Culinary Arts, Pastry Chef Specialty, Associate of Applied Science

Bake Your Way to a Sweet Career

Do you love food, baking, and the artistry of desserts? The San Jacinto College Pastry Chef Specialty program gives you the focused training to turn that passion into a profession. Through lectures, labs, field trips, and hands-on work in state-of-the-art kitchens and bakeries, you’ll master essential techniques like cake decorating, chocolate and sugar work, confectionaries, and large-scale bakeshop production.

Career Opportunities and Income

Visit sanjac.edu for information regarding career opportunities and potential earnings in the Greater Houston region.

Learning & Career Pathway

This learning pathway - a series of related and “stacked” certificates and degrees - includes the following awards. You can start at any point on the path and earn certificates on your way to completing the degree.

• Culinary Arts, Pastry Chef Specialty, Certificate of Technology (1.5 years)
• Culinary Arts, Pastry Chef Specialty, Associate of Applied Science (2 years)

Learning Outcomes and Career Skills

A student completing the last award in the pathway will be able to:

• Utilize safety and sanitation methods.
• Perform five primary mixing methods including creaming, foaming, biscuit, straight dough, and old dough.
• Temper egg products to create a variety of custard products.
• Utilize principles of business management including purchasing and receiving, teamwork, and professionalism.
• Plate, garnish, and execute visually appealing pastry items.
• Create and utilize a variety of buttercreams and meringues.
• Apply the properties of sugar including the use of doctoring agents, caramelization points, and the effects of temperature.
• Evaluate workplace concerns or issues and adopt a communication style appropriate for the situation.

Program Accreditation

Accreditation by American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC) assures that a program is meeting at least a minimum of standards and competencies set for faculty, curriculum, and student services.

External Learning Experiences

This program includes external learning experiences outside of the classroom, e.g., an internship, externship, clinical, practicum, or cooperative learning experience. Those experiences are typically on-site at a business or organization.

All students participating in external learning experiences are required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the external learning sites. Some learning sites outside the college have their own vaccination requirements. These rules come from those facilities and are not mandated from the college. Failure to meet those immunization requirements may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the external learning site.

Locations

• North

College Admission

San Jacinto College is an open admission institution. All students are welcome to apply and will be admitted to the College. You may begin the process on the College’s “How to Apply” webpage.

Program Admission

There are no additional admission requirements for the Pastry Chef Specialty program; you only need to complete your application to the College, as noted in “College Admission” above, and follow the enrollment steps.

Plan of Study

3CULA-PC

Capstone Experience: PSTR 2365 Practicum - Baking and Pastry or HAMG 2305 Hospitality Management and Leadership