Online Colleges for Hospitality & Culinary

"Leave the shower curtain on the inside of the tub." Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels, supposedly said this from his deathbed, after being asked for a few last wise words. Besides being funny, Hilton's line indicates the extent to which details matter if you're in the hospitality business. Whether you're working for a hotel, restaurant or event planning business, your job is to treat your customers like esteemed guests, making them feel cared for by anticipating and meeting some of their most basic needs, such as for food and shelter.

Hospitality & Culinary Arts Degree Programs and Careers

It's obvious why on-the-job training is crucial in the culinary arts: to learn how to wield a knife, you have to practice using it in the kitchen. But getting formal training at one of the culinary arts colleges can give you the edge you need to land that kitchen job. Associate degree programs teach you the basics of food preparation and presentation, while bachelor's degree programs include courses in advanced techniques.

In the hotel world, more and more employers prefer hiring college graduates for management jobs. Online degree programs in hospitality allow you to get essential on-the-job experience while earning the credential necessary for advancement. Working toward degrees like the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality or the Associate of Arts in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, you can take classes in everything from basic customer service to accounting practices and relevant legal issues.

Once you've earned your degree, you'll be in great shape to land a hospitality & culinary arts job, such as chef or head cook, lodging manager, or food service manager. In 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statisticss, lodging managers earned $53,500 annually, while food service managers earned $51,400.