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 Transfers
Estimated Program Cost
Financial Aid
-
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.
-
Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2023-2024 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 ProgramFirst 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 2024
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 15, 2024
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.
-
Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
The terms of the Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete an associates of applied science degree and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis of the Leadership and Organizational Studies at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The terms of the Human Services Leadership agreement are limited to students who have complete an associates of applied science degree and have been admitted to the Human Services Leadership degree at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.Wisconsin Private Schools
A student who completes an associate of arts, associate of science or associates of applied science is considered part of the ‘advanced core‘. The Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 64 credits of transfer. If students transfer prior to completion or with less than 64 credits they will be considered part of the standard core and credits will be evaluated on a course by course basis.Students will be granted admission to a bachelors degree program upon completion of an approved transfer program at Madison College. Students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater while at Madison College. Regardless of the number of credits transferred students must complete at least 25% of their baccalaureate degree credits at Herzing University University.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.Any Madison College student who has successfully completed an associate degree in applied science after 2015, and meets admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Technical Sales at MSOE by successfully completing the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Business Administration program. --- In particular, any Madison College student who successfully completes all technical courses and general education courses in their AAS program with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; successfully completes all other specified courses, as defined in this transfer agreement, with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; and meets the MSOE admission requirements for transfer students into the BBA Program at MSOE, minimum 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from the last regionally accredited school will be admitted into the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Bachelor of Business Administration program 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. This applies to students who are pursuing a bachelors of arts, bachelors of science or bachelors of fine arts at Bellevue University.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. Articulation agreement is for students who graduate from appropriate program and wish to pursue one of the following degrees at Capella: Bachelor of Science in Business specializations, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety specializations, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (must hold a valid RN license) and Bachelor of Science in Psychology.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 all Madison College graduates with an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science or Associate of Applied Science. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer additional credits (up to a maximum of 94) 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
2020 2021 2022 Number of Program Graduates 15 9 10 Number of Surveys Sent 15 9 10 Number of Surveys Returned 7 4 7 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 7 2 7 Percent Available for Employment 100.00% 50.00% 100.00% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 0.00% 50.00% 0.00% Available for Employment
2020 2021 2022 Graduates Employed 5 2 7 Percent of Graduates Employed 71.40% 100.00% 100.00% Employed in Related Occupation 4 2 7 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 80.00% 100.00% 100.00% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 1 0 0 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 20.00% 0.00% 0.00% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Seeking Employment 2 0 0 Percent Seeking Employment 28.60% 0.00% 0.00% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.6 3.5 3.3 Number of Satisfaction Responses 7 4 7 Very Satisfied (4) 4 2 2 Percent Very Satisfied 57.10% 50.00% 28.60% Satisfied (3) 3 2 5 Percent Satisfied 42.90% 50.00% 71.40% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Very Unsatisfed (1) 0 0 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Number of Primary Reason Responses 7 4 7 Preparation for Getting a Job 2 3 1 Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 28.60% 75.00% 14.30% Career Change 3 0 0 Percent Career Change 42.90% 0.00% 0.00% Improvement of Existing Skills 1 1 3 Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 14.30% 25.00% 42.90% Preparation for Further Education 1 0 0 Percent Preparation for Further Education 14.30% 0.00% 0.00% Personal Interest 0 0 3 Percent Personal Interest 0.00% 0.00% 42.90% Other 0 0 0 Percent Other 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% When Employment was Obtained
2020 2021 2022 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 5 2 7 Before Enrollment 3 0 3 Percent Before Enrollment 60.00% 0.00% 42.90% While Attending the College 0 0 2 Percent While Attending the College 0.00% 0.00% 28.60% After Training at the College 2 2 2 Percent After Training at the College 40.00% 100.00% 28.60% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2020 2021 2022 Number of Employment Location Responses 5 1 7 In College District 4 1 7 Percent In College District 80.00% 100.00% 100.00% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Outside of Wisconsin 1 0 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 20.00% 0.00% 0.00% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Salary Trend 2020 2021 2022 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 3 2 4 Average Monthly Wage $2,515 $3,250 $3,114 Average Hourly Wage $14.62 $18.90 $18.10 Average Work Hours per Week 42.7 52.5 49.2 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 2 Average Hourly Wage $9.00 $19.50 Average Work Hours per Week 20 28.5 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2022 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Cento Restaurant Worker CNT's Catering Catering Chef Middleton Lone Girl Brewing Company Kitchen Manager Waunakee Madison Metropolitan School District Head Cook Promega Corporation Prep Cook Fitchburg The Ready Set Line Cook Oregon * - 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
