FAQ for the Culinary Arts Program
1. How many certificates and Associate of Arts degrees does the Culinary Arts department offer?
2. How much does each certificate cost?
3. Do I need any previous cooking or work experience to enroll?
4. Will I be a chef when I finish my Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry Certificate?
6. How long does it take to get my certificate or Associate of Arts degree?
7. Do I have to take classes full time?
8. Is there room in the classes? I've heard they fill up quickly.
10. How do I register for classes?
11. I'm an employer. How can I share a job opportunity with students?
12. Who should I contact to get more information?
1. How many certificates and Associate of Arts degrees does the Culinary Arts department offer?
The Culinary Arts department offers one Associate of Arts degree, and three certificates.
- Culinary Arts & Restaurant Operations Associate of Arts
- Culinary Arts Certificate
- Baking and Pastry Certificate
- Restaurant Operations Certificate
2. How much does each certificate cost?
Estimated certificate costs are based on in-state tuition (costs include books, uniform, and supplies):
- Culinary Arts Certificate: $3,033
- Baking & Pastry Certificate: $2,438
- Restaurant Operations Certificate: $1,604
3. Do I need any previous cooking or work experience to enroll?
The curriculum in these programs is designed to accommodate the novice cook as well as individuals with some cooking experience.
4. Will I be a chef when I finish my Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry Certificate?
We are training professionals for entry-level jobs in the food service industry. You must work your way up the career ladder in the industry to become a chef.
5. Do I need a uniform?
A uniform is required for all culinary arts lab classes and for the Restaurant Dining Room Service class. Instructors will notify students of the specific uniform, knife kit and text book(s) requirements before the first week of classes.
6. How long does it take to get my certificate or Associate of Arts degree?
There is no minimum or maximum time to complete certificates. Many of our students work while enrolled in our courses, so they attend classes part time. Our courses are generally 8-weeks in length, 1-4 days/week, and there are two 8-week sessions in both the Fall and Spring semesters. We offer a few classes during the Summer.
Completion of Certificates
Most of our students pursue several certificates and/or Associate of Arts degrees. Faculty assist them in creating a schedule each semester that will work for their individual situation. Several courses overlap between certificates.
- Restaurant Operations certificate: 11-13 courses
- Culinary Arts certificate: 11 courses
- Baking & Pastry certificate: 9 courses
Completion of Associate of Arts degree
The degree is comprised of Culinary Arts Department courses and General Education courses. We recommend students consult with Culinary Arts Department faculty on their course sequence and certificate progress. For completion of General Education courses and A.A. degree requirements, we recommend students consult with the college’s Counseling Department.
- Associate of Arts, Culinary Arts and Restaurant Operations
7. Do I have to take classes full time?
No. You may tailor your class schedule to your needs. You must complete CUL 230 - Introduction to Culinary Arts before advancing to additional courses in the program. This prerequisite course is required for all certificates and A.A. degrees, but students need only successfully complete it once.
8. Is there room in the classes? I've heard they fill up quickly.
Classes often fill quickly, especially for new students. Once you are enrolled in the program, you will receive priority registration, making it easier to get into classes in future semesters.
If a class is full, you may add yourself to the waitlist. If a seat becomes available before the class begins, you will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to enroll. If you do not enroll within that timeframe, the seat will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.
Once a class begins, the waitlist is no longer used to fill available seats. The only way to enroll after the start of a class is with an add code issued by the instructor. Add codes are distributed at the instructor's discretion, even if seats are available due to no-shows or drops.
If you are still on the waitlist when the class starts, attend the first class meeting to request an add code. Instructors do not have add codes available until the first day of class.
Please note that if you enroll in one section of a course, you will not automatically be removed from waitlists for other sections of the same course. Be sure to remove yourself from any waitlists you no longer need.
9. Where are classes held?
Classes are held in the B. Robert Burdo Culinary Arts Center at 1670 Mendocino Avenue across the street from the Santa Rosa Campus. The Culinary Arts department phone number is 707-522-2800.
10. How do I register for classes?
Complete an application online to apply as a student to Santa Rosa Junior College. Once the application is complete, a student ID number will be emailed to you. A separate email will be sent with your SRJC Bear Cub email account information. You will use your student ID to login to the SRJC student portal to register for classes. You can also register on campus at Admissions & Records.
With the new Banner format for the schedule of classes, some students find the schedule easier to navigate on their phone. If you need assistance with selecting which classes to enroll in, contact the Department Chair, Shelly Kaldunski at skaldunski@santarosa.edu.
11. I'm an employer. How can I share a job opportunity with students?
Employers can visit the Culinary Career Center website to email their job posting and information to the department. It will be shared with Culinary Arts students on our job board. Additionally, for a wider audience, employers can also post on Handshake which is accessible to both SRJC and Sonoma State University students.
12. Who should I contact to get more information?
The Culinary Arts Department Chair, Shelly Kaldunski, can be contacted for more information. She can be reached at skaldunski@santarosa.edu or 707-524-1843