El Paso Community College teaches baking and pastry through its Culinary Arts program, which the college describes as the only collegiate culinary program in the El Paso region. The pastry track leads to a 60-credit Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts and Related Sciences-Pastry, and the first three semesters of that plan earn a 36-credit Pastry Certificate of Completion on the way.
The pastry sequence stands out for a two-credit course in Mexican Breads and Pastries, which covers baked goods from classical Mexican bakeshops, alongside laminated dough, plated desserts, and quantity bakeshop production. Details below come from the 2026–27 EPCC Catalog, published in April 2026.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| School | El Paso Community College |
| Location | El Paso, Texas (Culinary Arts is housed in Building B of the Administrative Services Center, 9050 Viscount Blvd.) |
| Credentials | Culinary Arts and Related Sciences-Pastry AAS (AAS-PSTR); Pastry Certificate of Completion (C1-PSTC) |
| Credits | 60 or 36 credits |
| Length | Five semesters for the AAS; three semesters, including a summer term, for the certificate |
| Capstone | PSTR 1342 Quantity Bakeshop Production (AAS) |
| Format | Campus-based, with hands-on lab courses |
Baking and Pastry Program Options
Both credentials appear on pages 132–133 of the 2026–27 EPCC Catalog, listed next to the Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management tracks. The Culinary Arts program page links to orientation sign-up.
Culinary Arts and Related Sciences-Pastry AAS
This 60-credit degree prepares students for entry-level work and beyond in bakeries and pastry shops, with coursework in the business side of baking as well as hands-on production. The catalog lays it out as five semesters: 12, 14, and 10 credits in the first year (the third term is summer), then 12 credits in each of the fourth and fifth semesters.
General education includes Composition I, General Psychology or Introduction to Sociology, a mathematics elective, Introduction to Ethics, and a speech course. Nutrition and Diet Therapy, Purchasing for Hospitality Operations, Food Service Management, and Menu Management round out the support courses.
Pastry Certificate of Completion
The catalog awards the C1-PSTC Pastry Certificate of Completion once a student finishes the first three semesters of the pastry AAS, a total of 36 credits. Those semesters include Fundamentals of Baking; Pies, Tarts, Teacakes and Cookies; Bakery Operations and Management; Advanced Pastry Shop; basic food preparation and sanitation; and the same general education and management courses as the degree’s first year.
Because the certificate is built into the degree plan, every certificate credit counts toward the AAS for students who stay for the fourth and fifth semesters.
Curriculum and Baking Courses
The pastry plan lists these baking and pastry courses:
- Fundamentals of Baking
- Pies, Tarts, Teacakes and Cookies
- Bakery Operations and Management
- Advanced Pastry Shop, covering classical and international pastries, ice creams, chocolate work, and decorations
- Breads and Rolls; Laminated Dough, Pate a Choux, and Donuts
- Mexican Breads and Pastries
- Plated Desserts and Quantity Bakeshop Production
- Practicum (or Field Experience)-Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef I
Prerequisites run in a fixed order. For example, Advanced Pastry Shop requires Bakery Operations and Management, and Breads and Rolls, Laminated Dough, and Plated Desserts all require Advanced Pastry Shop. The practicum lab is described as an on-campus experience.
Tuition and Additional Costs
The 2026–27 catalog sets tuition at $116 per credit for residents and $201 per credit for non-residents, plus a $20 per credit general use fee that all students pay. EPCC charges every Texas resident the same resident rate, so the in-district and out-of-district columns below are identical. Residents of Doña Ana and Otero counties in New Mexico also qualify for the resident rate. No flat per-semester mandatory fee is listed:
| Program | Credits | Estimated in-district tuition and fees | Estimated out-of-district tuition and fees | Estimated out-of-state tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Sciences-Pastry AAS (5 semesters) | 60 | $8,160 | $8,160 | $13,260 |
| Pastry Certificate of Completion (3 semesters) | 36 | $4,896 | $4,896 | $7,956 |
These estimates cover tuition and the general use fee only. Books, uniforms, knives and equipment, the one-time $10 refundable property deposit, testing fees, transportation, and living costs are extra. Students who take online or hybrid sections pay a $55 distance learning fee.
Lab fees add to the total. The catalog lists a $20 laboratory fee and marks every PSTR course, Basic Food Preparation, Purchasing for Hospitality Operations, Food Service Management, and Menu Management as lab-fee courses. That comes to seven lab-fee courses in the certificate (about $140) and 14 in the AAS (about $280). Culinary orientation explains the uniforms and equipment required and what they cost. The Tuition and Fees page has payment plan details.
Admissions and Financial Aid
New students apply through ApplyTexas, send official high school, GED, or college transcripts, complete placement testing, submit meningitis vaccination records if under 22, meet with a counselor, and attend New Student Orientation before registering. The catalog strongly recommends a separate Culinary orientation, held about four weeks before each semester, which includes a facility tour, an interview with a chef instructor, and a review of uniform and equipment costs.
Financial aid starts with the FAFSA. EPCC’s financial aid section lists Federal Pell Grants, SEOG, and state grants, and it notes reduced Pell awards for students taking fewer than 12 hours. The catalog does not say whether the pastry certificate is Pell-eligible, so confirm that with the Financial Aid office.
Career Preparation and Transfer Considerations
The pastry AAS is aimed at entry-level and advancing roles in commercial and institutional bakeries and pastry shops. Management content in bakery operations, purchasing, food service management, and menus supports graduates who later want supervisory or ownership roles.
The AAS is a workforce degree. Composition, psychology or sociology, math, ethics, speech, and Nutrition and Diet Therapy are listed as transfer courses, but the PSTR and RSTO courses are workforce (WECM) courses. Students aiming for a bachelor’s degree should have the receiving school review their credits early.
Which EPCC Pathway May Fit You?
| Pathway | May fit students who want |
|---|---|
| Pastry Certificate of Completion | A three-semester credential covering baking fundamentals, pies and cookies, bakery management, and advanced pastry |
| Culinary Arts and Related Sciences-Pastry AAS | The full sequence, adding breads, laminated dough, Mexican breads and pastries, plated desserts, a practicum, and quantity production |
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- Which semesters can new pastry students start in, and when is the next Culinary orientation?
- Are pastry labs held only at the Administrative Services Center, and are evening sections available?
- What do the required uniforms, knives, and tools cost in total?
- Is the Pastry Certificate of Completion eligible for Pell Grant funding?
- How is the practicum scheduled, and does it involve any off-campus work?
- Which math elective works best for the pastry degree plan?
Program details and costs can change. Confirm current requirements with El Paso Community College before applying.