Behind those tantalizing Instagram photos of food is a chef who creates edible works of art on a daily basis. Become that chef with world-class culinary training in the Culinary Arts program. With exceptional instruction and plenty of hands-on opportunities, our Culinary Arts diploma graduates have a record of landing that important first job.
As well-planned as a gourmet meal, our fast-paced Culinary Arts program starts you off with restaurant production methods before moving on to sweet and savoury techniques. For the main course, you'll be immersed in creating and preparing dining-room cuisine in our on-campus Garden Court Restaurant. And to finish it all off, we'll serve up a paid industry placement.
Apply Now Grab and Go InformationCareer Opportunities
Lethbridge College graduates are employed throughout Canada and abroad in a variety of culinary opportunities including fine restaurants, hotels, cruise ships, catering companies, flight kitchens, hospitals, care facilities, and convention centres. Opportunities also exist to own and operate your own restaurant or branch out into marketing and product development.
Recent graduates have found employment in the following roles:
- Banquet chef
- Banquet cook
- Business owner
- Caterer
- Chef
- Chef de partie
- Entrepreneur
- Food sales representative
- Line cook
- Prep cook
- Sous chef
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
100
Nearly 100 per cent of culinary grads land that important first job
480 hours
spent in a paid industry work placement
50+ employers
in Alberta who regularly offer paid employment to our culinary students
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
September and January
Credential / Accreditation
Diploma
Duration
2 years
Dates and Deadlines
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Academic Centre
Program Availability
Admissions
This program is available for International Students.
New applicants are accepted into the Culinary Arts program for the Fall (September) and Winter (January) terms.
General Admissions Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge College programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Applicants to this program do not require a high school diploma; however, they must satisfy the following specific course requirements (or equivalencies):
- Grade 10 English
- Grade 10 Math
Non-Academic Requirements
All students in the Culinary Arts program must follow the sanitation, hygiene and safety practices standard to the industry and present themselves in the following condition whenever entering any of the food service labs: Students must be clean shaven (moustaches are acceptable), hair must be clean and controlled. Students wear a white uniform, chef hat, apron, and approved footwear.
Medical Requirements
It is strongly recommended that applicants update or complete a personal medical profile and their immunization records prior to entry into the program and employment.
Applicants may be asked to complete a follow-up medical at the discretion of the College Health Centre.
Non-Medical Requirements
Students can expect to cut and prepare products such as beef, pork, lamb, shellfish, fish, fowl, etc. Once dishes are prepared, students may be required to taste them.
Students may also be exposed to allergens such as soy, eggs, nuts, gluten, etc.
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Culinary Arts diploma.
Graduation Requirements
In order to receive their diploma, students must have an overall combined (practical and theoretical) average of 70%.
Students not already employed, in the industry, will be required to attend our Recruitment Day where employers come to the College and resumes can be dropped off with those employers for summer work placements. Past students in our program have achieved 100 percent employment. Summer work place locations vary from resort areas in the Rocky Mountains to local hotels, restaurants, care facilities and catering companies.
Our 15-week dining room cuisine section starts after the Labour Day long weekend and again at the beginning of January each year. Our culinary department has an excellent association with over 50 employers in Alberta and further afield who have regularly offered paid employment to our culinary students.
Take a Viewbook
Need more information about Lethbridge College? Browse our viewbook for more details about programs, awards and scholarships, student life and more!
Download viewbook
Delivery Formats
The Culinary Arts program is delivered on campus but may have some blended and hyflex components.
Blended
This program includes both face-to-face/on-campus and online delivery in both synchronous (learning occurs in real-time on a set schedule) and asynchronous (learning does not occur at the same time or same place) formats.
Hyflex
This program is offered both on-campus and online; lectures and hands-on training opportunities are delivered through video conference, allowing students the option to attend classes in-person or remotely.
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Term I | ||
| CLA-1100 | Kitchen Fundamentals and Safety | 6 |
| CLA-1101 | Integrated Food Services | 6 |
| CLA-1102 | Meat Preparation and Saucier I | 6 |
| CLA-1103 | Bakeshop Production I | 6 |
| COM-1137 | Communication Skills | 1.5 |
| Credits | 25.5 | |
| Term II | ||
| CLA-1104 | Event Planning, Management & Nutrition | 3 |
| CLA-1105 | Integrated Lunch Service | 6 |
| CLA-1106 | Meat Preparation & Saucier II | 6 |
| CLA-1107 | Bakeshop Production II | 6 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Term III | ||
| CLA-2201 | Advanced Management Skills | 3 |
| CLA-2202 | Integrated Dinner Service | 6 |
| CLA-2203 | Meat Cutting and Cooking | 6 |
| CLA-2204 | Bakeshop Production III | 6 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Term IV | ||
| CLA-2200 | Industry Work Placement | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 70.5 | |
Tuition and Fees
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$7,356.00
|
$1,940.00
|
$1,000.00
|
| Year 2
|
$3,936.00
|
$1,139.00
|
$550.00
|
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$22,236.00
|
$1,940.00
|
$1,000.00
|
| Year 2
|
$12,010.00
|
$1,139.00
|
$550.00
|
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!
Contact us
Featured Graduates
Jeremy Langemann
“[Lethbridge College] brings students in from all over the world; it’s a great program, has great instructors and is just a great place to be.”
Kristy Olsen
“One of the great things in the Culinary program is the amazing tools you get to play with – everything from bandsaws and chainsaws to fine delicate tools for creating edible flowers and carving fruit. It’s always a nice change when you get to put your French knife down and work with something out of the ordinary.”
Cam Picyk
“At the end of the day, everyone needs to learn how to work clean, be organized and have a skill set. When I was a student at Lethbridge College, I learned the nuts and bolts of how a kitchen works, how to keep it clean and organized, how to fillet a fish and chop an onion. And every single day I use those skills.”
Scholarships
With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge College awards and scholarships for which you qualify, including these featured scholarships: