PASTRY ARTS, Associate of Applied Science Degree
Just Desserts – And Then Some
Want to make people happy? Talk about a win, win. In the world of pastries you get to both pursue your passion and spend your life seeing the looks on people's faces as they get to the part of the meal they've been waiting for since they gave their name to the hostess.
Our Pastry Arts program prepares students for opportunities as Pastry Cooks and Assistant Pastry Chefs, and begins their career path to achieving Pastry Chef status. Students are introduced to the art of making specialty breads, cakes, pies, pastry creams and French pastry (or as we call them, the five not-so-deadly sins), they're presented with skills in advanced decoration and design, and they're given an overview of the operation of a commercial kitchen and a bakeshop.
Technically, the program culminates in a 16-week externship offering students opportunities to apply their skills. But in reality, it culminates in a lifetime of knowing you're the one people really came to that restaurant or bakeshop for.
View the Tuition & Fees details for this program. Please click the "Tuition & Fees" tab after following this link. (Note: Clicking the link will take you to the Harrison College website. The Chef's Academy is a division of Harrison College)
Curriculum
| Credit Hours | ||
|---|---|---|
Professional CoursesWhat are professional courses? Professional courses are core and career-specific courses that prepare students for career positions related to their chosen program of study. | ||
| PA1010 | Introduction to Baking / Dough Formulas / Specialty Bread Products This course introduces students to fundamental concepts, procedures and techniques necessary to produce quality bakery products. Weights and measures along with formulas for mathematical conversions are presented. Proven techniques and methods are experienced through the lectures and hands-on practice. Proper methods for preparation of yeast and rolled in dough formulas. Students are familiarized with a variety of grains and mixtures to produce ethnic breads and rolls. Students produce a variety of yeast dough products, croissants, Danish pastry, brioche, kegellopt and stollen using a variety of fillings and toppings. Students prepare Vienna, Italian, French, whole wheat and rye breads. Along with white pan, raisin, cinnamon, challah and a variety of breads, muffins, biscuits, scones and pizza dough products. | 8 |
| PA1020 | Pastry Creams, Custards & Mousses This course introduces students to the proper methods for preparing baked custards, mousses, Bavarian creams, chiffons, pastry creams and puddings. Students prepare a variety of puddings, tapiocas, assorted flavored mousses, coconut and plain custards, assorted pie fillings and their finished.
| 2 |
| PA1030 | Culinary Arts Food Preparation This course introduces students to cooking techniques and terminology. A combination of lecture and lab enables students to apply learned methods for meat, seafood and poultry fabrication, as well as the production of soups, stock, sauces and starches.
| 6 |
| PA1040 | Variety Pies, Specialty Cakes, and French Pastries This course introduces students to the proper techniques of preparing pie dough. Fruit, custard, cream and chiffon pies are produced. Preparation method for phyllo and strudel doughs is reviewed. Students will prepare assorted nut pits, flans, cobblers, fruit-filled strudels and baklava. A variety of American and European style cakes will be reviewed. Students will prepare Black Forest cake, Swiss rolls and mocha and burnt almond tortes. Decoration techniques for sheet cakes and layer cakes are studies. Tools for decoration are introduced as well as care of these tools. Students are introduced to the proper methods of preparing French pastries and specialty meringue desserts. Students prepare a variety of pate a choux products such as éclairs and cream puffs. Napoleons, made from puff pastry, French pastries and specialty meringue deserts are also prepared. Attention is given to the different stages of sugar cooking.
| 8 |
| PA1050 | Specialty Desserts, Frozen Desserts, Ice Creams, Sherbets, Petit Fours and Cookies This course introduces students to specialty desserts and their preparation methods. A wide variety of cheesecakes, charlotte royal, croquembouche and chocolates used in occasional as well as holiday desserts are prepared. Students are introduced to the various methods of preparing frozen deserts. Students prepare ice creams, ices, sherbets, sorbets and bombes and become familiar with their correct uses. A variety of frozen desserts such as Peach Melba, pear belle helene and frozen mousses are prepared. Students are exposed to preparation techniques for petit fours, a wide variety of cookies, specialty holiday items and occasional cakes. Students are familiarized with the characteristics of cookie production as well as mixing methods.
