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Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts

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TRANSFER INFO
DEGREE

Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts

Total Credit Hours: 61-63


About Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts


Culinary Arts Program
The Hospitality industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of our economy and employs over 10 million food service workers in the U.S. The continued expansion of hotels, restaurants and related services has created vast career opportunities in the culinary arts field. The GCC Culinary Arts program is THE PROGRAM that Guam’s top chefs turn to for culinary personnel. Our Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts degree is accredited by the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Program completers earn the ACF Certified Culinarian certification upon graduation.
 

Program Mission
The mission of the Culinary Arts Program is to provide students with practical culinary, baking and pastry skills, a strong business foundation to prepare students for high-wage employment and to meet industry demands for trained culinarians and pastry culinarians.
 




Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate the attributes of a professional culinarian.
  2. Apply culinary and baking & pastry fundamentals in the preparation of a variety of food products.
  3. Use quantitative techniques in business decision-making processes in a culinary and bakery setting.
  4. Manage resources in a commercial culinary and bakery environment.
  5. specialize in the following concentration areas:
     
  • Cookery
  • Baking & Pastry
     


Student Job Placement Rate

  • 75% of graduates (or 12 of 16) who received an A.A. Culinary Arts degree in 2020 were employed in a  job-related field.

  • 79% of graduates (or 15 of 19) who received an A.A. Culinary Arts degree in 2021 were employed in a  job-related field.

  • 88% of graduates (or 14 of 16) who received an A.A. Culinary Arts degree in 2022 were employed in a  job-related field.

  • 84% of graduates (or 11 of 13) who received an A.A. Culinary Arts degree in 2023 were employed in a  job-related field.

  • 100% of graduates (or 33 of 33) who received an A.A. Culinary Arts degree in 2024 were employed in a  job-related field.

     



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PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

The American Culinary Federation has awarded the Seven–Year Exemplary status to the Guam Community College Culinary Arts Program for their Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts and as such, program completers earn the ACF Certified Culinarian designation upon graduation. The program is now ACFEF accredited through 2029. 

 





ACFEF Required Program Outcomes
 

 

2024

2023

2022

2021 

2020

 

Graduation Rate

Job Placement Rate

ACF Certification Rate 

Graduation Rate

Job Placement Rate

ACF Certification Rate 

Graduation Rate

Job Placement Rate

ACF Certification Rate 

Graduation Rate

Job Placement Rate

ACF Certification Rate 

Graduation Rate

Job Placement Rate

ACF Certification Rate 

A.A. in Culinary Arts 

 

96%

 

97%

 

100%

 

81%

 

84%

 

100%

 

80%

 

88%

 

100%

 

80%

 

79%

 

100%

 

75%

 

N/A

 

100%

 


Enrollment in any Culinary Arts technical requirement course requires the student to be declared in Culinary Arts approved by the Department Chairperson.

General Education Requirements
CourseCourse NameCredits
English (Choose 1)
EN110AFreshman Composition with Instructional Lab4
EN110Freshman Composition3
CourseCourse NameCredits
FSM145Culinary Math3
CS151Windows Applications3
PY125Interpersonal Relations3
CO125Introduction to Human Communication and Speech3
SI110 /110LEnvironmental Science (3)/Environmental Science Lab (1)4
Major Requirements
CourseCourse NameCredits
FSM100Introduction to Foodservice2
FSM105Foodservice Sustainability2
FSM110Professional Dining Room Service: Theory2
FSM110LProfessional Dining Room Service: Laboratory1
FSM115Purchasing & Receiving2
FSM120Food Safety and Sanitation2
FSM130Professional Bar and Alcohol Management3
FSM154Foodservice Nutrition3
FSM240Menu Planning3
FSM270Restaturant Human Resources Management3
CUL140Culinary Foundation I2
CUL160Culinary Foundation II2
BAK200Foundations of Baking and Pastry2
BAK220Intermediate Baking and Pastry2
Cookery Track
CUL180Garde Manger2
CUL240Pacific Asian Cuisine2
CUL293ACulinary Practicum Part I2
CUL293BCulinary Practicum Part II3
CUL299Culinary Capstone2
Baking & Pastry Track
BAK240Coulangerie: Advanced Bread Techniques2
BAK250Cakes & Dessert Presentation2
BAK293ARestaurant Desserts & Pastries Practicum3
BAK293BBreads and Cakes Practicum3
BAK299Baking & Pastry Capstone2
Program Total61-63

