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If you’d like to learn more about the Culinary Arts program, we’d love to talk with you.
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Send us your contact information, and we’ll help you get started right away!
Financial Aid Available
Program Transfers
Estimated Program Cost
Financial Aid
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Program Overview
The Culinary Arts associate degree program at Madison College offers you the opportunity to learn an industry that produces $400 billion in annual sales in the United States. This program holds the key to landing positions as purchasing agents, general managers and executive chefs.
Program Details
Students in the Culinary program can attend full or part-time.
Culinary Arts degree classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus
Culinary Arts Careers
Prospective employers throughout Madison consider Madison College Culinary Arts graduates top candidates. Associate degree graduates are ready for a range of professional positions in the field of culinary arts including:
- Prep Cooks/Cooks
- Line Cooks
- Broiler Chefs or Garde Managers
- Sous Chefs
- Executive Chefs or Owner/Operators
Take a Look Inside a Classroom
Culinary Art Video
Learn how the Madison College Culinary Arts program prepares students for success from director Paul Short.
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Prior to Start of Program:OR ServSafe Certification1 creditFirst SemesterSecond SemesterThird (Summer) TermFourth SemesterElective2 creditsFifth SemesterElective1 creditRecommended Electives -
Admission
To Apply
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.Application Dates
Fall 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 15, 2025
Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Education Completion
Official transcripts must be sent from the institutions you attended and indicate one of the following:- High school transcript (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED transcript
- College transcript(s) showing:
- Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
- At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
- The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
- Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
- Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
- Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.
After Acceptance
Once you are admitted into your program, complete the Next Steps after Program Acceptance to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Culinary Arts career.
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Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
The terms of the B.S in Human Services Leadership agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S degrees and are admitted to the Human Services Leadership at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higherThe terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higherWisconsin Private Schools
Students witn an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2015, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.Out-of-State Schools
Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree. -
Career Outcomes
After completing the Culinary Arts program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
- Apply principles of safety and sanitation in food service operations.
- Apply principles of nutrition.
- Demonstrate culinary skills.
- Manage food service operations.
- Plan menus.
- Analyze food service financial information.
- Relate food service operations to sustainability.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2021 2022 2023 Number of Program Graduates 9 10 10 Number of Surveys Sent 9 10 10 Number of Surveys Returned 4 7 8 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 2 7 7 Percent Available for Employment 50.0% 100.0% 87.5% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 50.0% 0.0% 12.5% Available for Employment
2021 2022 2023 Graduates Employed 2 7 7 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 2 7 6 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 100.0% 100.0% 85.7% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0 0 1 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0.0% 0.0% 14.3% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 0 0 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2021 2022 2023 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.5 3.3 3.6 Number of Satisfaction Responses 4 7 8 Very Satisfied (4) 2 2 5 Percent Very Satisfied 50.0% 28.6% 62.5% Satisfied (3) 2 5 3 Percent Satisfied 50.0% 71.4% 37.5% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2021 2022 2023 Number of Primary Reason Responses 4 7 8 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2021 2022 2023 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 2 7 7 Before Enrollment 0 3 1 Percent Before Enrollment 0.0% 42.9% 14.3% While Attending the College 0 2 4 Percent While Attending the College 0.0% 28.6% 57.1% After Training at the College 2 2 2 Percent After Training at the College 100.0% 28.6% 28.6% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2021 2022 2023 Number of Employment Location Responses 2 7 7 In College District 1 7 6 Percent In College District 50.0% 100.0% 85.7% In Wisconsin, Not in District 1 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% Outside of Wisconsin 0 0 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 0.0% 14.3% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Salary Trend 2021 2022 2023 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 2 4 6 Average Monthly Wage $3,250 $3,114 $3,682 Average Hourly Wage $18.90 $18.10 $21.40 Average Work Hours per Week 52.5 49.2 40.5 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 2 Average Hourly Wage $19.50 Average Work Hours per Week 28.5 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2023 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Cadre Restaurant Line Cook Epic Systems Corp Cook Verona Epic Systems Corp Cook/Chef Verona Metcalfe's Sentry Butchers Apprentice Sur La Table Chef Instructor Jacksonville FL UW - Madison Memorial Union Assistant Chef * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
