Earn a Master’s Degree in Restaurant Management
One of the most logical career steps to take following your completion of a Bachelor’s degree in the culinary arts (or any business-related degree) is to move on to a Master’s degree in hospitality and restaurant management.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re entering the culinary field for the first time, or if you have years of kitchen experience at your back—a restaurant management program builds on traditional cooking skills and basic business to focus on running a restaurant at the mid- to upper-management level.
Where Can I Find Post-Graduate Restaurant Management Programs?
Most culinary arts institutes —the ones that focus on technical training and accelerated coursework—do not go beyond the diploma, Associate, or Bachelor degree level. That’s because they’re equipped to provide the education needed to find an entry-level job in the culinary field, and it’s up to you to build your career from there.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t go higher than that. Many state universities and colleges offer graduate-level programs in restaurant or hospitality management, as do some of the larger culinary institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Every state in the country has at least one school with a higher level restaurant management program, so you should never have to travel too far to find one. If you do live in a smaller city, though, you may have to consider relocating, at least for the duration of your education.
Another option is to consider online degrees in restaurant and hotel management. Unlike many types of educational courses in which hands-on work is required, Master’s-level programs in this field are very much about learning theories, leadership skills, and textbook finance and business strategies—all things you can learn on your own from home.
If you already have a culinary degree that taught you the cooking and baking basics, you should be perfectly situated to continue your education through an online course. And if you have more of a business background, you may be able to take just a few culinary courses to supplement your restaurant management degree.
What Will I Learn in a Restaurant Management Program?
If food is your passion, you may be a bit surprised to discover that restaurant management is really all about the business side of things. Although you may take a few classes in nutrition and food science, you can expect the bulk of your coursework to focus on:
Human Resources
Management and Leadership
Cost Control
Quality Control
Finance
Marketing
Master’s degrees in hospitality and restaurant management aren’t for everyone, but they do present a great opportunity to advance your career while still staying in touch with the kitchen.
Whether you go on to open your own restaurant or oversee a staff of 100 bakers at a catering company, you can build a viable career with a salary in the $40,000 to $80,000 range—and you’ll also develop the right skills to cross over to other areas of business, should you decide to continue on that path.
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