Be ready to spice up your love of food
Our two-year Culinary Arts program will introduce you to restaurant production methods and sweet and savoury techniques. You’ll find a perfect pairing of learning the science and the art of well-crafted meals. In addition to a paid industry placement, you’ll have an immersive, 16-week experience preparing food in our on-campus Garden Court Restaurant.
Grab and Go Information
Why should you study Culinary Arts at Lethbridge Polytechnic?
Our Culinary Arts team works with more than 50 employers in Alberta and beyond to help students land work placements where they can put theory into practice. That’s on top of the experience students get creating cuisine for the polytechnic’s own Garden Court Restaurant. Ninety-three per cent of Culinary Arts grads had a related job less than six months after graduating. Grads can also earn their Red Seal designation after completing the program.
93%
of Culinary Arts grads have a related job less than six months after completing the program
100%
of our Culinary Arts grads have landed that important first job
480 hours
spent in a paid industry work placement
Career Opportunities
Lethbridge Polytechnic graduates are employed throughout Canada and abroad in a variety of culinary opportunities including fine restaurants, hotels, cruise ships, catering companies, flight kitchens, hospitals, care facilities, and convention centres. Opportunities also exist to own and operate your own restaurant or branch out into marketing and product development.
Recent graduates have found employment in the following roles:
- Banquet chef
- Banquet cook
- Business owner
- Caterer
- Chef
- Chef de partie
- Entrepreneur
- Food sales representative
- Line cook
- Prep cook
- Sous chef
50+
employers in Alberta who regularly offer paid employment to our Culinary students
167
the number of new chef positions forecasted to be created each year in Alberta
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
late August and January
Credential / Accreditation
Diploma
Duration
2 years
International Eligibility
This program is available for International Students.
Application Deadlines
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Academic Centre
Program Availability
Admissions
Apply NowNew applicants are accepted into the Culinary Arts program for the Fall (September) term with a late August start date, and the Winter (January) term.
General Admissions Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge Polytechnic programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Academic Requirements
Applicants to this program do not require a high school diploma; however, they must satisfy the following specific course requirements (or equivalencies):
- Grade 10 English
- Grade 10 Math
Non-Academic Requirements
All students in the Culinary Arts program must follow the sanitation, hygiene and safety practices standard to the industry and present themselves in the following condition whenever entering any of the food service labs: Students must be clean shaven (moustaches are acceptable), hair must be clean and controlled. Students wear a white uniform, chef hat, apron, and approved footwear.
Medical Requirements
It is strongly recommended that applicants update or complete a personal medical profile and their immunization records prior to entry into the program and employment.
Applicants may be asked to complete a follow-up medical at the discretion of the Polytechnic Health Centre.
Non-Medical Requirements
Students can expect to cut and prepare products such as beef, pork, lamb, shellfish, fish, fowl, etc. Once dishes are prepared, students may be required to taste them.
Students may also be exposed to allergens such as soy, eggs, nuts, gluten, etc.
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Culinary Arts diploma.
Graduation Requirements
In order to receive their diploma, students must have an overall combined (practical and theoretical) average of 70 per cent.
Students not already employed in the industry, will be required to attend our Recruitment Day where employers come to the polytechnic, and resumes can be dropped off with those employers for summer work placements. Past students in our program have achieved 100 per cent employment. Summer workplace locations vary from resort areas in the Rocky Mountains to local hotels, restaurants, care facilities and catering companies. Our culinary department has an excellent association with more than 50 employers in Alberta and further afield who have regularly offered paid employment to our culinary students.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Term I | ||
| CLA-1100 | Kitchen Fundamentals and Safety | 6 |
| CLA-1101 | Integrated Food Services | 6 |
| CLA-1102 | Meat Preparation and Saucier I | 6 |
| CLA-1103 | Bakeshop Production I | 6 |
| COM-1137 | Communication Skills | 1.5 |
| Credits | 25.5 | |
| Term II | ||
| CLA-1104 | Event Planning, Management & Nutrition | 3 |
| CLA-1105 | Integrated Lunch Service | 6 |
| CLA-1106 | Meat Preparation & Saucier II | 6 |
| CLA-1107 | Bakeshop Production II | 6 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Term III | ||
| CLA-2201 | Advanced Management Skills | 3 |
| CLA-2202 | Integrated Dinner Service | 6 |
| CLA-2203 | Meat Cutting and Cooking | 6 |
| CLA-2204 | Bakeshop Production III | 6 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Term IV | ||
| CLA-2200 | Industry Work Placement | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 70.5 | |
Tuition costs are estimates for the 2025/2026 year.
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$7,553.00
|
$2,339.00
|
$800.00
|
| Year 2
|
$4,032.00
|
$1,369.00
|
$300.00
|
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$24,990.00
|
$2,339.00
|
$800.00
|
| Year 2
|
$14,035.00
|
$1,369.00
|
$300.00
|
Notes
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.
Budget Wizard
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge Polytechnic campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge Polytechnic awards and scholarships - visit our Awards and Scholarships page for more information.
Featured Graduates
Jeremy Langemann
“[Lethbridge College] brings students in from all over the world; it’s a great program, has great instructors and is just a great place to be.”
Kristy Olsen
“One of the great things in the Culinary program is the amazing tools you get to play with – everything from bandsaws and chainsaws to fine delicate tools for creating edible flowers and carving fruit. It’s always a nice change when you get to put your French knife down and work with something out of the ordinary.”
Cam Picyk
“At the end of the day, everyone needs to learn how to work clean, be organized and have a skill set. When I was a student at Lethbridge College, I learned the nuts and bolts of how a kitchen works, how to keep it clean and organized, how to fillet a fish and chop an onion. And every single day I use those skills.”