Academic Catalogs

Culinary Arts

The Culinary Arts program prepares students for careers in the professional foodservice and hospitality industry through comprehensive instruction in culinary theory and hands-on kitchen training. Students develop fundamental and advanced skills in food preparation, baking and pastry arts, sanitation and safety, nutrition, and culinary management while learning the principles of flavor, presentation, and menu development.

The program offers Associate in Science degrees in Advanced Culinary Arts and Advanced Baking and Pastry, as well as occupational certificates designed to provide career and technical education for entry-level and advanced positions in the culinary field.

The Advanced Culinary and Advanced Baking and Pastry Certificates and Associate in Science Degrees are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission, ensuring that the program meets national standards for culinary education and industry preparation.

Graduates are prepared for employment in restaurants, hotels, catering operations, bakeries, and other foodservice establishments.

Department Contact Information

Davina Dunner, Program Coordinator
dgongora@occ.cccd.edu

Culinary Arts Department Website

Credit Courses

CA A1203 Units (27 lecture hours; 81 lab hours)  
Culinary Principles 1  
Prerequisite(s): FBM A102 or FSM A160 or concurrent enrollment.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
The class focus is on the fundamentals of food preparation, emphasizing quality standards of production and the basic cooking methods as used in the modern commercial kitchen. Laboratory work includes knife skill, vegetable cuts, and preparation of vegetables, soups, stocks, and sauces. High standards of professionalism, sanitation, and proper work habits will also be emphasized. Class requires purchase of a set of knives. Students will be required to follow hospitality department dress standards.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A120

CA A1223 Units (27 lecture hours; 81 lab hours)  
Culinary Principles 2  
Prerequisite(s): CA A120.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Focus on the basic cooking methods as they apply to the major cuts of beef, veal, lamb, pork, poultry, and seafood. Portion control and proper boning techniques will be demonstrated and practiced. Quality standards of food presentation and achieving proper flavor through the correct application of the principles and processes of modern cookery will be practiced. High standards of professionalism, sanitation, and proper work habits will also be emphasized. Course requires purchase of a set of knives. Students will be required to follow hospitality department dress standards. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A122

CA A1242 Units (9 lecture hours; 81 lab hours)  
Principles of Baking 1  
Prerequisite(s): FBM A102 or FSM A160 or concurrent enrollment.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
Study the fundamentals of baking, including ingredient composition and function, preparation and evaluation of yeast, roll-in yeast, and quick breads, biscuits and muffins, cookies, shortened cakes, pies, custards, and recipe conversion. Students will be required to follow the hospitality department dress standards. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A124

CA A1262 Units (9 lecture hours; 81 lab hours)  
Principles of Baking 2  
Prerequisite(s): CA A149 and CA A124.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
Advanced course in pastry arts production, including puff pastry, foam cakes, classical European tortes, pastry fillings, meringues, cake decorating, chocolate handling, glazes, icings, tarts, and pate a choux. Students will be required to follow the hospitality department dress standards. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A126

CA A1313 Units (9 lecture hours; 135 lab hours)  
Principles of Artisan  
Prerequisite(s): CA A126.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Study in fundamentals of bread development. Analysis of ingredient composition and function of natural and manufactured yeasts as it interacts with pre-ferments, levains, sourdough rye, and straight doughs. Bakers' percentages and recipe conversions will be examined with international weight standards. Students will be required to follow hospitality department dress standards. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds. Field trips optional.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A131

CA A1492 Units (9 lecture hours; 81 lab hours)  
Pantry  
Prerequisite(s): FBM A102.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
Methods of pantry and breakfast preparation, including proper use of a chef knife, preparation and presentation of salad and salad dressings, proper vegetable and fruit cuts, and vegetable and fruit identification. Basic cooking methods applied in breakfast service will be covered. Students will also learn to use standardized recipes. Students will be required to follow the hospitality department dress standards. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A149

CA A1701-4 Units (9-18 lecture hours; 27-162 lab hours)  
Culinary Team Competition  
Prerequisite(s): CA A120, CA A124, and CA A149.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Team members are selected through an application process arranged by the Program Coordinator for Culinary Arts. Students will participate in weekly and bi-weekly practice sessions and ultimately compete in the American Culinary Federation’s Student Team Competition.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A170

CA A1990.5-3 Units (9-27 lecture hours; 0-81 lab hours)  
Current Issues in Culinary Arts  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Deals with current issues in the field of culinary arts and food service management, rotating through a variety of topics such as culinary skills and innovations, sanitation, safety, nutrition, management.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A199

