Search | Menu Gain the skills and experience you need to start your career in the food service industry.
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Program Overview
With the Culinary Fundamentals certificate, you will develop the foundational skills necessary to pursue a career in the food-service industry.
Learn basic food theory and preparation, safety and sanitation, knife skills, and production baking basics.
All of the credits you earn in this certificate can be applied towards earning your Culinary Production Specialist technical diploma or Culinary Arts associate degree. In fact, if you apply to the associate degree program, you'll automatically earn this certificate and Culinary Production Specialist technical diploma as you complete the required courses.
No matter which culinary program you choose, you'll be learning and using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment with the help of real-world smart instructors and staff.
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 Fundamentals Careers
After completing the Culinary Fundamentals program, you will have the skills you need to start your career in various commercial kitchens such as restaurants, bakeries, hotels or care facilities.
- Prep Cook, Cook, or Line Cook
- Caterer
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 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 Course RequirementProgram Course Requirements -
Admission
Earning a certificate is a great way to expand your skill set and add professionalism to a resume. Applications for this certificate are available once per year.
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: 60 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 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is October 15, 2025
Fall 2026
- Application available on September 15, 2025
- Application deadline is August 15, 2026
Fall 2025 Admission Requirements
Submit the application by the deadline.
Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
Fall 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.
Certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid.
Individual courses may have prerequisites to enroll. Admission into a certificate does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses. See the Curriculum section for the list of courses for the certificate.
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 Fundamentals career.
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Waiting List
Beginning Fall 2026
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.
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Career Outcomes
After completing the Culinary Fundamentals program at Madison College, you will be able to:
- Apply principles of safety and sanitation in food service operations;
- Demonstrate basic culinary skills;
- Assist in food service management.
