Start your culinary career today at Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island
UPDATE: Right now, Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts is not accepting information requests from our web site so we encourage you to check out some other great culinary schools in other cities.
Providence is the largest city in Rhode Island and one of the oldest established cities in the United States. Education, health care, and financial services make up huge segments of the economy, as does the design and manufacturing of jewelry and silverware.
Providence is well known as the “Renaissance City,” and is home to Johnson and Wales University. Johnson and Wales is a renaissance university in its own right, offering innovative, accelerated degree programs, hands-on learning, and more.
If you ever thought about going to cooking school at one of the most famous culinary schools in America, you'll want to learn more about Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts.
Johnson & Wales University
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 02903
Why Choose Johnson & Wales Culinary Program?
Johnson and Wales was established as a business school in 1914 and has been growing and adapting to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s top careers. The University believes in hands-on practical experience in classes that are focused on what employers want and what the industries demand. The academic year is divided into three terms, during which students take three or four classes. This reduces the class load, allowing students to excel and master material.
J&W also features an “upside down curriculum,” which means that students take their major courses in the first two years to see if the field they’ve selected is right for them, as opposed to most schools where you take them in the last two years. Another great benefit is that in most majors, students can earn both an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in two years.
Culinary Arts
J&W offers an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts which focuses on not only fundamentals and classical techniques, but also critical thinking skills and creativity. Graduates have excellent job prospects at restaurants, hotels, resorts, and catering businesses. While in the Culinary Arts program, students learn a variety of skills and techniques that are useful in their chosen field, such as about sauces, stocks, and soups, baking and pastry, classical French cuisine, dessert, new world cuisine, and more. Leadership, managerial, and communication skills are also emphasized.
Program availability varies by location
Baking and Pastry
J&W’s Baking and Pastry program is led by renowned chefs, such as assistant dean Martha Crawford. Dean Crawford was twice named one of the top ten pastry chefs in the country by Pastry Arts and Design magazine. With this type of leadership and commitment to quality, students are assured of getting the best possible education. In addition to specialized classes in baking and pastry making, students also learn about cost control, sanitation and food safety, and food marketing.
The Baking and Pastry program is offered as both an associate’s and a bachelor’s programs. Associate’s students may also continue on to earn their bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s students create a variety of desserts, breads, cakes, sugar sculpture, wedding cakes, and more, and have the opportunity to compete in national competitions. In addition, they also have opportunities for internships and studying abroad.
Food Marketing
This is a bachelor’s degree program that is open to graduates of the Baking and Pastry and Culinary Arts Associate’s programs. The focus of Food Marketing is developing the necessary skills to develop targeted business plans, analyze data and make appropriate recommendations, and develop brand strategies.
Food Marketing is offered through the College of Business and has a strong emphasis on business acumen as relates to the food and restaurant industries. Students learn the skills they need in order to be successful in marketing positions, such as critical thinking, communication, leadership, ethical conduct, and commitment to quality and responsibility.
Externships at various sites are also part of the program, ensuring that students will get the experience they need when looking for a job. The bachelor’s program requires completion of 198.5 credit hours.
Faculty
Faculty members at Johnson and Wales are experienced professionals and experts in their fields. Many have received national recognition for their skills. There is also a Visiting Chef series, which features some of the best chefs in the world as guest speakers. They provide students with demonstrations, tips, information, and advice. Combined, there are more than 7000 years of culinary experience among the faculty of the Culinary Arts programs at J&W.
Facilities
Johnson and Wales has campuses in North Miami, Denver, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Providence, Rhode Island. The Providence campus is J&W’s largest with 10,000 students. J&W has modern, professional kitchens and facilities for its culinary students. There are also wine and beverage labs, pastry labs and bakeshops, dining rooms, nutrition labs, and more.
Any facility that is used commercially is available to students studying at J&W. In addition, the University offers a full range of student services, such as sports, campus housing, campus activities, culinary clubs and competitions, and more. In the midst of a very college oriented city, J&W provides a flourishing environment for students.
Accreditation
Johnson and Wales is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEAS&C).
Financial Aid
Federal student aid is available to students at J&W. Interested students should fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine if they are eligible for aid. You may also use state, private, or institutional aid.
Johnson & Wales History
The College of Culinary Arts is located at the Harbor side Campus in Providence. The University's Providence campus started back in 1914 by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales and is the largest Johnson & Wales campus. The University became well established because of its strong commitment to specialized business education and the high ideals of its founders. In 1993, Johnson & Wales and its unique approach to career education received regional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
A major goal of the University is to prepare students for successful careers . A benchmark of the University has been its 28 consecutive year employment record - within 60 days of graduation, 98 percent of its students from the 50 states have jobs in their chosen career field.
The City of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence was founded by Massachusetts Bay Colony exile Roger Williams in 1636. It is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and its early economy was based on the manufacturing of jewelry and silverware. Today, the economy has diversified, and health and education services are the major sectors.
Providence is home to seven postsecondary schools, making it a great place to learn and live. There is a vibrant restaurant and retail industry, which is good news for Johnson and Wales culinary students. Providence is a great college town, and has among the most restaurants per capita in the country, making it an excellent place to find work.
What Do You Need To Know to Get Into Culinary School?
As the Reluctant Gourmet, I have never been to cooking school, but I keep telling myself it's never too late. The best way for you to learn more about becoming a chef is to visit my new Culinary School Resource Center. Here you will find articles, books, school resources and many other useful resources.
Also, try reading as much as you can about going to cooking school and what it is like to be a professional chef. One book I highly recommend to anyone thinking about culinary school is, The Making of A Chef, by Michael Ruhlman. It will really help you understand what you may be getting yourself into. For a complete list of Books For Cooks.
