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Welding Technology, Associate in Applied Science

Overview

Narrative

Northampton's Welding Technology A.A.S. degree program is designed to prepare you to enter a modern welding setting. The program offers career-specific coursework for a student wishing to complete their studies within four semesters. The program also provides course offerings that prepare you to work as a team player in a specialized manufacturing environment.

Your studies will include state-of-the-art welding equipment and principles from the American Welding Society. You will learn the marketable skills required to work effectively with other people in a manufacturing environment. We emphasize development of professional attitudes, values, and ethics. As you progress through the program, you'll gain critical thinking, priority setting, and decision-making skills needed in today's quality-oriented business environment.

Graduates of this AAS degree program may continue on to a Baccalaureate program.

Features

This program prepares you for the responsibilities and challenges expected of a highly skilled welder. A welder in today’s manufacturing environment is expected to possess numerous skills and abilities that allow them to be problem solvers. At Northampton you will learn a variety of different welding processes and inspection techniques that will allow you to become an asset in the job you obtain after your education is complete. The program may be completed in four semesters if taking courses during the day.

Courses for the Welding Technology A.A.S. degree include Welding Fundamentals, OSHA, Fabrication & Welding Symbols, Introduction to Pipe Welding Processes, Advanced Plate Welding Processes, and Gas Tungsten Arc & Semiautomatic Welding Processes Welding & Structural Blueprint Reading, Advanced Gas Tungsten & Semiautomatic Welding Processes, and Pipe Welding Processes II, and Introduction to Metallurgy.

This program prepares you for the responsibilities and challenges expected of a skilled trades person in the welding environment. Responsibilities of a welder include the ability to read and interpret blueprints at an advanced level, demonstrate advanced level welding principles, and to apply the knowledge of welding inspection principles. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for American Welding Society certification exams while achieving a competency-based degree.

Endorsed by Local Employers

Potential employers for those following this healthcare career pathway include:

  • Manufacturers
  • Sheet Metal Fabricators
  • Construction Companies
  • Gas Line Companies
  • Auto Body Repair Shops
  • Material Supply Sales Companies

This program can be completed in the day or evening, on a full or part-time basis.

Please contact Dino Forst, Program Manager, at 610.332.6270 or dforst@northampton.edu or the Admissions Office at 610.861.5500 for more information.

Career Potential: Pipefitter/Steamfitter Welder, Pipeline Welder, Sheet Metal Worker, Structural & Pressure Vessel Welder, Welding Shop Foreman.

Outcomes

Students who complete the Welding Technology program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an ability to work independently and collaboratively.
  • Analyze and present data in an acceptable and standardized manner.
  • Solve common weldability problems.
  • Demonstrate a basic framework of technical vocabulary and graphics interpretation.
  • Demonstrate observational, integrative, and synthetic skills.
  • Demonstrate the proper use and care of common welding equipment.
  • Apply basic defect prevention philosophy and techniques to achieving weld integrity.
  • Describe the key process elements and technology commonly found in industrial welding and cutting processes.
  • Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed for the Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator certifications. AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, & API 1104

Courses

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits
WELD105Introduction to Welding Processes

5 credits
WELD135Welding Fabrication and Symbols

2 credits
EMEC114Mechanical Skills for the Trades

2 credits
CADM117Technical Drawings & Specifications

3 credits
CISC101Introduction to Information Technology

3 credits
MATH103Technical Mathematics

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:19

Second Semester

ENGL101English I

3 credits
WELD125GTAW and Semiautomatic Welding Processes

5 credits
WELD123Advanced Plate Welding Processes

5 credits
WELD110Introduction to Pipe Welding Processes

3 credits
 
OSAH102General Industry Outreach Safety Education**

1 credits
OR
OSAH101Construction Industry Outreach Safety Education

1 credit
Total Credit Hours:17

Third Semester

ENGL151TEnglish II

3 credits
PHYS152Physical Science II

3 credits
WELD230Welding & Structural Blueprint Reading

4 credits
WELD205Advance Gas Tungsten & Semiautomatic Welding Processes

4 credits
WELD224Pipe Welding Processes II

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:17

Fourth Semester

CMTH102Introduction to Communication

3 credits
WELD255Introduction to Metallurgy

3 credits
General Education Elective ++

3 credits
General Education Elective ++

3 credits
Elective +

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:15

Total Credit Hours: 68

** OSAH 102 is the recommended selection.

+WELD235 is the recommended elective.

++ For the General Education Electives, students must select one course from the list of approved courses in two of the following categories: Arts & Humanities (AH); Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time (SIT); Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior (SSHB).

  • One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
  • Completion of one General Education Elective in a Writing Intensive (WI) section satisfies the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement. GEOG121G (Environmental Sustainability) is recommended.