Welding Technology | SCC

Welding Technology

 

Train to become a certified welder. Discover materials and techniques for work in many industries as a specialist in one of the most highly paid skilled trades.

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What is Welding Technology?

If you marvel at the wonder of architecture and would like to be part of a building’s history, then look no further than a welding career. Welders who attend Somerset Community College have many employment opportunities available to them because the instruction and experience they gain is the first step to a successful welding career. And, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for welders should be excellent in the upcoming years.

SCC’s Welding program is a two-year area of study for students interested in the welding field. Students receive training in several areas of welding including: shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding. There are several completion points in the program. Students are eligible to receive nine certificates, a diploma, and an Associate in Applied Science degree.

Welders often work with metal, and gain skills at this craft by learning and perfecting the method of joining two pieces of metal together with an intense heat source. The heat melts the metal and then permanently bonds the two pieces together. You can find welders working on ships, buildings, automobiles, and other manufacturing companies.

What are my career choices?

Welding jobs are found in manufacturing and construction. Jobs are concentrated in fabricated metal product manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and architectural and structural metals manufacturing. Welding technologists can be found joining beams in the construction of buildings, bridges, and other structures and joining pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries.

What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?

Certificates

Fall Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 - Oxy-Fuel Systems 2
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab 2
Total 4
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 110 - Cutting Processes 2
WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab 3
Total 5
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 120 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) AND 2
WLD 121 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Fillet Lab OR 3
WLD 130 - Gas Tungsten ARC Welding (GTAW) AND (2)
WLD 131 - Gas Tungsten ARC Welding (GTAW) Fillet Lab OR (3)
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) AND (2)
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Lab (3)
Total 5
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 120 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) AND 2
WLD 121 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding Fillet Lab OR 3
WLD 130 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) AND (2)
WLD 131 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Fillet Lab OR (3)
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) AND (2)
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Lab (3)
Total 5
Second Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab 3
Total 5

Total credit hours for certificate: 10

Required classes
Class Credit Hours
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 2
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 143 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Groove Lab 3
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab 3
WLD 251 - Welding Automation Lab 1-6
Total 14-19
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 - Oxy-Fuel Systems And 2
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab Or 2
WLD 110 - Cutting Processes And (2)
WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab (3)
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 2
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 143 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Groove Lab 3
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab 3
Total 15-18
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 -Oxy-Fuel Systems And 2
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab Or 2
WLD 110 - Cutting Processes And (2)
WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab (3)
WLD 130 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) 2
WLD 131 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 133 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Groove Lab 3
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab 3
Total 17-18
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 - Oxy-Fuel Systems And 2
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab Or 2
WLD 110 - Cutting Processes And (2)
WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab (3)
WLD 120 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 2
WLD 121 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 123 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Groove with Backing Lab Or 3
WLD 225 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Open Groove Lab (3)
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab 3
Total 17-18
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 - Oxy-Fuel Systems And 2
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab OR 2
WLD 110 - Cutting Processes And (2)
WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab (3)
WLD 120 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 2
WLD 121 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 130 -Gas Tungsten ARC Welding (GTAW) 2
WLD 131 - Gas Tungsten ARC Welding (GTAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 2
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Lab 3
Total  19-20
First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 - Oxy-Fuel Systems And
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab OR 2
WLD 110 - Cutting Processes And (2)
WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab (3)
WLD 120 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 2
WLD 121 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 2
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Lab 3
Total 14-15
Second Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 130 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
WLD 131 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab

 

3

Total  10

Total credit hours: 24-25

First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 - Oxy-Fuel Systems And
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab OR 2
WLD 110 - Cutting Processes And (2)
WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab (3)
WLD 120 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 2
WLD 121 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 2
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 123 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding Groove W/Backing Lab 3
Total  17-18
Second Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 130 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) 2
WLD 131 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Fillet Lab 3
WLD 133 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Groove Lab 3
WLD 143 - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Fillet Groove Lab 3
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab 3
Total 16

Total credit hours: 33-34

Diploma

First Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 120 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding
WLD 121 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding Fillet Lab 3
WLD 130 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 2
WLD 131 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Fillet Lab 3
WLD 140 - Gas Metal Arc Welding 2
WLD 141 - Gas Metal Arc Welding Fillet Lab 3
Total 15
Second Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 123 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding Groove Lab
WLD 133 - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Groove Lab 3
WLD 143 - Gas Metal Arc Welding Groove Lab 3
ENG 101 - English 101 3
Total 12
Third Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 100 - Oxy-Fuel Systems OR WLD 110 - Cutting Processes
WLD 101 - Oxy-Fuel Systems Lab OR WLD 111 - Cutting Processes Lab 3
Approved Electives 2-3
Digital Literacy 3
Quantitative Reasoning 3
Total  13-14
Fourth Semester
Class Credit Hours
WLD 170 - Blueprint Reading for Welding 2
WLD 171 - Blueprint Reading for Welding Lab 3
WLD 220 - Welding Certification 2
WLD 221 - Welding Certification Lab 3
WLD 298 - Welding Practicum OR WLD 299 - Welding Co-op 3
Total  13

Total credit hours: 53-54

If you would like a PDF copy of a program plan, please email the program coordinator.

Location

This program is offered at the Laurel and Somerset Campuses.

Courses in blueprint reading, shop mathematics, and mechanical drawing are also part of the instruction at SCC. Knowledge of computers is gaining importance, especially for welding machine operators, who are becoming responsible for the programming of computer-controlled machines, including robots and CNC cutting systems.

Length of Program

You can earn an associate in applied science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.

This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.

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Program Contact

Jeff Abner

Program Coordinator

606.878.4767

jeff.abner@kctcs.edu

Scott Stringer

Instructor

606.451.6718

scott.stringer@kctcs.edu