Culinary Arts

If you’ve dreamed of becoming a chef or owning a restaurant the Culinary Arts program at Texas State Technical College Harlingen can help you achieve that dream.

At TSTC you will get hands-on training in professional preparation of foods with an emphasis on commercial kitchens, planning and purchasing.

Culinary Arts students develop the skills and confidence needed to prepare food and interact with customers in a restaurant setting. Courses in nutrition and restaurant management are also taught.

Students in TSTC’s program are also trained in such areas as basic food preparation, sanitation and safety, fundamentals of baking and food production and planning.

Upon completing the program, a Culinary Arts graduate is qualified to work in vast areas of the food service industry. They can become employed as cooks, cook supervisors in a kitchen, entry-level management or assistant managers/manager trainees. The level of success depends on the individual.

Organizations that hire graduates from the program at Texas State Technical College Harlingen include hospitals and other health care providers, restaurants, delis, Army/Air Force exchange service, and national food chains. Also, for students wanting to cook at a country club, or open a catering business or restaurant, this training is indispensable for success and growth.

More details about the Culinary Arts program are available through the College Information Office, and you are welcome to visit our facilities by scheduling a tour. We are located in the Sen. Eddie Lucio Health Science Technology Building.

Department Chairman Patrick Bauer and program instructors work with students individually to plan a career path and course schedules. For more information, call 800.852.8784, extension 4755, or 956.364.4755.