Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Culinary Arts at Waterford Institute of Technology

This is a full time, four year, level 8 programme of innovative and dynamic culinary study. It is a revisioning of traditional culinary skills training to include a number of other disciplines such as food innovation, media and visual arts, food policy, speciality food production, sustainable practices and gastronomy.

The curriculum has been designed to bring students into the worlds of interdisciplinary learning, research and enquiry and the emphasis is less on training and more on holistic development in order that graduates will elevate current industry practices to a new dimension both regionally and nationally. Graduates will be empowered to become self-starters with passion and entrepreneurial traits.

International and Industrial Experience

Central to the degree is a year combining industrial and international experience. During the first semester of year 3 students have the opportunity to take a semester of international study, followed by an internship in industry in semester 6. This will offer culinary students first-hand experience of international standards and best practice in culinary operations.

Interdisciplinary study

This course offers an interdisciplinary study of social, human and culinary sciences and will encourage students to think about the future of gastronomy, encouraging them to explore the connection between environmental consciousness and creativity, politics and food production, the media and culinary arts, amongst other things.

The interdisciplinary nature of study equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to establish a career path in the culinary sector and increased flexibility to work in varied employable sectors such as:

• management positions within the hospitality sector, such as specialist chef, chef de partie and sous chef

• marketing and promotion

• entrepreneurship in creative food technology and development industries

• food product innovation centres

• artisan food production units

• food promotion

• education and training;

• event catering and food and beverage retail management

• in the domain of food styling

• food and related journalism
   

Students who have reached the appropriate honours standard may have access to a range of Masters Degrees in WIT and elsewhere.