Culinary Skills

Program Overview

The Culinary Skills program will provide you with the foundation for an exciting career in the food service industry. Sharpen your skills in classic and contemporary à la carte cuisine, baking and pastry arts, flavour and cooking methods, understanding ingredients, food service principles, and safety and sanitation, while also developing essential communication and computer application skills. You will accomplish all of this through a combination of activity-based classroom instruction and practical application in our state-of-the-art culinary and pastry labs, and Bistro ‘67, our award-winning restaurant, where you will gain practical experience serving customers from the community.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

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Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,848 (CAD)
Year one international: $13,978 (CAD)

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Semester 1 Courses

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Creativity

Culinary

Field-to-Fork

Technology recommendations

To help students succeed in programs with remote learning requirements, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified minimum technology recommendations. While these are not program requirements, these suggestions will help ensure students have the right tools to support a quality remote learning experience.

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Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
January 2022	Open
September 2022	Open	Closed
January 2023	Open

Career Options

What you could be:

Assistant baker
Banquet or catering cook
Chef de partie
Entrepreneur
Pastry chef
Sous chef
Food sales representative

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Program Details

The Culinary Skills program is designed to prepare you for a career in a wide variety of food-service industry settings.

Areas of study include:

Baking and pastry arts
Classic and contemporary a la carte cuisine
Computer applications
Development of essential communication skills
Flavours and cooking methods
Food service principles
Safety
Sanitation
Understanding of ingredients

In addition, related business management studies and general education courses round out the program. You will learn through a combination of activity-based classroom instruction and practical application in our culinary, pastry and restaurant labs. You will also gain practical experience through our student-run, open-to-the-public restaurant and a field placement at a school-approved industry property.

Upon successful completion of this program, you may qualify for advanced standing in Year 2 of Durham College’s Culinary Management program. The Culinary Skills program is offered at the Whitby campus, home of the college’s new W. Galen Weston Centre for Food. This incredible learning centre provides access to a full-service green certified teaching restaurant and lounge; a demonstration theatre; and state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and meeting spaces, all designed to offer you the best possible learning experience.

Students in this program will benefit from working and learning in Bistro ’67, a full-service, green-certified teaching and learning restaurant operated by staff and students.

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Program Learning Outcomes

Provide fundamental culinary preparation and presentation for a variety of food service environments using a range of classical and contemporary techniques.
Apply basic food and bake science to food preparation to create a desired end product.
Contribute to and monitor adherence of others to the provision of a well-maintained kitchen environment and to the service of food and beverage products that are free from harmful bacteria or other contaminants, adhering to health, safety, sanitation and food handling regulations.
Ensure the safe operation of the kitchen and all aspects of food preparation to promote healthy work spaces and the responsible, efficient use of resources.
Support the development of menu options that reflect knowledge of nutrition and food ingredients, promote general health and well-being, respond to a range of nutritional needs and preferences and address modifications for special diets, food allergies and intolerances, as required.
Apply fundamental business principles and recognized industry costing and control practices to food service operations to promote a fiscally responsible operation
Apply basic knowledge of sustainability, ethical and local food sourcing, and food security to food preparation and kitchen management, recognizing the potential impacts on food production, consumer choice and operations within the food service industry.
Use technology, including contemporary kitchen equipment, for food production and promotion.
Perform effectively as a member of a food and beverage preparation and service team and contribute to the success of a food-service operation by applying self-management and interpersonal skills.
Develop strategies for continuous personal and professional learning to ensure currency with and responsiveness to emerging culinary techniques, regulations, and practices in the food service industry.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2022-23 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes.

Costs

Career Options

What you could be:

Assistant baker
Banquet or catering cook
Chef de partie
Entrepreneur
Pastry chef
Sous chef
Food sales representative

Where you could work:

Banquet hall
Catering company
Country club
Golf course
Hotel
Resort
Restaurant

Experiential Learning

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by a second-semester field placement opportunity in the culinary industry. Students work at restaurants, hotels, long-term care homes, banquet and golf course facilities and more, applying their skills from the classroom on the job.

On-campus activities

From student-focused special events, to employment in Bistro ’67, to special projects, there are countless opportunities for students to further their learning beyond the labs.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Graduates may be eligible to apply their academic credits towards further study through Durham College and partner Canadian and international colleges and universities. These include:

For more information, please visit our pathways page.

Technology Recommendations

To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.

Processor: i3
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
Internet connection

Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk or the school office.

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T: 905.721.3000

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International Students

T: 905.721.2000 ext. 7697

Contact the International Education office.

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Helpful Resources

What's Trending at DC

Many of the photos on this website were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Technology recommendations

Intakes and Availability

Career Options

What you could be:

Program Details

In The News

Program Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Costs

Career Options

What you could be:

Where you could work:

Experiential Learning

Field Placement

On-campus activities

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Technology Recommendations

Culinary Skills in the news

Helpful Resources

Have a Question? Attend a Program Information Webinar

Financial Aid Information

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]

What's Trending at DC

Have a Question?
Attend a Program Information Webinar