Chefs in the kitchen choosing healthy ingredients based on nutritional science.

CIA ONLINE MASTER’S IN
CULINARY THERAPEUTICS

Chai spices include cardamom, ginger, star anise, cinnamon, fennel, and peppercorns.

CIA students compete in Run for Your Knives 5K race during Alumni weekend.

Food as Medicine. Food is Life.

With the Culinary Institute of America’s cutting-edge master’s in Culinary Therapeutics, chefs are empowered to transform health and wellness. Our program integrates food science education, nutritional understanding, mindfulness, and applied culinary practices to prepare its graduates to make positive, real-world impacts on the health of individuals and communities.

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Quick Facts

Next Start Date: Fall 2025

Application Deadline: May 1, 2025*

Program Duration: Two years

Total Credits: 30

*Our review committee reviews applications monthly and sends decisions in real-time.

Who Should Apply

Culinary Therapeutics is an emerging field of study—with numerous career possibilities—making it a promising, impactful field for those with culinary experience passionate about using food to promote healthy lifestyles. Any culinary professional looking to advance their career in the performance and health-supportive arena can benefit, including*:

Performance food service providers—athletes, sports teams, competitive performers (e.g. dance professionals)
Healthcare-based food service professionals—hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, senior living centers
Nutritionists/dietitians*
Food and education coaches*
Acupuncturist/holistic medicine coaches*
Private and corporate R&D chefs
Educational institution food professionals—K-12, colleges and universities
Food professionals within hotels, cruises and spas

*Must have an existing culinary background. Learn more about our culinary requirements below in our FAQs.

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Let’s Make Eating Healthy Sustainable

It’s well understood that fad diets or restrictive approaches, like eating only chicken and broccoli, are not long-term solutions. With Culinary Therapeutics, you will be able to develop healthy foods and menus that incorporate critically evaluated dietary and metabolic recommendations from medical professionals for long-term solutions. Use your newfound knowledge to optimize community and individual health and wellness.

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Focus on the Mental and Emotional Effects of Food

Beyond being intentional with what you eat, psychologists, doctors, and nutritional experts are focusing on how you feel about what you eat. Our bodies digest foods differently depending on how we feel about the food we’re eating. Support your clients with meals that are both nutritionally beneficial and bring them joy. Through your studies in Culinary Therapeutics, you will be able to apply motivational theories to inspire dietary behavioral changes associated with improved physical and mental well-being.

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Make Systemic Change in the Health, Wellness, and Athletic World

As both healthcare and performance-based fields shift toward preventive and personalized care, we want to empower culinary professionals to make an impact. Using your programmatic knowledge, formulate food-based solutions to wellness issues raised by the larger healthcare system, research, and culinary experience. Educate and mentor individuals through a variety of formats and technologies—discussions, culinary skills demonstrations, food selection (i.e. farmer’s markets and organic produce), writing, and listening. Be the change your community needs.

Upon Completion of the Program, Graduates Will Be Able To:

Utilize their knowledge of nutritional science to critically evaluate dietary and metabolic recommendations from medical professionals and develop healthy, culturally relevant, and delicious foods, and menus that optimize health and wellness.
Apply motivational theories to inspire dietary behavioral changes associated with improved physical and mental wellbeing.
Formulate food-based solutions to wellness issues raised by the larger healthcare system—using their programmatic knowledge, research, and culinary experience.
Educate and mentor individuals through a variety of formats and technologies—discussions, culinary skills demonstrations, writing, and listening.

Note: This program does not lead to licensure in any profession nor allow students to do any activities that are restricted to licensed professions.

Your Clients May:

Be aging adults looking to revitalize their lives
Be athletes in pursuit of peak performance
Have recently had a child and/or are breastfeeding
Be in rehabilitation, hospital or in the healthcare system
Suffer from chronic illness
Seek to improve their health and wellness through lifestyle approaches

Ready to get started? Apply now.

Why is Culinary Therapeutics the Future?

Growing Demand for Preventive Healthcare: Surging healthcare costs coupled with increased awareness about lifestyle-related diseases is driving more people to seek preventive health solutions. Culinary Therapeutics provides a proactive approach to using food to promote healthier living for personal wellness.
Chronic Disease Epidemic: Given that many diseases and metabolic conditions are significantly impacted by dietary patterns, Culinary Therapeutics professionals can partner with medical professionals to help manage—even mitigate—these conditions.
Integration with Holistic and Traditional Medicine: Culinary professionals are increasingly included in healthcare settings to work alongside doctors, dietitians, and other health professionals to address mind, body, and spirit.
Demand for Health and Wellness: As people become more aware of how food affects their well-being, demand for food professionals trained in Culinary Therapeutics will increase. This will open up new opportunities in wellness centers, resorts and spas, healthcare facilities, and food service organizations.

