Culinary

The Mission of the St. Charles Community College Culinary Program is to equip students with the essential knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes necessary to succeed and advance into leadership roles within the food and hospitality industry. Our program emphasizes a balance of theoretical understanding and practical, hands-on experience to ensure that students are fully prepared to meet the demands of contemporary culinary, baking and pastry, and hospitality professions.

To participate successfully in the St. Charles Community College Culinary Program and complete degree, certificate, and non-credit programs, each student— with or without reasonable accommodations—must be able to perform the following essential functions:

1. Demonstrate the ability to perform key activities in the kitchen, externship, dining room, café, and classroom environments.
2. Attend and actively engage in all classes and training environments.This includes participation in production kitchen classes, instructional kitchen sessions, dining room, café, laboratory classes, and externships, each requiring a minimum commitment of seven consecutive hours per session, with potential for varying hours of the day.
3. Possess emotional stability, resilience, and appropriate behavioral and social skills for working individually and collaboratively in diverse environments.
4. Ensure the safety and well-being of others, both in the classroom and externship environments. Students must be capable of working safely in all settings, not posing any risk to others' safety, whether on campus or during externship and other college-sponsored activities.

Admission to the Culinary Program at St. Charles Community College is selective. Our process is designed to identify students with strong potential for success in culinary training and the food service industry while maintaining high standards of instruction and hands-on learning.

Because space is limited, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Admission Criteria

Candidates are evaluated based on three key components:

Academic Achievement

Your academic record demonstrates your commitment to learning and ability to succeed in a rigorous training environment.

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 from your most recent educational institution (high school or college)
• College GPA must include at least 12 completed credit hours to be considered
• GPA is evaluated using a weighted scale that considers academic level and performance

Professional Skills Assessment

We value professionalism, work ethic, and readiness for the culinary field.

• Applicants will provide contact information for two professional references (teachers and/or employers) in the application
• SCC will send the evaluation forms directly to your references after your application is submitted
• Assessments provide evidence of professional skills important in culinary careers, such as reliability, teamwork, and initiative

Applicants are encouraged to notify their references in advance so forms can be completed promptly.

Chef Faculty Interview

The interview allows faculty to learn more about your goals and evaluate your readiness for the program.

During the interview, faculty will assess:

• Communication skills and professional demeanor
• Problem-solving abilities and creative thinking
• Alignment with program expectations and career goals

After applications are reviewed, applicants will be contacted with next steps to schedule their interview as part of the review process.

Selection Process

• Each admission component is scored independently by the admissions committee
• Weighted scores are calculated across all criteria
• Applicants are ranked based on total score
• Top-scoring candidates are offered admission based on available seats

Our goal is to maintain a fair and transparent process that identifies students who will thrive in the program and contribute to SCC’s tradition of culinary excellence.

Application Timeline - Fall 2026 Cohort

• Application Review Begins: April 1, 2026

• Chef Interviews: Scheduled after application review begins

• Admission Offers: Released on a rolling basis until seats are filled

Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed until the program is full.

 Apply early for best consideration.

 

 

How to Apply to the Culinary Program

 

Step 1: Apply to St. Charles Community College

If you are not currently an SCC student, complete the college application first.

Step 2: Complete the Culinary Program Application

Apply here

During the application, you will:

• Provide contact information for at least two professional references
• Authorize SCC to send assessment forms directly to your references

Tip: Let your references know in advance so they can respond quickly.

Step 3: Interview Process

After applications are reviewed, applicants will be contacted with next steps to schedule a Chef Interview.