Culinary Arts - Great Lakes Culinary Institute, Associate in Applied Science Degree
NMC Code 109 (Culinary)

The Great Lakes Culinary Institute believes in the principle of learning by doing. Extensive hands-on training will give students a competitive advantage in this highly competitive field. This program is designed to provide rigorous and concentrated study for those students who plan careers in the rapidly-growing food service industry. The program's main emphasis is to prepare students for entry-level chef and kitchen management positions. Consideration is given to the science and techniques associated with the selection, preparation, and serving of foods to large and small groups while gaining knowledge of environmental stewardship, sustainability, and plant-forward menu product development.
The Great Lakes Culinary Institute is located on NMC's Great Lakes Campus. It comprises five culinary labs: a bakery, introductory and food skills kitchen, an advanced cooking kitchen, a garde manger kitchen, and Lobdell's, a 90-seat training restaurant. Upon graduation, students will have a combination of knowledge, skills, and work experience and be prepared to accept jobs as prep cooks, line cooks, and entry-level chef positions in restaurants, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, maritime vessels, and institutions.
This program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Educational Foundation.
Note: Admission to the Culinary Arts AAS program requires placement into MTH 111/11, MTH 120/20, or MTH 131/31 or higher OR completion of MTH100 with a 2.0 and placement into ENG 99 Intro to College Writing/ENG 108 Critical Reading Strategies or higher.
Program Note: GLCI Lab Courses require work outside of regular class hours.
Major Requirements
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements | ||
ENG 111 | English Composition | 4 |
BUS 231 | Professional Communications | 3-4 |
or ENG 112 | English Composition | |
Any Group 1 Humanities course | 3 | |
Math Competency 1 | ||
Any Group 1 Science course with a lab | 4 | |
Any Group 1 Social Sciences course | 3 | |
Occupational Specialty Requirements | ||
CUL 102 | Culinary Concepts and Career Management | 2 |
CUL 110 | Safety and Sanitation | 2 |
CUL 111 | Professional Cookery | 5 |
CUL 118 | Intro to Baking and Pastry | 3 |
CUL 190 | Culinary Internship | 2 |
CUL 201 | Food & Beverage Operations | 3 |
CUL 209 | Butchery and Fabrication | 2 |
CUL 210 | Nutrition for Culinary Arts | 2 |
CUL 211 | Menu Planning and Purchasing | 3 |
CUL 213 | World Cuisine | 5 |
CUL 215 | Garde Manger | 3 |
CUL 219 | Plated Desserts | 3 |
CUL 232 | Beverage Management | 2 |
CUL 233 | Farm to Table | 3 |
CUL 295 | Contemp Cuisine Kitchen Mngmt | 4 |
CUL 296 | Contemp Svc Dining Room Mngmt | 4 |
Total Credits | 65-66 |
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
CUL 111 | Professional Cookery (Lab) | 5 |
ENG 111 | English Composition | 4 |
CUL 110 | Safety and Sanitation 1 | 2 |
CUL 102 | Culinary Concepts and Career Management 1 | 2 |
CUL 118 | Intro to Baking and Pastry (Lab) 2 | 3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
CUL 213 | World Cuisine (Lab) | 5 |
CUL 219 | Plated Desserts (Lab) 1 | 3 |
CUL 201 | Food and Beverage Operations 1 | 3 |
CUL 209 | Butchery and Fabrication (Lab) 2 | 2 |
CUL 210 | Nutrition for Culinary Arts 2 | 2 |
Credits | 15 | |
Summer | ||
Social Science Elective | 3 | |
CUL 190 | Culinary Internship | 2 |
Credits | 5 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
Science with Lab Elective | 4 | |
Humanities Elective | 3 | |
CUL 233 | Farm to Table (Lab) 1 | 3 |
CUL 215 | Garde Manger (Lab) 2 | 3 |
CUL 232 | Beverage Management (Lab) 2 | 2 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
CUL 211 | Menu Planning and Purchasing | 3 |
BUS 231 or ENG 112 |
Professional Communications or English Composition |
3-4 |
CUL 295 | Contemp Cuisine Kitchen Mngmt (Lab) | 4 |
CUL 296 | Contemp Svc Dining Room Mngmt (Lab) | 4 |
Credits | 14-15 | |
Total Credits | 65-66 |
- 1
These courses are offered during Session A which runs from weeks 1-8.
- 2
These courses are offered during Session B which runs from weeks 9-16.
Program Notes
Placement into ENG 99 Intro to College Writing/ENG 108 Critical Reading Strategies or higher and placement into MTH 111 Intermediate Algebra/MTH 011, MTH 120 Mathematical Explorations/MTH 020, MTH 131 Intro to Prob & Stats/MTH 031 or higher, or completion of MTH 100 Quantitative Literacy with a 2.0 or better.
Additional coursework may be required so that students are prepared to be successful in culinary courses.
GLCI lab courses require work outside of regular class hours.