owner, Catering Manager, or Cruise Ship Chef — careers that reward both creativity and ambition with strong earning potential.
With these stackable credentials, you can earn a focused culinary qualification, enter the workforce, and continue advancing your skills and career on a timeline that fits your goals.
What is the Culinary Arts and Hospitality program at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ?
The Culinary Arts and Hospitality program at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ trains you for work in professional kitchens, restaurants, hotels, and food service operations. The curriculum covers food safety and sanitation, cooking and baking techniques from fundamental to advanced, hospitality supervision, and food and labor cost controls. Designed by professional chefs and hospitality experts, it gives you the practical, job-ready knowledge that Southeast Texas employers value.
What certifications or credentials can I earn through the Culinary Arts and Hospitality program?
By the end of your first semester, you'll earn a Texas State-recognized Food Handler Certification — an industry essential that qualifies you for entry-level work right away. From there, you can pursue additional credentials that expand your career options and boost your earning potential.
What kind of jobs can I get with this training?
This training opens doors at restaurants, hotels, catering companies, cruise lines, and other food service operations throughout the region. Graduates step into roles such as Chef, Line Cook, Restaurant Manager, Catering Coordinator, Food Service Supervisor, or Personal Chef.
Is this program flexible for working adults?
Absolutely. The Culinary Arts and Hospitality program offers flexible scheduling built around the demands of work and family, so commuters and working adults can pursue their training without putting life on hold. An advisor can help you map out a schedule that fits your goals.
How long does it take to complete the program?
You can finish the Culinary Arts and Hospitality program on a timeline that suits you. The full Associate of Applied Science takes two years, while the Specialist Certificate takes about a year and the Foundation Certificate as little as one semester. An advisor will help you choose the path and schedule that match your goals.
What is the salary potential for a Culinary Arts and Hospitality professional?
Pay in culinary arts and hospitality reflects both your role and your experience. Drawing on O*NET Online and Texas Workforce Commission data, professionals in Southeast Texas earn a median of $18–$24 per hour, and food service managers statewide average $61,748 a year. Entry-level cooks and hospitality associates usually start near $18–$22 per hour, though seasoned chefs, restaurant managers, and food and beverage directors command considerably higher pay. Your earnings will depend on where you work, how much experience you bring, and the position you hold. Because demand stays strong, added experience and credentials can move you into well-paid leadership roles down the road.
The Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Advantage
Why choose Â鶹Æƽâ°æ for your culinary education? Our Culinary Arts and Hospitality program connects you to in-demand careers across Southeast Texas. You'll cook and create in professional kitchen labs, sharpen your food preparation and hospitality management abilities, and master what matters to local employers — proper food safety, efficient cost controls, and confident kitchen leadership. Small class sizes, experienced instructors, and deep roots in the regional food service industry come together to launch your career, all at a price that won't hold you back.