Overview
The Welding degree prepares students for high-demand employment opportunities in industries such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace, and energy piping.
Students gain hands-on skill training in oxyacetylene welding (OAW), oxyfuel cutting (OFC), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux core arc welding (FCAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Students also develop knowledge and skills in other welding areas including metal fabrication, visual inspection, and blueprint reading.
The degree program includes cooperative education work opportunities as well.
The Welding curriculum is aligned with the American Welding Society’s SENSE program (Schools Excelling through National Skills Standards Education).
Related Programs
Welding Certificate (WLDC)Contacts
Program Chair
Co-op Coordinator
Career Outlook
Graduates Are Prepared To
- Weld in flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions
- Read welding blueprints
- Cut metal plates and structural shapes
- Fabricate and weld multi-component parts
- Inspect welds
- Take AWS Welding certification tests
Representative Job Titles For Graduates
- Welding Technician
- Welding Supervisor
- Aerospace Welder
- Fabrication Welder
Graduate Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for welders is expected to remain steady through 2032.
$36,300 average annual salary.
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
Contacts
Program Chair
Co-op Coordinator
Curriculum
Effective 2023-2024 academic year
Welding (WLD)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLD 100 | Fundamentals of Welding ( B) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| WLD 105 | Print Reading and Weld Design ( B) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| WLD 115 | Gas Metal Arc Welding and Flux Cored Arc Welding ( B) | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition 1 ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| WLD 111 | Shielded Metal Arc Welding 1 ( B) | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| MAT 105 | Quantitative Reasoning ( G) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| PSY 10X Psychology Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| MET 111 | Manufacturing Processes 1 ( T) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||||
| WLD 260 | Weldability of Metals ( T) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| MET 131 | MET Computer Aided Drafting 1 ( T) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ENG 10X English Composition Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Arts/Humanities or Natural Science Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 4 | ||||
| WLD 210 | Gas Tungsten Arc Welding ( T) | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| WLD 231 | Pipe Welding 1 ( T) | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| CIT 105 | OSHA 10 General Industry Safety ( T) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| XXX XXX Welding Technical Elective (T) | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Semester 5 | ||||
| WLD 220 | Metal Fabrication ( T) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| WLD 291 | Full-Time Cooperative Education 1: Welding ( T) | 1 | 40 | 2 |
| Semester 6 | ||||
| WLD 292 | Full-Time Cooperative Education 2: Welding ( T) | 1 | 40 | 2 |
| WLD 250 | Welding Inspection and Codes ( T) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 42 | 127 | 61 | |
Electives
| First Year Experience Elective | ||
| FYE 100 | College Success Strategies: Overview | 1 |
| FYE 105 | College Success Strategies: Overview and Application | 2 |
| FYE 110 | College Success Strategies: Practice and Application | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | ||
| PSY 102 | Applied Psychology: Stress Management | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective (take one course from either Arts/Humanities or Natural Science) | 3 | |
| Any ART, FRN, LIT, MUS, PHI, POL, REL, SPN, THE | ||
| Natural Science Elective (take one course from either Arts/Humanities or Natural Science) | ||
| Any CHE, EVS, PHY, PSC | ||
| English Composition Elective | ||
| ENG 102 | English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| ENG 104 | English Composition 2: Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENG 105 | English Composition 2: Business Communication | 3 |
| Welding Technical Elective (select 1 course) | ||
| EET 101 | Electronic Fundamentals 1 | 3 |
| MET 112 | Manufacturing Processes 2 | 3 |
| MET 132 | MET Computer Aided Drafting 2 | 3 |
| MET 140 | Engineering Materials | 3 |
| WLD 112 | Shielded Metal Arc Welding 2 | 4 |
| WLD 232 | Pipe Welding 2 | 4 |
G = General Education course in this curriculum
B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum
T = Technical course in this curriculum
• This curriculum displays only course numbers without the added letter.
• The alternative version, when available, meets the requirements of the course version without the added letter.