2024-2025 College Catalog



Recognizing the necessity for students to succeed in the complex and rapidly changing workplace, Guam Community College offers a general education curriculum that introduces students to major areas of knowledge and methods of inquiry. All degree programs require an interdisciplinary general education component that promotes the development of intellectual skills that enable students to become effective learners and informed citizens. Critical thinking, the use of language and computation, appropriate social skills, global awareness and respect for diverse opinions are among the learning outcomes provided in the general education requirements of each program.
 

Guam Community College believes that general education provides the academic foundation necessary for students to achieve their life goals. General education is intended to offer students a breadth of quality student learning experiences, encourage their respect for cultural heritage, promote their ethical and responsible social behavior and facilitate their lifelong learning.

The General Education program strives to foster student learning and skill development in civic engagement, critical thinking, understanding of the relationship between the individual and society, information literacy, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, and written communication.

Guam Community College believes that high quality general education opportunities for all citizens are necessary for democratic principles and practices to exist and for a sound economy to flourish. The College continually scrutinizes the general education curriculum in order to assure that all degrees and certificates granted by the College support this vision of general education and that it serves as a means to inspire hope, opportunity and responsibility in all its constituencies.

Requirements for General Education follow the options described below. Students declared prior to fall 2010 will follow the requirements indicated in the applicable catalog in which they first declared their major program at the College.
 

Notes on General Education requirements

Students are advised to check the requirements for their specific programs before taking General Education courses.
Courses chosen to meet the general education requirements may not be used to meet the Major Requirements of a student’s specific degree program.

The list contains courses with prerequisites, so students should make their choices carefully and thoughtfully. Students may consult a counselor or an academic advisor for guidance in choosing any of the course options listed.


IMPORTANT NOTE: Some programs require different levels of coursework to meet General Education requirements, please review the individual programs for more information.

GENERAL EDUCATION
Scope 1: Skills for and Application of Lifelong Learning
Freshman Composition (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3-4 credits)
Course #Course NameCredits
EN 110Freshman Composition3
EN110AFreshman Composition with Instructional Lab4
EN 111Writing for Research3
Mathematics (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3-4 credits)*
Course #Course NameCredits
MA 110AFinite Mathematics3
MA 115Fundamentals of College Algebra3
MA 161ACollege Algebra & Trigonometry I3
*Any college-level math will be considered for the completion of this category
Literacy for Life Skills (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3 credits)
Course #Course NameCredits
CO 110Critical Thinking for Civic Engagement3
CS 151Windows Applications
CS 152Macintosh Applications
Scope 2: Broad Comprehension of the Development of Knowledge, Practice and Interpretation
Humanities & Fine Arts (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3-4 credits)*
Course #Course NameCredits
ASL 100American Sign Language I4
CH 110Chamorro I4
ED 265Culture & Education in Guam3
CO 125Introduction to Human Communication and Speech3
EN 210Introduction to Literature3
HI 121World Civilization (Pre-historic Time to 1500)3
HI 122World Civilization (1500 to Present Time)3
HI 176Guam History3
HM 110Introduction to Community Services3
HM 201Social Welfare & Development: Global Challenges3
HU 120Pacific Cultures3
HU 220Guam Cultures & Legends3
JA 110Japanese I4
KE 110Korean I4
PI 101Introduction to Philosophy3
TH 101Introduction to the Theater3
VC 101Introduction to Visual Communications3
*Any foreign language, humanities, or fine arts course will be considered for the completion of this category
Natural & Physical Sciences (Choose one course and the corresponding lab from the following to meet the required 4 credits)**
Course #Course NameCredits
SI 101/101LIntroduction to Chemistry (3) & Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory (1)4
SI 103/103LIntroduction to Marine Biology (3) & Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory (1)
SI 105/105LIntroduction to Physical Geology (3) & Introduction to Physical Geology Laboratory (1)
SI 110/110LEnvironmental Biology (3) & Environmental Biology Laboratory (1)
SI 141Applied Physics I
SI 150/150LIntroduction to Microbiology (3) & Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory (1)
SI131/131LHuman Anatomy & Physiology I (3) & Human Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory (1)
SI132/132LHuman Anatomy & Physiology II (3) & Human Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory (1)
**The exception to this would be SI141 which does not include a laboratory requirement
Scope 3: Preparation for and Acceptance of Responsible Participation in Civil Society
Social & Behavioral Sciences (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3 credits)
Course #Course NameCredits
EC 110Principles of Economics3
PS140American Government3
PY 100Personal Adjustment3
PY 120General Psychology3
PY 125Interpersonal Relations3
SO 130Introduction to Sociology3
CJ 100Introduction to Criminal Justice3
WG 101Introduction to Women and Gender Studies3
*Any social and behavioral science course will be considered for the completion of this category
Minimum General Education Requirements19

