Welding Technology

The Welding Technology program is designed to provide training in a sequential pattern for various welding processes. Those processes include: shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux cored arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, oxy-acetylene cutting, brazing and welding, and the use of plasma arc cutting equipment. Students progress at their own pace. The program is designed to produce skilled welders in the millwright, structural welding and pipe welding areas. Students receive practical and theoretical training in the weld ability and identification of metals and alloys, use of equipment, manual and automatic cutting, blueprint reading, shop mathematics, and other related subjects. A large portion of each seven and a half hour workday is spent in the welding lab practicing each task in accordance with AWS standards. Students complete all lab assignments in accordance with industry standards, using the tools and equipment of the profession with an emphasis on safety and quality.

• Program has semester admittance (Fall and Spring)
• Qualify for Math(PT) 137 or higher with Aleks score of 30 or higher, or SAT score of 470 or higher, or ACT score of 19 or higher.
• Qualify for ENGL 101 with Writing Placement Exam of 2 or higher, or SAT score of 450 or higher, or ACT score of 18 or higher.
• Program Application is required. Priority application deadlines are as follows:
  • Fall registration--March 1
  • Spring registration--October 1

• Complete General LC State admission requirements
• Submit Welding Application form
• Schedule assessment/interview with program faculty

Note: The welding program has limited space, and a waitlist is utilized if the program is full. Duration on the waitlist is one semester. If students do not move into the program classes after one semester, they will need to reschedule the assessment/interview with faculty.

This program has physical requirements that may affect the student’s ability to perform in this field. These requirements can be found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website or at O-Net OnLine. Welders must have good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Students should enjoy working with their hands. The minimum reading comprehension level is tenth grade. Good eyesight, no respiratory problems, good physical condition, and a strong math background are all highly recommended. High school chemistry, physics, and mechanical drawing are very helpful.

The job outlook for welding graduates is excellent. Students have been experiencing nearly 100% placement in the field. In addition to welding positions, graduates are also able to fill technical positions associated with welding, including inspections, sales representatives, and quality control assistants. Graduates may also increase their marketability by continued education in underwater welding, metallurgical, or welding engineering. 

• Understand the basic power sources used by in industry
• Identify and interpret welding symbols
• Demonstrate welding competency by performing and passing welding certification test
• Knowledge of basic hand and machine tools, measuring devices, and appropriate shop and tool safety
• Basic knowledge of drafting and blue print reading as it is used in welding
• Knowledge of various welding and cutting processes
• Understand properties and strengths of metals in fabrication and technology
• Develop employable skills for the arc welder and combination line welder
• Obtain a working knowledge of problems that occur as a result of heating and cooling processes
• Interpret welding code requirements and inspect welds to critique weld quality
• Ability to apply the correct method of distortion control in welded fabrications
• Demonstrate and perform the safety requirements needed for welding
• Recognize structural types and shapes and the metallurgical composition of different ferrous and non-ferrous metals and the outcome of heat treatments
• Able to optimize the performance of various welding machines and how to operate welding shop equipment