Southern Adventist University, located just outside Chattanooga in Collegedale, TN, is currently enrolling students for its new Vegetarian Culinary Arts program with courses beginning in Fall 2013. The program starts as a one-year certificate track, but the university plans to include associate’s and bachelor’s degree options by 2014.

Southern is one of only a few colleges or universities in the country providing this kind of training. This is a natural fit since the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s health message, which strongly recommends a meat-free diet, is on display each day as the university uses exclusively vegetarian ingredients in providing meals for its 3,300 students.

The bulk of the new curriculum will consist of professional cooking instruction. Some of the other courses being taught include Food Safety and Sanitation; Introduction to Food Purchasing, Preparation, and Presentation; International Ethnic Cuisines; and Introduction to Marketing for Culinary Professionals.

A new, full-time faculty member has been hired as the director and lead professor. There will also be several adjunct professors teaching classes, as well as guest speakers for class demonstrations.

To view a complete list of courses and requirements, visit: https://www.southern.edu/pe/academics/Pages/vegetarianculinaryarts.aspx.