Brookdale Community College’s 32-credit Pastry Arts Academic Credit Certificate is taught through its Culinary Education Center in Asbury Park. The college’s main campus is in Lincroft, but the culinary teaching location matters when planning a commute.
The certificate combines production courses, sanitation, culinary math, and general education. It is aimed at students who want focused professional pastry training.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Brookdale Community College |
| Location | Asbury Park, New Jersey |
| Credentials | Pastry Arts Academic Credit Certificate |
| Credits | 32 credits |
| Format | Campus-based baking and pastry instruction |
| 2026–27 cost example | About $8,120 for 32 Monmouth County credits at 2026–27 tuition and general fee rates, before lab, supplies, and other charges |
Curriculum and Credential
The current catalog lists Baking Skills I, Patisserie, Advanced Baking Skills, Advanced Patisserie, Advanced Pastry Arts, Confectionary and Showpieces, Introduction to Culinary Principles, Culinary Math and Purchasing, and nutrition, alongside six general education credits. The total is 32 credits.
Students must earn a C or better in career courses and pass the ServSafe sanitation examination to receive the certificate. Brookdale says graduates are eligible for the American Culinary Federation’s Certified Pastry Culinarian credential; ask the school about any separate ACF application or experience requirements.
Training Site and Admissions
Brookdale identifies the Culinary Education Center, 101 Drury Lane in Asbury Park, as the location of its large training kitchens and bakery. The hands-on sequence includes patisserie, cakes, confections, and decorating.
Brookdale’s general registration policy permits students to enter most programs without a separate selective admission process. Applicants should still check placement, course prerequisites, and the timing of each pastry class before choosing a start term.
Tuition and Additional Costs
The college’s 2026–27 schedule lists $208 tuition plus $45.75 general fee per credit for Monmouth County residents. At 32 credits, that is about $8,120 in base tuition and general fees. The corresponding out-of-county rate is $332.75 per credit, or about $10,648 over 32 credits.
Those examples exclude lab and course fees, books, tools, uniforms, the ServSafe examination, and living costs. The exact bill depends on term load and course sections.
Planning the Sequence
Ask how often advanced pastry courses run and whether the certificate can be completed in consecutive terms. Students already in Brookdale’s Culinary Arts AAS may need only a few additional classes for the pastry certificate; an adviser should map the overlap before registration.