Welding Technology

48.0508

(Associate of Applied Science Degree and Certificates)

Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts. In this process, heat is applied to metal pieces, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Because of its strength, welding is used in shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and repair, aerospace applications, and thousands of other manufacturing activities. Welding also is used to join beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures and to join pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries.

The Welding Technology program is structured to be flexible and provide students with the ability to quickly obtain industry certifications while earning college certificates on their way to completing an Associate of Applied Science degree. Students may pursue the following certificates: One Semester Certificate in Basic Welding, One-Year Certificate in Entry-Level Welding, and One Semester Certificate in Advanced-Level Welding.

The Welding Technology program is certified by the American Welding Society (AWS). The program includes instruction to prepare students for NOCTI, AWS SENSE Level I Entry Welder, and/or AWS SENSE Level II Advanced Welder examinations.

It is a graduation requirement of the Welding Technology (WLT) program for students to earn a grade of “C” or better in all “Core Curriculum” and “Program Requirement” courses.

Program Mission
The mission of the Welding Technology program is to prepare students with the skills, knowledge, and attributes required for the completion of the AWS SENSE Level I Entry Welder and/or AWS SENSE Level II Advanced Welder certification and employment in the welding technology field.

Program Goals
The goals of the program are to provide students with the opportunity to develop:

• Technical skills and knowledge required for fabrication of precision weldments from ideas, drawings, and blueprints.
• Math skills necessary to compute the required measurements and formula required for accurate fabrication or production of required parts.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to complete American Welding Society (AWS) Schools Excelling through National Skills Standards Education (SENSE) certifications.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and problem solving skills required in the welding industry.
• Work ethic and attitudes that enhance the ability to secure and maintain increasingly meaningful employment.

Program Assessments

• National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI)
• American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE
• Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP)

W LT 100 Safety and Health of Welders. This course teaches basic understanding of safe operations and practices in the work area, hot zone operation, precautions of working in confined spaces, and safe operation of equipment used for each welding and thermal cutting process. The proper use of personal protective equipment, precautionary labeling, and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information and inspection are also taught. The use and inspection of ventilation equipment are covered. 1 credit hour.

WLT 110 Drawing and Welding Symbol Interpretation. This course teaches the basic knowledge and skills required to interpret basic drawing elements and welding symbols. Additionally, this course covers how to apply this information to the fabrication of components from a drawing. 1 credit hour.

WLT 115 Welding Inspection and Testing. This course teaches the basic skills and knowledge used to perform visual inspections of edge preparations, finished welds, and weld joint assemblies. Preparing and performing destructive tests on qualification samples are also covered. Various methods of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) used in the welding industry are introduced. 1 credit hour.

WLT 120 Thermal Cutting Processes I. This course teaches the basic skills and knowledge required to set-up and operate manual oxy-fuel gas cutting and welding equipment, plasma arc cutting equipment, and air carbon arc equipment as needed for the fabrication and preparation of materials. 1 credit hour.

WLT 125 Thermal Cutting Processes II. This course provides students with continued development of the skills and knowledge used to set-up and operate manual and mechanized oxy-fuel gas cutting equipment, plasma arc cutting equipment, and air carbon arc equipment as needed for the fabrication and preparation of materials. The course prepares students for the AWS Level I welder performance qualification test. Prerequisite: WLT 120. 1 credit hour.

WLT 130 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I. This course teaches the basic skills and knowledge required to set-up Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform SMAW operations on carbon steel. 2 credit hours.

WLT 135 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II. This course provides students with continued development of the skills and knowledge used to set-up Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform SMAW operations on carbon steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level I welder performance qualification test. Prerequisite: WLT 130. 2 credit hours.

WLT 140 Gas Metal Arc Welding I. This course teaches the basic skills and knowledge required to set-up Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform GMAW operations on carbon steel. 2 credit hours.

WLT 145 Gas Metal Arc Welding II. This course provides students with continued development of the skills and knowledge used to set-up Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform GMAW operations on carbon steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level I welder performance qualification test. Prerequisite: WLT 140. 2 credit hours.

WLT 150 Flux Cored Arc Welding I. This course teaches the basic skills and knowledge required to set-up Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform FCAW operations on carbon steel. 2 credit hours.

WLT 155 Flux Cored Arc Welding II. This course provides students with continued development of the skills and knowledge used to set-up Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform FCAW operations on carbon steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level I welder performance qualification test. Prerequisite: WLT 150. 2 credit hours.

WLT 160 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I. This course teaches the basic skills and knowledge required to set-up Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform GTAW operations on carbon steel. 2 credit hours.

WLT 165 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II. This course provides students with continued development of the skills and knowledge used to set-up Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) equipment, select correct electrodes, identify materials, and perform GTAW operations on carbon steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level I welder performance qualification test. Prerequisite: WLT 160. 2 credit hours.

WLT 230 Shielded Metal Arc Welding III. This course teaches advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) operations on carbon and stainless steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level II welder performance qualification test. Prerequisites: WLT 135 and AWS SENSE Level I Certification. 4 credit hours.

WLT 240 Gas Metal Arc Welding III. This course teaches how to use Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) equipment to perform advanced GMAW/GMAW-P operations on aluminum and carbon and stainless steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level II welder performance qualification test. Prerequisites: WLT 145 and AWS SENSE Level I Certification. 4 credit hours.

WLT 250 Flux Cored Arc Welding III. This course teaches advanced Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) operations on carbon steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level II welder performance qualification test. Prerequisites: WLT 155 and AWS SENSE Level I Certification. 4 credit hours.

WLT 260 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding III. This course teaches advanced Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/GTAW-P) operations on aluminum and carbon and stainless steel. The course prepares students for the AWS Level II welder performance qualification test. Prerequisites: WLT 165 and AWS SENSE Level I Certification. 4 credit hours.

WLT 299 Special Topics in Welding Technology. Special Topics in Welding Technology (WLT) may include instruction on topics not covered in other WLT courses. Topics covered in other WLT courses may also be covered in more depth in this special topics course. Projects may be undertaken in any area related to the major program with credit hours determined by the level and amount of involvement. The minimum involvement required for one credit is 30 contact hours. The specific topic(s), objectives, plan of instruction, and evaluation criteria must be documented in the syllabus; approved by the Department/Division Chair; and filed in the Academic Records Office. Students may complete more than one Special Topics course, provided that the credits earned in this manner do not exceed a total of four (4) credits. 1-4 credit hours.