| 8 |
| PA2060 | Chocolate Artistry, Sugar Designs, Decorations & Architecture Design This course introduces students to a variety of pastry products such as royal icing, pastillage, nougat, marzipan and chocolates. Preparation methods for marzipan figurines, cocoa paintings, nougat modeling and chocolates for decorations are examined and practiced. Students are introduced to various methods of sugar production. Pulled, blown and poured sugars are examined. Students prepare various pastry designs including sugar threads, sugar cages, lacework, sugar domes, woven baskets, cake designs and colored ribbons. Fruit miniatures are also used for cake decorations and culinary showpieces.
| 8 |
| PA2070 | Advanced Decorating & Architecture Design
This course helps students improve and refine their decorating skills with the preparation of a variety of decorated cakes and pastry designs. Students prepare wedding cakes, Viennese tortes, and chocolate filigree; and design, bake, and decorate gingerbread houses and other holiday specialty items.
| 4 |
| PA2080 | Pastry Arts Salon Preparation & Project This course helps students develop methods, procedures and techniques, which are required to enter a pastry display in a Culinary Salon Competition. The course follows the guidelines of the American Culinary Federation. Students prepare assorted rolls, breads, assorted pies, fancy cakes, cookies, quick breads, coco painting, chocolate artistry and pastillage decorations to improve their pastry products.
| 4 |
| PA2090 | Pastry Arts Externship Students have the opportunity to apply skills learned through theory and hands-on application to a practical / professional environment. Although the externship chosen by the student is not considered continual employment, it should be selected with respect to permanency and the food service career path of the student.
| 12 |
| PA2100 | Pastry Arts Externship Students have the opportunity to apply skills learned through theory and hands-on application to a practical / professional environment.
| 4 |
| FS1010 | Safety, Sanitation and Kitchen Design This course provides instruction on the study of the principles of bacteriology, food borne illness, sanitation, safety, personal hygiene, housekeeping and health regulations and inspections. The safe use, cleaning and maintenance of equipment is also stressed. The principles of HACCP will be studied and applied to hypothetical situations. Each participant will be certified, upon successful completion with the sanitation requirements for certification, or re-certification, by the American Culinary Federation. Students are introduced to the proper procedures for the design of a professional kitchen. Each student designs a food service facility as part of the grade. | 4 |
| PSY1050 | Strategies for Success This course is designed to enhance the college learning experience and prepare students for personal and professional success. Concepts presented include managing change, setting and achieving goals, and thinking in ways to create success. | 4 |
| FS1000 | Small Business Accounting This course will give students a basic understanding of the role of accounting information in the management of a successful business. Students will learn the fundamentals of assembling and analyzing financial information. They will learn how to read and interpret financial statements. | 4 |
| FS1020 | Food Service Math This course develops skills in mathematical computations that are frequently used in the food service industry. Areas of emphasis include recipe conversions, percentages and compound interest. | 4 |
| FS1030 | Purchasing for Food Service This course provides students with an overview of the purchasing procedures for foodservice operations, which includes the theory of the flow of goods, purchasing trends and cycles, and the ethical and legal considerations for purchasing and comparing product and bidding specifications. Students gain hands-on experience with inventory, proper receiving and issuing techniques, product quality, and comparison testing and various purchasing systems. | 4 |
| FS2120 | Small Business Entrepreneurship This course introduces students to the concepts behind creating, owning, and building a business. Entrepreneurship is a major factor in economic growth and renewal. | 4 |
| FS2130 | Restaurant Concepts and Menu Design This course introduces the student to the restaurant concepts of creating a menu layout and design, with nutritional needs and menu pricing. | 4 |
| SCI2150 | Basics of Nutrition This course introduces students to applying sound nutritional principles to food preparation and menu planning. Each student writes a Nutrition Cycle Menu. The American Culinary Federation Educational Institute approves this course. | 4 |
General Education CoursesWhat are general education courses? General Education courses are designed to provide students with an understanding of the breadth of knowledge, fundamental principles and questions, and methods of inquiry and problem solving in the basic categories of communication, the natural sciences, mathematics, and the social and behavioral sciences. | ||
