College of Food Innovation & Technology

Baking & Pastry Arts Associate Degree

Degree: AS

Locations: Rhode Island

Length: 2 Years

Credits: 61

Become a Baking & Pastry Professional

Perfecting cakes, breads, desserts, and pastries takes focus, creativity, and a solid understanding of how ingredients combine to produce a finished product. JWU Providence’s two-year Baking & Pastry Arts associate degree program will teach you the technical skills, scientific precision and craft to become a baking professional.

JWU’s International Baking & Pastry Institute® sets the global standard. In addition to mastering cakes, artisan bread, confections and plated desserts, you’ll learn how to develop menus, implement cost controls, and pass a nationally-recognized food safety certification.

Sharpen your critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills through professional studies courses. Complete an internship or study abroad option to apply your skills in a professional setting, build your network, and gain career-ready confidence.

You’ll receive a pastry kit with essential tools, a professional chef uniform, and JWU-produced digital textbooks covering fundamentals and formulas.

_{Admissions is contingent upon meeting the technical standards for this program. Individual states may require specific licensing or professional certification in addition to earning a degree in order to practice in the field. For more information, visit the Catalog’s Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures.}

Explore Career Paths

Rows of pastries created by baking & pastry students for Advanced Pastry Applications (BPA 2710).

Studying baking and pastry arts allows you to tap into your artistic, creative, and scientific sides. There are so many ways to set yourself apart, whether you’re interested in becoming a cake decorator, a bakery owner, a food stylist or so many other options.

Career Possibilities

Bread Baker
Bakery Manager
Chocolatier
Cake Decorator
Pastry Cook
Bakery Owner

_{Some professions may require additional study, background checks, certifications, licenses, exams and/or experience as required qualifications for employment. Students are responsible for verifying that they can meet the employment requirements of potential employers.}

Sugar-pulling in a JWU Providence confections lab.

Sample Courses

Principles of Cake Production and Design

Artisan Cafe

Foundations of Baking and Pastry

Chocolate, Confections & Mignardise

Artisan Bread & Viennoiserie I & II

Plated Desserts

Advanced Pastry Applications

Explore the Full catalog

Baking Labs & Classrooms

Put your learning into action in our baking & pastry labs, located in the Cuisinart Center for Culinary Excellence (CCCE) and the Harborside Academic Center (HAC).

Through hands-on learning, you will apply skills, food science and theories that form your foundation for all program levels. Gain facility with crafting cakes, decorative elements, artisan breads, laminated doughs, chocolates and sugar confections.

The Bay Café

The second-floor CCCE dining room offers real-time practice in plating desserts and working on front-of-the-house skills.

Explore Baking & Pastry Labs

RELATED BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Baking & Pastry Arts

Master all facets of the dynamic baking and pastry arts industry in JWU’s Baking & Pastry Arts bachelor’s degree program. Learn in advanced lab settings from our world-renowned faculty as you broaden your expertise in artisanal bread, confectionery, viennoiserie, cakes and plated desserts.

Culinary Science & Product Development

The Culinary Science & Product Development bachelor’s degree program integrates food science with culinary arts, preparing students for careers as research chefs and food technologists in product development labs, test kitchens and culinary centers.

Max Stanger offers a taste of mead to judge David Burke '23 Hon.

Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship

The Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree program prepares students for careers creating and managing food and/or beverage-related small businesses and start-ups or for work within existing organizations as an advocate of innovation.

After completing your associate degree, continue your education by enrolling in one of the following JWU bachelor’s degree programs:

Baking & Pastry Arts
Business Studies
Culinary Arts
Culinary Nutrition

Culinary Science & Product Development
Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
Food & Beverage Industry Management

Providence

Faculty Contact

Susan Lagalle, B.S., CEPC
Department Chair, International Baking & Pastry Institute™
401-598-2080
Email

Jaime Schick, M.Ed.
Department Chair, International Baking & Pastry Institute™
401-598-4973
Email