Program Overview

Culinary Production Specialist Technical Diploma

Program Overview

The Culinary Production Specialist program at Madison College will help you develop the skills necessary to pursue a career in the food-service industry within restaurants, bakeries, catering services, delis, hotels, resorts, healthcare facilities, and schools.

Statistics show that the foodservice industry is America’s #1 retail employer. There is an increasing need for well-trained food service personnel for restaurants, catering enterprises, healthcare facilities, and other institutional food service establishments in Wisconsin and throughout the nation.

Program Details

• Program Number:
• Your Degree: Technical Diploma
• Area of Study: Culinary, Hospitality and Fitness
• Delivery Method: 100% In Person
• Estimated Time to Complete: 30 Credits | Finish diploma in 1.5 years
• Financial Aid Available: Yes

Tuition and Fees

• Estimated Program Cost: $6,466.62
• View Tuition and Fees: Tuition and Fees

Admission

To Apply

Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities.

Application Dates

• Fall 2025:
  • Application open
  • Application completion deadline is August 15, 2025

Admission Requirements

• 1. Admission Application: The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
• 2. Education Completion: Official transcripts must be sent from the institutions you attended and indicate one of the following:
  • High school transcript (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
  • GED/HSED transcript
  • College transcript(s) showing:
    • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
    • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
      • The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
      • Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum

Curriculum and Experience

Prospective program students

The information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the academic year.

Current and newly admitted program students

Go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

• Progress toward your specific requirements
• Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

Prior to Start of Program

• Principles of Sanitation: 1 credit

First Semester

• Written Communication: 3 credits
• Food Theory: 2 credits
• Culinary Baking Fundamentals: 1 credit
• Professional Cooking 1: 4 credits
• Culinary Baking Lab: 2 credits

Second Semester

• Math with Business Applications: 3 credits
• Professional Cooking 2: 4 credits
• Garde Manger/Decorative Foods: 2 credits
• Catering: 2 credits
• Nutrition: 1 credit

Third/Summer Semester

• Culinary Internship: 2 credits

Career Outcomes

After completing the Culinary Production Specialist program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:

• Apply principles of safety and sanitation in food service operations.
• Apply basic principles of nutrition.
• Demonstrate basic culinary skills.
• Assist in food service management.
• Plan menus.
• Explore food service financial information.

Graduate Summary

• Number of Program Graduates: 12 (2022), 8 (2023), 13 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Sent: 12 (2022), 8 (2023), 13 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Returned: 9 (2022), 8 (2023), 12 (2024)
• Percent of Surveys Returned: 75% (2022), 100% (2023), 92% (2024)

Graduate Employers

• Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant: Prep Cook
• Culver's: Crew Chief
• Lake Mills Market: Deli Clerk
• Molten Monkey: Line Cook
• Sultan: Cook

Related Programs

• Culinary Arts
• Culinary Fundamentals
• Baking & Decorative Arts
• Hospitality Management