Baking & Decorative Arts

One Year Technical Diploma

Program number: 313141

Overview

Overview

In the Baking & Decorative Arts technical diploma program at Madison College, you'll gain wide-ranging, hands-on experiences in baking and pastry arts. You will receive practical and theoretical training on producing bakery products from scratch (like pastries, tortes and hearth breads) cake decorating, sugar and chocolate work, and plated dessert presentations. You will also learn real-world merchandising and sales training by working in the bakery on campus. 

The Baking & Decorative Arts program at Madison College is approved by the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) and the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Upon completion of the program combined with 1,000 hours of work experience in the baking industry, students can take the RBA’s Certified Journey Baker written exam. This is the beginning level of certification leading up to a Master Baker qualification. The purpose of RBA certification is to raise the professional standards and verify the work, skill and knowledge professional bakers bring to the marketplace and improve job opportunities and income for certified bakers and decorators.

Program Details

Students in the Baking & Decorative Arts program must attend full time.

Classes are offered Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

Baking & Decorative Arts classes may be offered at these Madison College campuses:

  • Madison - Truax

Explore financial aid eligibility for this program.

All courses for this program are offered only in person.

Admission

Admission

To Apply
 

After Acceptance

Once you are admitted into your program, review the Next Steps after Program Acceptance.

Questions?

Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or (608) 246-6210.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2019-2020 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

Current program students (including newly admitted), go directly to your Degree Progress Report (also referred to as an Advising Report or Academic Requirements) to view:

  • Progress toward your specific requirements
  • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

If you have questions after reviewing your report, please see Advising Services.

Outcomes

Outcomes

Madison College Baking & Decorative Arts graduates are prepared to:

  1. Read and follow written and oral directions in preparing bakery products.
  2. Produce a variety of saleable scratch bakery items in a timely manner.
  3. Work effectively with others to achieve production goals.
  4. Calculate formulas to production size.
  5. Practice proper state and federal safety and sanitation procedures.
Careers

Careers

Earning your technical diploma in the Baking & Decorative Arts program at Madison College prepares you for valuable work as a bakery worker/assistant pastry chef in a variety of commercial environments such as: 

  • Retail bakeries
  • Supermarket bakeries
  • Restaurants or hotels
  • Hospitals or nursing homes
  • Catering operations
  • Specialty shops

With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:

  • Bakery Manager
  • Commercial Cake Decorator
  • Bakery Owner

Graduates of this program typically earn $13 to $15 per hour.

 

Find open jobs in this industry on Wisconsin TechConnecttm

Wisconsin TechConnect Connecting Skills with Jobs

  • Estimated Program Cost
    # of Credits for Completion
    29
    Tuition
    $3958.50
    Materials/Supplemental Costs
    $1170.46
    Other Costs
    $446.00
    Total Estimated Program Costs:
    (book costs not included)
    $5574.96
  • Graduate Summary
    Graduate Report Summary Overview

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Program Graduates 8 10 11
    Number of Surveys Sent 8 10 11
    Number of Surveys Returned 7 8 8
    Percent of Surveys Returned 87.50% 80.00% 72.70%
    Available for Employment 6 5 7
    Percent Available for Employment 85.70% 62.50% 87.50%
    Not in Labor Market 1 3 1
    Percent Not in Labor Market 14.30% 37.50% 12.50%
    Available for Employment

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Graduates Employed 6 5 6
    Percent of Graduates Employed 100.00% 100.00% 85.70%
    Employed in Related Occupation 4 4 5
    Percent Employed in Related Occupation 66.70% 80.00% 83.30%
    Employed in Unrelated Occupation 2 1 1
    Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 33.30% 20.00% 16.70%
    Employed - No Response 0 0 0
    Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Seeking Employment 0 0 1
    Percent Seeking Employment 0.00% 0.00% 14.30%
    Reaction To Training at Madison College

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 2.9 2.5 3.3
    Number of Satisfaction Responses 7 8 8
    Very Satisfied 1 2 3
    Percent Very Satisfied 14.30% 25.00% 37.50%
    Satisfied 4 2 4
    Percent Satisfied 57.10% 25.00% 50.00%
    Unsatisfied 2 2 1
    Percent Unsatisfied 28.60% 25.00% 12.50%
    Very Unsatisfied 0 2 0
    Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.00% 25.00% 0.00%
    Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Primary Reason Responses 7 8 8
    Preparation for Getting a Job 4 5 2
    Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 57.10% 62.50% 25.00%
    Career Change 0 1 3
    Percent Career Change 0.00% 12.50% 37.50%
    Improvement of Existing Skills 2 1 1
    Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 28.60% 12.50% 12.50%
    Preparation for Further Education 0 0 0
    Percent Preparation for Further Education 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Personal Interest 1 1 2
    Percent Personal Interest 14.30% 12.50% 25.00%
    Other 0 0 0
    Percent Other 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    When Employment was Obtained

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 6 5 4
    Before Enrollment 2 1 1
    Percent Before Enrollment 33.30% 20.00% 25.00%
    While Attending the College 4 0 3
    Percent While Attending the College 66.70% 0.00% 75.00%
    After Training at the College 0 4 0
    Percent After Training at the College 0.00% 80.00% 0.00%
    Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Employment Location Responses 6 5 6
    In College District 3 4 5
    Percent In College District 50.00% 80.00% 83.30%
    In Wisconsin, Not in District 1 1 1
    Percent of In Wisconsin 16.70% 20.00% 16.70%
    Outside of Wisconsin 0 0 0
    Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Employer Location Unknown 2 0 0
    Percent Location Unknown 33.30% 0.00% 0.00%
    Salary Trend
    Salary Trend 2016 2017 2018
    Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 2 3 3
    Average Monthly Wage $2,322 $1,691 $2,336
    Average Hourly Wage $13.50 $9.83 $13.58
    Average Work Hours per Week 40 41.3 41.2
    Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 0
    Average Hourly Wage
    Average Work Hours per Week 31
  • Graduate Employers
    Total Positions Open for academic year: 2018
    Wisconsin TechConnectTM Jobs* Madison Non-Madison
    Number of Full Time Positions Open 31 0
    Number of Part Time Positions Open 30 2
    Total Jobs 61 2
    Graduate Employers for academic year: 2018
    Employer(s) Job Title City** State*** Positions
    Dick's Fresh Market Cake Decorator Menomonie
    Madison Sourdough Co Baker
    Pick'n Save Department Manager Sun Prairie

    * - Wisconsin TechConnectTM jobs are posted through a statewide consortium operated and funded by all 16 of the technical colleges in Wisconsin.

    ** - 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 techconnect@madisoncollege.edu

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