YOUR RECIPE FOR SUCCESS


The Culinary Arts Technology Associate Degree program will give you the skills you need to become a highly competent  professional chef. Your degree from TCL’s Culinary Institute of the South will open doors for elite positions in the finest restaurants in the Lowcountry and beyond.

The 66-credit-hour program features hands-on instruction in a number of in-demand culinary disciplines. Classes cover recipe and menu planning; preparing and cooking of foods;  supervising and training kitchen assistants; the management of food supplies and kitchen resources; aesthetics of food presentation; and familiarity or mastery of a wide variety of cuisines and culinary techniques.

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  • Quick Facts


    HANDS-ON

    Get hands-on training from some of the finest chefs in the world from our own local world-renowned resorts.

    IN-DEMAND

    Local restaurants and resorts need well-trained, professional chefs. The S.C. mean wage for chefs and head cooks is $46,990.

    WELL-ROUNDED

    Customer service training and principles of entrepreneurship round out the curriculum.

    ACCREDITATION


    Technical College of the Lowcountry is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Technical College of the Lowcountry may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). 

    ENROLL NOW!


    We are enrolling now for classes at TCL’s brand new Culinary Institute of the South. Plus, general education courses can be completed at any campus or online.


    WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING


    “TCL is elevating culinary arts as a profession and as an industry here in the Lowcountry.”

    Chef Francine Marz
    Dean

    FAQS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


    Program Cost

    Tuition: 67 credits x $214 per credit = $14,338.

    Remember, this is before S.C. Lottery Tuition Assistance and other financial aid, which could drop your costs by more than half. In fact, after financial aid, many TCL students attend for free. See more about paying for TCL.

    *Based on Fall 2022 in-state, in-service-area tuition. Your actual cost may differ. Does not include fees, books and other costs. Qualifications vary.

    The Career

    The S.C. mean wage for chefs and head cooks is $47,780, according to 2021 reports from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Employment of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Population and income growth will result in greater demand for high-quality dishes at a variety of dining venues.

    Consumers also are continuing to demand healthier meals made from scratch in restaurants, in cafeterias, in grocery stores, and by catering services. To ensure high-quality dishes, these establishments are increasingly hiring experienced chefs to oversee food preparation.

    Is this program right for you?

    The program is a great fit for those who:

    • Are creative and innovative.
    • Have physical stamina to endure long shifts while standing.
    • Have great time-management skills.
    • Can handle hectic and fast-paced work environments.

    Program Dean


    Francine Marz

    Dean, Culinary & Hospitality

    843-305-8535

    Culinary Institute of the South, Rm 206

    Instructors


    Sam Carpenter

    Culinary Arts Instructor

    843-305-8582

    Culinary Institute of the South, Rm 203

    Culinary Arts News

    5th Annual Chefs Table Benefit a Huge Success

    5th Annual Chefs Table Benefit a Huge Success

    Funds raised from the benefit will go to support the Culinary Institute of the South Thanks to the generous support ...
    Culinary-Arts

    TCL to host enrollment events, job fair this fall

    The Technical College of the Lowcountry will host two enrollment events and a job fair coming up this fall. First, ...
    Culinary Institute hosts Hampton campers, funded by Truist Foundation

    Culinary Institute hosts Hampton campers, funded by Truist Foundation

    More than 30 high school students from the Hampton County School District recently completed a four-week culinary summer camp at ...
    Lights, camera – food?

    Lights, camera – food?

    Students and staff from the Culinary Institute of the South cater movie set The Culinary Institute of the South at ...
    FOODseum at Culinary Institute of the South to host exhibit by Amiri Farris

    FOODseum at Culinary Institute of the South to host exhibit by Amiri Farris

    The FOODseum at the Culinary Institute of the South will host an exhibit this fall by Lowcountry artist Amiri Geuka ...
    TCL taps Francine Marz to lead Culinary Institute of the South

    TCL taps Francine Marz to lead Culinary Institute of the South

    The Technical College of the Lowcountry has hired Chef Francine Marz to serve as Dean of the Culinary Institute of ...