| COM1100 | Intro to Writing This course focuses on helping students develop writing, researching, and critical thinking skills through writing paragraphs and essays using different rhetorical styles. Students also gain experience with peer reviewing. Students are required to earn a grade of C or higher to satisfy the requirements of this course. | 4 |
| SOC1050 | Sociology This course examines the basic concepts and terminology, research, theories, and facts associated with the understanding of human interrelations within various cultures, individual organizations, and distinct social groups. Through the scientific study of human behavior focused around the major sociological paradigms, human interactions within social institutions will be explored, including family, religion, economics, politics, government, medicine, as well as additional social groupings. Utilizing the sociological perspective, analysis will include stratification and institutional inequality, deviance, and other environmental dynamics. Numerous contemporary social issues will be discussed such as sexism, racism, class bias, and general inequality. | 4 |
| SPC1010 | Presentation Skills This course provides students with the basic skills necessary to organize their thoughts and communicate effectively through public speaking. Students learn to research, organize, and properly convey oral messages. Through practical classroom application, students gain sound experience in the art of oral presentation. | 4 |
| SCI3000 | ||
| SPN1050 | Spanish This course introduces students to the Spanish language and the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Students can expect a survey of basic Spanish grammar and the development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish, with special emphasis placed on conversational skills. Some aspects of everyday life in the Spanish-speaking world will also be introduced. | 4 |
Foundation CoursesWhat are foundation courses? Foundation courses include general study courses applicable to all majors. Foundation courses provide students with the ability to efficiently set goals, use technology and to effectively pursue and secure a career position related to the students’ chosen program of study. | ||
| PSY1050 | Strategies for Success This course is designed to enhance the college learning experience and prepare students for personal and professional success. Concepts presented include managing change, setting and achieving goals, and thinking in ways to create success. | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 116 | |
Career & Skills
Possible Job Titles
Pastry Cook, Assistant Pastry Chef, Pastry Baker, Baker
View the Pastry Arts Job Titles and SOC Codes
Estimated Salary (Entry Level to Mid-range)**
Education: Level of education has a direct impact on salary or hourly wage. In general, the more education a person has the higher the salary he or she can potentially earn. Someone with a high school diploma will most likely make less than someone with a Bachelor Degree.
Experience: Experience level can have a significant impact on salary or hourly wage. Even with a college degree, an entry level job will pay less than a job several years down the road. Nothing can replace experience.
Location: Depending on where you live in the United States your income can vary greatly. The cost of living in metropolitan areas or coastal areas usually warrants a higher salary or hourly wage than rural areas or other more affordable parts of the country.
National median: $22,000 - 24,300
Indiana median: $21,700 - 27,300
Skills, Tasks & Knowledge of the Job
- Baking, making dough, creating sauces and creams, decorating pastries, creating recipes and formula foundations
- Utilize hospitality and public relations training
- Understand and operate kitchen equipment, appliances, tools and utensils
- Understand and implement food health and safety regulations
- Order supplies and ingredients in appropriate quantities and quality
- Perform baking and kitchen responsibilities under the supervision and instruction of Head Pastry Chef or Kitchen Manager
- Work in a team environment
Typical Work Environments
- Commercial kitchens
- Restaurants
- Catering kitchens
- Bakeries or bake shops
** Salary information is an estimate based on several sources of research data, including the U.S. Department of Labor, O-Net, MSN Careers and PayScale.com. The salary estimates listed on this website should be considered general guidelines and Harrison encourages its students to conduct their own research. For a personalized admissions appointment, contact an admissions representative.
* There are five 10-week terms per year. All students must attend full time (12 hours) but most students typically must take 15-16 credit hours per term.

