Online Associate Hospitality & Culinary Arts Degrees

Online associate degrees in hospitality may cover a broad span of subjects including legal and insurance information as well as marketing and sales. One common option for online degree programs is a major in business administration with a concentration in hospitality management. Some hybrid online and on-campus programs may require students to complete an externship in a real hospitality business.

While most culinary arts programs come with a hands-on requirement in the kitchen, some subjects can be studied online, such as nutrition and the concepts of sanitation and food storage. Hybrid programs teach business skills such as cost control and purchasing or food service operations. A restaurant management program online might include food and beverage management as well as related legal, business and managerial topics.

The International Association of Culinary Professionals stresses the importance of earning the Certified Culinary Professional designation. Earning the CCP designation requires passing a 200-question exam, for which online associate degrees in culinary arts are designed to prepare you. IACP Director Ken Rubin notes: "For me, the CCP certification is a mark of distinction and achievement."

Course catalogs vary on the subject of online associate degrees in hospitality and culinary arts, but each includes standards like culinary fundamentals, food safety and business essentials. At some schools, a culinary arts A.A.S. degree may be a generalist degree, with the option to earn a baking, pastry or catering certificate through extra credits. Culinary and hospitality degrees online help prepare you for professional certification or potential employment, as well as specializations of your choice.