2024-2025 College Catalog



This suggested sequence of courses is based on the 2024-2025 College Catalog. 
 

Year 1
Semester 1Semester 2
CourseCourse NameCreditsCourseCourse NameCredits
EN___English Requirement3-4CO125Introduction to Human Communication and Speech3
FSM145 Culinary Math3PY125Interpersonal Relations3
FSM100Introduction to the Foodservice Profession2CS151 Windows Applications3
FSM105Foodservice Sustainability2CUL140Culinary Foundation I2
FSM110Professional Dining Room Service: Theory2CUL160Culinary Foundation II2
FSM110LProfessional Dining Room Service: Laboratory1FSM115Purchasing & Receiving2
FSM120Food Safety & Sanitation2 Total15
Total15-16  
Year 2
Semester 3Semester 4
CourseCourse NameCreditsCourseCourse NameCredits
SI110/
110L
Environmental Science (3)/Environmental Science Lab( 1) 4FSM130 Professional Bar and Alcohol Management3
FSM154Foodservice Nutrition3FSM240Menu Planning3
BAK200Foundations of Baking & Pastry2Baking Track
BAK220Intermediate Baking & Pastry2BAK240Boulangerie: Advanced Bread Techniques2
Baking & Pastry TrackBAK250Cakes & Dessert Presentation2
BAK293ARestaurant Desserts & Pastries Practicum3BAK293BBreads and Cakes Practicum3
Cookery TrackCookery Track
CUL293ACulinary Practicum Part I2CUL180Garde Manger2
   CUL240Pacific Asian Cuisine2
   CUL293BCulinary Practicum Part II3
Total13-14Total13
Year 3     
Semester 5    
CourseCourse NameCredits    
FSM270Foodservice Human Resource Management3    
Baking & Pastry Track    
BAK299Baking & Pastry Capstone2    
Cookery Track    
CUL299Culinary Capstone2    
 Total5    
Program Total61-63    


2024-2025 College Catalog





HS140 Menu Planning

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of menu planning; its qualities and importance in a foodservice operation. Students will learn how to plan, write, and adjust menus for individuals with different needs and plan menus for a variety of foodservice operation.

CUL240 Pacific and Asian Cuisine

This class is offered to introduce culinary students to the myriad of foods from the different cultures and styles of cookery of the Pacific region and Asia. The course introduces iconic cuisines from the various islands and countries most familiar to the island.

CUL200 Basic Baking I: Breads and Baking

This course is a study of the fundamentals of baking including, dough, quick breads and basic items made in a bakery. It focuses on the basic principles behind formulas – ratios, sequence, time and temperature-and how these factors impact all quality – baked products. Students will learn each step in the process of bread making including the science of bread production, the measuring of ingredients, and the proper evaluation of recipes. Techniques on the preparation of breads commonly produced in bakeries will also be introduced.




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