Structural Welding

9 Months – Total Clock Hours: 900

2026 – 2027 Tuition: $11,178

Start date: 8/26/2026

Admission Requirements

Application Fee, Application, Enrollment Agreement, High School Diploma, Transcript or GED, Criminal Record Check, and Child Abuse Clearance.

Program Overview

Courses In This Program Include:

Course Descriptions

SAF-101: Welding Safety: In the Welding Safety Course, students identify some common hazards in welding, they explain and identify proper personal protection used in welding, and they demonstrate how to avoid welding fumes. Students also learn about MSDS sheets, demonstrate techniques for storing and handling cylinders, how to avoid electric shock when welding, and learn proper material handling methods. (35 hours-25 lecture hours/10 lab hours)

OXF – 106: Oxy-fuel Cutting: With the Oxy-fuel Cutting course, students identify and explain the use of oxy-fuel cutting equipment. Students will set up, light, adjust, disassemble, and shut down oxy-fuel equipment. Students will also learn to change empty cylinders, perform oxy-fuel cutting of straight line, square, piercing, and slots. Oxy-fuel cutting will also cover bevel, washing, gouging, and operating a motorized cutting machine. (80 hours. 20 lecture hours / 60 lab hours)

BMP – 122: Base Metal Preparation: The Base Metal Prep Course will show students how to clean base metal for welding or cutting, how to identify and explain joint design, and how to explain joint design considerations. Students will use a nibbler, cutter, or grinder to mechanically prepare the edge of a mild steel plate. Lastly, students will select the proper joint design based on a welding procedure specification (WPS) or instructor direction. (40 hours. 20 lecture hours/20 lab hours)

QTY-130: Weld Quality: In the Weld Quality Course, students will id and explain codes governing welding, weld imperfections and their causes, and nondestructive examination practices. Students will also identify common destructive testing methods and explain the importance of quality workmanship. (40 hours. 30 lecture hours /10 lab hours)

SMAW – 146: Shield Metal Arc Equipment and Setup: In Shield Metal Arc Equipment and Setup, students Identify and explain shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) safety, welding electrical current, arc welding machines and equipment, and set up a machine for welding. Students also identify and explain what tools are used for weld cleaning. (45 hours. 30 lecture hours/15 lab hours) 

SMAW – 149: Shield Metal Arc Plate Welding & Groove Welding: In the Shield Metal Arc Plate Welding & Groove Welding course, students will learn about the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process, including selecting and using SMAW electrodes. They will identify factors affecting electrode selection and different types of filler metals and select the proper electrode for specific welding tasks. Additionally, students will explain the storage and control of filler metals, traceability requirements, and applicable code requirements, including those of the American Welding Society (AWS). The course also covers proper techniques for welding plate, fillet, and groove welds in various positions (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G) to meet AWS and ASME welding codes. Upon completion, students can perform general entry-level production and maintenance welding on mild and medium carbon steel. (200 hours. 50 lecture hours / 150 lab hours)

WJA – 160: Joint Fit-up & Alignment: Students in the Joint Fit-up & Alignment Course learn to identify and explain job code specifications, use fit-up gauges and measuring devices to check joint fit-up, identify and explain distortion and how it is controlled, and they learn to check for joint misalignment and poor fit-up before and after welding. (25 hours. 15 lecture hours / 10 lab hours)

SYM – 166: Weld Symbols: Students in the Weld Symbols Course learn to identify and explain the `various parts of a welding symbol and fillet and groove weld symbols. Students also learn to read welding symbols on drawings, specifications, and welding procedures, draw weld symbols, and interpret welding symbols from a print. (35 hours. 20 lecture hours/15 lab hours)

DRW – 168: Weld Drawings: In Weld Drawings, students will identify and explain the following: a welding detail drawing, material fills, and sections, object views, and dimensioning. Students will become familiar with notes and bill of materials, basic elements of a weld detail drawing, and will develop basic welding drawings. (50 hours. 30 lecture hours / 20 lab hours)

ACC – 170: Air Carbon Arc Cutting & Gouging: In Air Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging, students explain the air carbon arc cutting (CAC-A) process and equipment, they select and install CAC-A electrodes, and they prepare the work area and CAC-A equipment for washing and gouging activities, will perform storage and housekeeping activities for CAC-A equipment, and make minor repairs to CAC-A equipment. (40 hours. 20 lecture hours/20 lab hours) 

PAC – 174: Plasma Arc Cutting: In the Plasma Arc Cutting Course, students will identify and understand plasma arc cutting processes and equipment. Students will prepare and set up plasma arc cutting equipment and use the equipment to make various types of cuts. Lastly, they will learn to properly store equipment and clean the work area after use. (30 hours. 20 lecture hours / 10 lab hours)

GFAW– 191: Gas Metal Arc & Flux Core: In the Gas Metal Arc & Flux Core course, students will explain the safety protocols for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW). They will delve into the characteristics of welding current, power sources, and GMAW and FCAW equipment, including Spray transfer, Globular, Short-circuiting, and Pulse. As the course concludes, students will identify and explain the use of shielding gases and filler metals for both GMAW and FCAW and set up the equipment, including cleaning procedures. Additionally, students will perform GMAW multi-pass fillet, multi-pass groove, fillet spray, multi-pass groove, and multi-pass fillet spray welds on plates using solid or composite wire and shielding gas in multiple positions. They will also perform FCAW welds on plates in multiple positions using flux cored wire and, if required, shielding gas. (200 hours. 60 lecture hours / 140 lab hours)

GTAW – 194: Gas Tungsten Arc Equipment and Filler Metals: In the Gas Tungsten Arc Equipment and Filler Metals Course, students will explain gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) safety, equipment, filler metals, shielding gases, and will set up GTAW equipment. (55 hours. 25 lecture hours / 30 lab hours)

CERT-200: AWS Qualifications and Certifications: Qualifications and Certifications Course, students will identify their preferred qualification and certification process and procedure, and will take AWS qualification and certification tests in those selected areas. (25 hours. 5 lecture hours / 20 lab hours)