Welding Technology
Welding technology
Experience welding the way it’s meant to be learned—hands-on. In our Welding Technology
programs, students spend over 80% of their time in the welding shop, practicing skills
that translate directly to the job site.
Training includes
- shielded metal arc welding (SMAW/stick),
- gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG),
- gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG), and
- gain cutting experience with plasma arc cutting, air carbon arc cutting, and oxy-acetylene cutting.
The program also builds essential knowledge in blueprint reading and pipe welding.
This comprehensive, hands-on approach prepares graduates with the technical foundation
and confidence needed to enter today’s welding workforce.
At the end of each semester, students will take an American Welding Society (AWS) qualification test.
The Welding Technology program aligns with the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES). CIP Code 48.0508: Welding Technology/Welder. A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to join or cut metal surfaces. Includes instruction in arc welding, resistance welding, brazing and soldering, cutting, high-energy beam welding and cutting, solid state welding, ferrous and non-ferrous materials, oxidation-reduction reactions, welding metallurgy, welding processes and heat treating, structural design, safety, and applicable codes and standards.
Additional Resources
- Certificate B | Degree Map
- 2022 Wage Survey
- Approved for the Kansas Promise Scholarship
- AO-K approved program
Available at These Locations
Welding Technology Courses (35 credits total):
*This course is recognized by the Kansas Board of Regents as Common or Support within the program.
1 Credit Hour
Through a variety of classroom and /or lab learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: explain job /site safety and precaution for job/site hazards; determine the uses of personal protective equipment (PPE); identify the safety equipment and procedures related to safe work practices and environment; identify fire prevention and protection techniques; explore Hazardous Communications (HazCom) including Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
3 Credit Hours
Through classroom and/or shop/lab learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: distinguish several types of mechanical and thermal cutting equipment and processes used in the welding trade; demonstrate the safe and correct set up, operation and shut down of the Oxy-fuel (OFC) workstation; demonstrate the safe and correct set up, operation and shut down of the Plasma Arc (PAC) workstation; demonstrate the safe and correct set up, operation and shut down of the Carbon Arc Cutting with Air (CAC-A) workstation; Demonstrate safe and proper operation of several types of mechanical cutting equipment; and inspect quality and tolerance of cuts according to industry standards.
3 Credit Hours
Through classroom and /or lab/shop learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: describe the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process (SMAW); demonstrate the safe and correct set up of the SMAW workstation; associate SMAW electrode classification with base metals and joint criteria; demonstrate proper electrode selection and use based on metal types and thicknesses; build pads of weld beads with selected electrode in the flat position; build pads of weld beads with selected electrode in the horizontal position; perform basic SMAW welds on selected weld joints; and perform visual inspection of welds.
3 Credit Hours
Through classroom and /or lab/shop learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: explain Gas Metal Arc Welding process (GMAW); demonstrate the safe and correct set up of the GMAW workstation; correlate GMAW electrode classifications with base metals and joint criteria; demonstrate proper electrode selection and use based on metal types and thicknesses; build pads of weld beads with selected electrode in the flat position; build pads of weld beads with selected electrode in the horizontal position; perform basic GMAW welds on selected weld joints; and perform visual inspection of GMAW welds.
3 Credit Hours
Through classroom and /or lab/shop learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: describe the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process (GTAW); demonstrate the safe and correct set up of the GTAW workstation; relate GTAW electrode classification with base metals and joint criteria; build proper electrode selection and filler metal selection use based on metal types and thicknesses; build pads of weld beads with selected electrode and filler material in the flat position; build pads of weld beads with selected electrode and filler material in the horizontal position; perform basic GTAW welds on selected weld joints; and perform visual inspection of GTAW welds.
4 Credit Hours
Through a variety of classroom and/or shop/lab learning and assessment activities, the students in this course will: identify basic lines, views, and abbreviation used in blueprints; interpret basic 3D sketches using orthographic projection and blueprints; solve applicable mathematical equation; use basic measuring tools; interpret scale ratios on a blueprint; identify basic welding joints and structural shapes; interpret a Bill of Materials; identify standard AWS weld symbols.
5 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: IWT125
Through classroom and /or lab/shop learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: perform safety inspections of equipment; make minor external repairs to equipment; set up components and accessories of a complete Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) system; set up for SMAW operations; operate SMAW equipment; execute corrective actions to repair surface flaws on welds and base metals; make 2G, 5G, and 6G groove welds on carbon and stainless steel pipe; perform a 6G unlimited thickness qualification test on carbon and stainless steel pipe.
5 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: IWT135
Through classroom and /or lab/shop learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: perform safety inspections of equipment; make minor external repairs to equipment; set up components and accessories of a complete Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) system; set up for GMAW operations; operate GMAW equipment; execute corrective actions to repair surface flaws on welds and base metals; make 2G, and 5G groove welds on carbon steel pipe; perform a qualification test on carbon steel pipe and plate.
5 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: IWT145
Through classroom and /or lab/shop learning and assessment activities, students in this course will: perform safety inspections of equipment; make minor external repairs to equipment; set up components and accessories of a complete Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) system; set up for GTAW operations; operate GTAW equipment; execute corrective actions to repair surface flaws on welds and base metals; make 5G welds on carbon steel pipe with carbon and stainless filler material; perform 6G qualification test on carbon steel pipe with carbon and stainless filler material.
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: IWT162
Through a variety of classroom and/or shop/lab learning and assessment activities, the students in this course will: identify threaded fasteners; distinguish screw thread series, classes, and designation; identify non-threaded fasteners; interpret structural steel shapes and symbols; identify pipe representation on prints; distinguish metal identification.