Search | Menu 
Ready to Learn More?
If you’d like to learn more about the Culinary Arts program, we’d love to talk with you.
We’re here to answer any questions and guide you through our application process step-by-step.
Send us your contact information, and we’ll help you get started right away!
Financial Aid Available-
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
Culinary Art Video
Learn how the Madison College Culinary Arts program prepares students for success from director Paul Short.
-
Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2026-2027 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
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
If you are an international student and want to apply to Madison College, or transfer your F-1 student visa here, check program availability and then complete the International Admission Process.
Apply Now – Secure Your Spot on the Waiting List!
This program operates on a waiting list. To be eligible to enroll in program classes, students must first complete academic preparedness requirements and go through the declaration process.
Before submitting an application, be sure to:
- Review the Waiting List section
- Review the admission requirements for deadlines, materials, and requirements
- Estimated Wait Time: To be determined
- Program Capacity: 48 spots every Fall semester. It shares this capacity with other programs that have a similar curriculum.
Need help? Learn more about the Madison College experience and get support with your application.
Start your application today and take the next step toward your career goals!
Application Dates
Fall 2026
- Application open
- Application deadline is August 15, 2026
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
Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
- High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED completion
- College transcript or Madison College experience 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
- Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission requirements, academic preparedness requirements, and complete the declaration process. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Culinary Arts career.
-
Waiting List
This program uses a waiting list to manage program admission due to capacity limitations and program demand. This means there are typically more applicants than there are open seats in the program. A waiting list helps us manage applications in a way that is fair and transparent.
This program has academic preparedness requirements that must be completed before beginning core classes. When you’ve completed all academic preparedness requirements, you will complete the declaration process.
Pre-core students can run their Degree Progress Report to confirm which pre-program requirements are satisfied/not satisfied and view specific ways to satisfy requirements.
Course Requirement:
- Complete and pass Principles of Sanitation, an orientation course covering food service sanitation principles and the role of food service personnel in the prevention of contamination and food-borne illness. Space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Students who already have ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification may be eligible to earn credit for prior learning.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
-
Transfer Opportunities
Wisconsin Private Schools
Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2018, 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
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.
-
Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2023 2024 2025 Number of Program Graduates 10 10 10 Number of Surveys Sent 10 10 10 Number of Surveys Returned 8 5 6 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 7 4 5 Percent Available for Employment 87.5% 80.0% 83.3% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 12.5% 0.0% 16.7% Available for Employment
2023 2024 2025 Graduates Employed 7 4 5 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 6 4 5 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 85.7% 100.0% 100.0% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 1 0 0 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 14.3% 0.0% 0.0% 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
2023 2024 2025 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.6 3.5 3.7 Number of Satisfaction Responses 8 4 6 Very Satisfied (4) 5 2 4 Percent Very Satisfied 62.5% 50.0% 66.7% Satisfied (3) 3 2 2 Percent Satisfied 37.5% 50.0% 33.3% 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
2023 2024 2025 Number of Primary Reason Responses 8 4 6 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
2023 2024 2025 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 7 4 5 Before Enrollment 1 0 2 Percent Before Enrollment 14.3% 0.0% 40.0% While Attending the College 4 1 0 Percent While Attending the College 57.1% 25.0% 0.0% After Training at the College 2 3 3 Percent After Training at the College 28.6% 75.0% 60.0% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2023 2024 2025 Number of Employment Location Responses 7 5 5 In College District 6 3 3 Percent In College District 85.7% 60.0% 60.0% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 0 1 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.0% 0.0% 20.0% Outside of Wisconsin 1 1 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 14.3% 20.0% 20.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 1 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 20.0% 0.0% Salary Trend 2023 2024 2025 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 6 4 3 Average Monthly Wage $3,682 $3,845 $4,443 Average Hourly Wage $21.40 $22.35 $25.83 Average Work Hours per Week 40.5 43.8 42.5 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 Average Hourly Wage $18.50 Average Work Hours per Week 30.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2025 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Dimensions Living Stoughton Cook Stoughton Marriott Marquis Hotel Lead Cook Chicago IL Molten Monkey Cook/Baker Prairie Ridge Health Sous Chef Columbus Riley Bar And Burger Cook Milwaukee * - 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