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Ready to get started? Apply now.

Curriculum Overview

The two-year, 30-credit Culinary Therapeutics master’s degree program includes:

27 credits in online courses covering subjects such as nutrition and optimal diet theory and application, health and wellness systems integration, therapeutic meal planning, as well as a capstone project developed with the help of faculty advisors and mentors.
3 credits consisting of three short residencies at CIA’s domestic campuses held before the start of the first semester, after the completion of the second semester, and as the final semester concludes.

Curriculum chart for the CIA master's degree in culinary therapeutics.

Download the full curriculum chart (PDF)

Learn In-person with Residencies

The asynchronous online learning format of the Culinary Therapeutics master’s degree program is supported by three in-person residencies.

Your cohort will gather for hands-on learning and immersive experiences in the Hudson Valley and the Napa Valley including:

Taste, palate, and sensory development.
Hands-on kitchen experience with skilled peers who share your passion to advance their careers.
Visits and learning opportunities in healthcare settings and wellness centers.

Roth Hall, Hyde Park, NY Campus

CIA Advantage

The Culinary Institute of America has been educating successful food, beverage, and hospitality industry professionals for decades, helping to launch and advance thousands of careers. As a graduate of CIA, you’ll instantly become a part of the most notable Alumni Network—paving the way for exceptional career opportunities. You’ll also have lifelong access to career resources, including job listings, mentors, and networking events. Our master’s alumni have accelerated their careers to own restaurants and businesses, impact the health of communities, craft signature wine brands, become food writers, and become changemakers in their industry.

That’s the iconic CIA Network.

Student at his Culinary Institute of America graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the culinary background requirements?

You must have some culinary or food service experience, but this can be from different types of experience. You should have a bachelor’s degree in any field and one of the following:

Associate degree in culinary arts or related discipline.
Culinary certificate of at least two semesters or the equivalent.
Extensive culinary experience in a professional kitchen environment that would allow the student to meet the necessary technical requirements listed below.

Students must be able to demonstrate a technical understanding of the following culinary areas:

Fundamental culinary techniques.
Stock, soup, and sauce preparation.
Basic vegetable and starch accompaniments.
Sensible plate accompaniments and menu progression.
Basic cold food preparations.
Food safety and sanitation principles.

What is the difference between Culinary Therapeutics and Culinary Medicine?

Culinary Therapeutics and Culinary Medicine are related fields, but they focus on different aspects of food and health. Culinary Therapeutics helps chefs to use food preparation and cooking techniques to promote health and well-being. It integrates culinary skills with knowledge of nutrition, aiming to enhance the therapeutic properties of food. It’s often used in clinical settings to support patients’ recovery and overall wellness through personalized meal planning and cooking. Meanwhile, Culinary Medicine is an interdisciplinary field that combines culinary arts, nutrition science, and medical education. Culinary Medicine focuses on teaching healthcare providers how to use food as a tool for preventing and managing chronic diseases. Culinary Medicine often involves hands-on cooking classes and emphasizes the importance of understanding the nutritional value of ingredients.

Will I earn a nutritionist or other license as part of this program?

No. This program does not lead to licensure in any profession nor allow students to do any activities that are restricted to licensed professions.

What are requirements for admission?

You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or hold an international equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. If your first language is not English, you must complete an English proficiency examination. You must have some culinary or foodservice experience.

Do I need to take the GMAT or GRE for admission?

No—CIA does not require GMAT or GRE submittals for master’s degree program applicants.

Will I need to move to a CIA campus location to complete my studies?

No—the online master’s degree program has been designed for distance delivery. Other than the required short residencies (four to six days), students should be able to complete the program from any location with an internet connection.

Is it possible to work a full-time job while enrolled in the online master’s degree program?

While the academic rigor of the online master’s degree program does require commitment, we believe the workload and pacing will allow most students to achieve a reasonable work/life/study balance. Students will generally be enrolled in two, 3-credit hour courses per 15-week semester. Study time is flexible; students can spread class work across multiple short study sessions or fewer blocks of longer duration to meet their schedule needs. Students can expect to commit an average of 20 hours per week to coursework.

Can CIA’s online master’s degree program be taken over a longer time period than the prescribed two years?

Students are expected to stay on pace and progress with their original cohort. Our programs been intentionally designed to be delivered in an environment where students bond and develop into a learning community over these two years.