Baking and Pastry Foundation Certificate of Achievement

The Baking and Pastry Certificate of Achievement equips students with both foundational and intermediate skills in the art of baking and pastry. Through hands-on experience, students learn essential techniques in bread making, cake decorating, and dessert production. This program prepares students for entry-level careers in bakeries, pastry shops, restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments. Students will master professional techniques, food safety practices, and the use of commercial bakery equipment, building a strong foundation for success in the food service industry.

We project 40 students earning the degree annually. 

Objectives

• Prepare students with the technical skills and industry knowledge needed to secure entry-level employment in baking and pastry arts within commercial kitchens, bakeries, and foodservice establishments.
• Provide a hands-on, professional learning environment that emphasizes food safety, quality production, and workplace professionalism to support student success and career advancement.

Goals  

• Apply food safety standards, accurate ingredient measurement, and effective time management to ensure consistent product quality and kitchen efficiency.
• Demonstrate proficiency in baking a variety of products, including breads, cakes, pastries, and plated desserts, using proper techniques and commercial equipment.

The Baking and Pastry Certificate of Achievement directly supports Santa Ana College’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality education that promotes student success, workforce readiness, and community engagement. By offering focused, hands-on training in baking and pastry arts, the program equips students with marketable skills that enhance employability and career advancement in the thriving hospitality and foodservice sectors locally and statewide.

This certificate complements the college’s existing culinary arts curriculum by providing a specialized pathway for students interested in baking and pastry, fulfilling diverse learner needs and fostering equity through a shorter-term, stackable credential. It aligns with the college’s commitment to career technical education (CTE) and guided pathways, enabling students to progress toward meaningful employment or further academic goals efficiently.

This program serves as both a standalone certificate for students seeking expedited entry into the workforce and a stackable certificate that supports progression toward the Culinary Arts Advanced certificates. It provides foundational and intermediate baking skills that are essential for students interested in careers specifically within the bakery and pastry sectors, thereby filling a curricular gap in the college’s foodservice education offerings.

Orange Coast College, Cypress College, Saddleback College, Cerritos College, and Long Beach City College all have similar programs; however, they are impacted, and therefore Santa Ana College is needed to serve our local community who are unable to enroll in classes at these other programs. By launching this focused certificate program, Santa Ana College will fill a critical gap in local educational offerings and provide timely, affordable, and hands-on training that directly aligns with regional workforce needs. The program supports the growing hospitality and foodservice sectors in Orange County and addresses student demand for shorter-term credentials that lead to meaningful employment

CULN 110 OR    NUTR 110Food Safety and Sanitation 25 sections 101 students

CULN 120 Culinary Fundamentals I 6 sections 120 students

CULN 140 Baking Fundamentals I 7 sections 217 students

CULN 141 Baking Fundamentals II 1 section 40 students

CULN 299 Work Experience- Culinary 0.5 -4  4 sections 12 students