CMC Culinary Arts students prepare food over a grille.

The Culinary Arts Degree Internship Track

Learn and Work in world class resort communities with housing options

The internship track culinary arts degree program is a unique, comprehensive culinary education experience. Its year-around schedule integrates class time and job experience.

You can earn a culinary art degree in as few as six semesters and come away with resume-building job experience and contacts.

Ranked in 2023 by Forbes Advisor as the #1 skiing destination in North America, Vail, Colorado, is home to premier restaurant experiences as well. We offer afternoon classes so that you can juggle work and internships with the many fine restaurants in the area.

You'll have opportunities to learn in the local favorite places such as Sweet Basil (modern American), LaBottega (casual Italian), Matsuhisa (upscale Japanese) and many others as well as in the classroom. You'll leave Colorado Mountain College armed, not only with a restaurant management degree or a culinary management degree, but also with hands-on experience and contacts in the field.

Work experience is key for securing a good position to start your career.

Plus, Colorado Mountain College offers one of the lowest tuition rates in the state. This means you'll get a great education without going into debt.

CMC's Culinary Partners

Learning and working go hand in hand in the Culinary Arts Internship Track. Semester by semester your schedule is arranged for the best mix of classes and jobs, studying and practicing.

Courses are coordinated with CMC’s culinary program and our resort partners. The CMC Program Director works directly with the resorts' culinary professionals to align work experiences with course learning objectives.

You'll study with CMC's professionally experienced faculty and work with culinary professionals who are developing the next generation of innovative chefs.

See the sample program Schedule on the Curriculum Page

Vail Valley Partners

  • The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch
  • Sonnenalp Hotel
  • Vail Resorts

Summit Campus Partners

  • Keystone
  • Breckenridge
  • Copper Mountain
  • Beaver Run

Housing

Housing at CMC Vail Valley

Colorado Mountain College is currently building new housing at CMC Vail Valley. Learn more about the project and apply for student housing. CMC Housing Initiative

Employee Benefits and Housing

Our students apply directly for positions at The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, Sonnenalp Hotel and Vail Resorts. Once employed, you'll have the same benefits as any other employee which, depending upon employer, may include housing and ski passes.

See employment websites for more about each company's benefits:

Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch
Sonnenalp Hotel
Vail Resorts/Beaver Creek & Vail Mountain Resort

Request Program Information

Graduates

Matt Vawter: A Legacy of Fine Dining

Matt Vawter rose quickly through the ranks after graduating from CMC with a degree in culinary arts. He is currently the proprietor of the award-winning restaurant Rootstalk in Breckenridge.

A native of Summit County, Matt returned to the mountains after making a name for himself as executive chef at Mercantile Dining & Provision in Denver. Matt often hires fellow CMC grads to work for him.

“My education at CMC has helped me in my career because of the three years of true kitchen experience,” Matt says. “Not only was I introduced to all of the elements of classic cuisine, but I also was able to apply my classroom education in kitchens around the resort on a daily basis. When I graduated, I was ready to step into any kitchen I wanted to.”

Read more: Matt Vawter: A Legacy of Fine Dining

Kevin McCombs

“The culinary apprentice program at Colorado Mountain College was the perfect start to my career in the hospitality industry. It furnished me with the tools to become the Executive Chef of the award-winning Ski Tip Lodge and go on to owning my business as a personal chef in House Cured Culinary. You, too, can jump start your culinary career with the Colorado Mountain College Keystone Culinary Institute.”

Kevin McCombs, House Cured Culinary/Owner/Executive Chef, Dillon, Colorado Read more: Kevin McCombs