Welding - Certificate

The Instructional Program

The one-year certificate in Welding consists of the first year of a two-year associate degree in Welding Technology that begins in the fall each year. The certificate is primarily for those individuals who plan to spend one year in college and then begin working. If a student completes the certificate program and then decides to continue on for the associate degree in Welding Technology, the courses taken for the certificate will transfer with no loss of credit.

To obtain this certificate, students must apply to and be enrolled in one of the Welding Technology associate degree programs.

Career Options

Job opportunities available for students who earn the certificate in Welding are:

• Welder
• Welding Technician

There are career opportunities with manufacturing firms, highway departments, welding subcontractors, and with many specialty firms. Students who continue on for the associate degree increase their options for employment in the field of welding technology.

Further information regarding careers in this field can be found in the Welding Technology program description.

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet admissions requirements for and be enrolled in one of the Welding Technology associate degree programs.

CURRICULUM

Technical Standards: In addition to academic requirements, all applicants must also be able to meet the minimum Technical Standards for the program, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Academic Requirements:

Minimum Total Credit Hours = 32

Major Courses Required - 29 credit hours

 General Education/Liberal Arts Courses Required - 3 credit hours

*Note:  Mathematics is by placement according to competency.  MATH 102 Mathematics for Applied Technology is the minimum exit-level requirement.

Student Learning Outcomes

A student who earns the Welding Certificate should be able to:

1. Understand and apply the fundamentals of gas and arc welding.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with the shielded metal arc and oxyfuel gas welding and cutting processes, including:  safety, controls, accessories, types of equipment, and the selection and use of welding consumables.
3. Show practical knowledge of making welds with all types of mild steel electrodes, arc air gouging, and the welding of mild steel in all positions in a safe manner.
4. Exhibit the basic understanding of metallurgy necessary to a successful welder. 
5. Read and correctly interpret both basic and advanced welding fabrication blueprints, including: welding symbols, weld testing symbols, structural steel shapes, and welding specifications.
6. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and techniques for the safe and successful operation of gas tungsten welding, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, and plasma arc cutting.