The associate of applied science degree with specialization in welding technology parallels the highly technological demands of industry. The welding laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment for shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), plasma arc cutting and oxy-fuel cutting (OFC). Virtually all modern production welding practices are covered.

The subject matter and laboratory experiences in the welding program provide training for the serious welding technologist, with emphasis on welding skill development, welding metallurgy, weldment evaluation and testing and related technical courses. Students are prepared for many welding-related careers, including welding inspection, sales, service, design, maintenance and engineering. The college offers state and American Welding Society (AWS) welder certification testing. Graduates of this program will be prepared for entry-level employment in the following areas:

• Welder/fabricator
• Welding metallurgy technician
• Welding sales/service technician
• Engineering technician
• Pipefitter
• Weld inspector
• Production welder

For welding courses 102, 104 and 106, it is possible to enroll for specific subdivisions of the courses. As an example, WELD 102, Advanced SMAW, is shown as a single, six credit-hour course. The course can be subdivided into WELD 102A, Multi-Pass Arc Welding –two credits; WELD 102B, Code Welding Techniques – two credits; and WELD 102C, Multi-Pass Pipe Fillet Welding – two credits. This allows greater flexibility in terms of advanced placement for those with prior welding experience/training and also in the amount of time one has to commit to class during any one semester. Similar options exist in GMAW and GTAW Applications. See the division dean or faculty member for more information.

Another important feature of the program is the individual progress, audio-tutorial approach to mastering welding skills. Students may come in and, within certain parameters, progress at their own rate of speed. This allows students to complete course requirements based on their own ability rather than being locked into a set rate of progress for a given class.

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