CA A2002 Units (18 lecture hours; 54 lab hours)  
Garde Manger 1  
Prerequisite(s): CA A120; CA A149; and CA A124 or concurrent enrollment.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
Study in the principle of the Garde Manger (cold food) chef. This course will focus on the proper execution of salads, cold sauces, appetizers, hors d' oeuvres, and how they are presented in a buffet service; proper procedures for working with cheeses, smoked and cured meats, and forcemeats including an introduction to the making of sausages, pâtés, and terrines. Study of buffet presentation and the use of non-edible centerpieces. Students will be required to follow hospitality department dress standards. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A200

CA A2052 Units (9 lecture hours; 81 lab hours)  
Culinary & Baking - Specialty Diets  
Prerequisite(s): CA A120; CA A126 or concurrent enrollment; CA A149; and FN A140 or FN A170.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
This course will take the basic culinary/baking knowledge to the next level to achieve a goal of developing creative chefs that are adaptable to consumer health concerns. It will offer opportunities to understand the basic differences in dietary topics versus popular notions of nutrition, as well as consumer preferences in regard to personal, medical, or religious purposes. Students will examine ingredients and their functions with suggested ingredient replacements in recipes. Labs will offer hands-on exploration in modifying classical and modern dining food items. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A205

CA A2102 Units (6 lecture hours; 120-150 other hours)  
Directed Practice for Culinary Arts 1  
Prerequisite(s): CA A120, CA A124 and CA A149.
Advisory: CA A122.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
This is a directed practice opportunity for Culinary Arts which includes practical training in the OCC cafeteria operation. Students will rotate through the major areas in the kitchen in supervised settings. Students will be required to follow Culinary Department dress standards. TB clearance required.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A210

CA A2152 Units (108 other hours)  
Directed Practice for Culinary Arts  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
This course is primarily a directed-practice (work experience) in an off-site kitchen. Examples of work sites include restaurants, hotels, country clubs or other commercial facilities and are approved by the program coordinator. Students will practice proper interview techniques, develop a resume, career goals and action plan. Students will be required to follow dress standards and company policies of conduct, set by the facility in which they are working. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A215

CA A2263 Units (9 lecture hours; 135 lab hours)  
Principles of Pastry Arts  
Prerequisite(s): CA A126 and CA A236.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
Advanced course of pastry arts emphasizing chocolate artistry and confections, sugar work, marzipan, and decorated cakes. Students will also learn applications of cutout, stencils, and molds for decorated plated desserts and specialty cakes. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A226

CA A2362 Units (108 other hours)  
Directed Practice for Baking and Pastry 1  
Prerequisite(s): CA A126 or concurrent enrollment.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
A directed opportunity for on-the-job baking and pastry training that includes practical training at OCC bakery in quantity bakery production. Students will be required to follow dress standards and company policies of conduct, set by the facility in which they are working. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A236

CA A2372 Units (108 other hours)  
Directed Practice for Baking and Pastry 2  
Prerequisite(s): CA A236.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
A directed opportunity for on-the-job baking and pastry training. Includes on-the-job training at approved institutional or commercial facilities. Students will be required to follow dress standards and company policies of conduct, set by the facility in which they are working. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A237

CA A2453 Units (27 lecture hours; 81 lab hours)  
Culinary Principles 3  
Prerequisite(s): The successful completion of CA A122, CA A200, CA A126, and FBM190 with a Grade "c" or better.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
Students will prepare a variety of American Regional and Indigenous Cuisine for service to customers in the OCC Captain's Table Restaurant. Cuisines from around the United States will be explained and discussed. Focus for the class will be on station readiness and proficiency of the fundamental cooking methods. Students will incorporate quantity food preparation techniques and adapt recipes to varying guest counts. Students will practice elements of modern presentation. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds. Students will be required to follow hospitality department dress standards.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A245

CA A2553 Units (18 lecture hours; 108 lab hours)  
Garde Manger 2  
Prerequisite(s): CA A200 and CA A122.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: B.
This course will put Garde Manger techniques and skills into practice by producing weekly themed buffets. Emphasis is placed on applying Garde Manger techniques to high-volume food production. Buffets will demonstrate the modern application of salads, appetizers, cold food platters, and charcuterie. Sausage making, cheese making, and meat preservation will also be explored. Students will be required to follow hospitality department dress standards. This course requires the ability to perform certain physical tasks. Students should be prepared to stand for extended periods of time and to carry or move equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A255

CA A2652 Units (108 lab hours)  
Ala Minute Continental Cooking  
Prerequisite(s): CA A245 or concurrent enrollment.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Students prepare menu offerings in the college's Captain's Table restaurant for the dining public. Emphasis is on station readiness (under strict time constraints), implementation of basic cooking methods, quality of presentation, and an exploration of a variety of cuisines from around the world in a cook-to-order format. Student will be required to follow hospitality department dress standards.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing CA A265