The Culinary Essentials Certificate (CEC) is a two semester (23-credit hour) undergraduate certificate program at the Kemmons Wilson Culinary Institute (KWCI) that prepares students to enter the culinary workforce in settings such as restaurants, country clubs, resorts, hotels, and many other food service opportunities. Students learn culinary arts fundamentals—cooking methods, flavor development, fabrication techniques, world cuisines, baking and pastry, sanitation and safety, nutritional analysis and culinary math. Students work in a hands-on and immersive environment since two-thirds of the CEC Program is the practical application of knowledge and skills gained.  The teaching facility is a 32,000 sq-ft, state-of-the-art culinary lab facility at the Kemmons Wilson Culinary Institute. The CEC Program requires a 240-hour internship to further bridge classroom learning with practical applications in the culinary field. To enhance the internship, the CEC Program also emphasizes career, entrepreneurial, and personal development skills during the program.