NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

7/12/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Northwestern State University will offer a new concentration in culinary arts under the hospitality management and tourism (HMT) degree program, according to Dr. Patricia Pierson, head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Four new courses have been added to the curriculum and existing courses have been revised to support the concentration. The new courses include: advanced professional culinary preparation and presentation, Garde Manger: the art and craft of the cold kitchen, advanced baking and advanced catering and special functions.

CULA 3100, advanced professional culinary preparation and presentation, will be offered this fall. The class will be held from 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays. Haley Smith, local chef and graduate of the John Folse Culinary Arts Institute, will serve as adjunct instructor.

"We added the concentration because we had quite a few student requests and phone calls asking if we had a program," Pierson said. "I was also encouraged by several administrators. The popularity of the Food Network appears to be growing by leaps and bounds. We researched other curricula from schools all across the country and developed what we thought was a good fit for our program."

A minor in culinary arts was also approved, according to Pierson. "Some may pick up the minor, since many degree programs require a minor," she said.

Northwestern began offering a degree in HMT in 1995 when tourism in Louisiana was becoming recognized as a lucrative industry. In addition to the new culinary arts classes, concentrations are offered in recreation administration, travel and tourism and hospitality services. International study tours, community event involvement and other hands-on field experience are part of the curriculum.

Graduates of the program are represented in numerous diverse career positions, such as hotel and restaurant managers, state park directors, club catering managers, museum curators, convention and special event coordinators. The national-accredited program requires study in a foreign language and an extensive internship.

For more information about registering for the course, call the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at (318) 357-5587.

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