Welding Technical Diploma

Employment Potential

A graduate of the program will have the potential for employment as a Maintenance Welder, Qualified Welder, Structural Welder, Welder/Fabricator, and Pipe Welder. In these jobs, the graduate will build and repair metal components using basic knowledge of blueprints, metallurgy, and layout while applying the major welding processes used by industry; and will be trained in code welding according to the AWS (American Welding Society) and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) with testing provided on campus. Other positions might include Construction Trades Welder, Ironworker Trades Welder, Millwright, Sheetmetal Trades Welder, and Pipe Trades Welder. People in many apprenticeship programs are required to take welding classes as part of their training.

With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find other opportunities for employment.

• Journey Level Welder
• Welding Inspector
• Welding Supervisor
• Journey Level Welder/Fabricator

Requirements for Program Entry

• Completed application.
• High school transcript or equivalent. (For a list of equivalents, go to www.nwtc.edu/gettingstarted.)
• To be admitted to this program, learners must achieve a prior cumulative high school or college grade point average of 2.6 or higher OR a satisfactory academic skills assessment score. College grade point average must be based on 15 credits or more. To learn more about starting this program, please contact an academic advisor at (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.

Curriculum

Curriculum: Students following the study plan below will complete the Welding technical diploma in the number of semesters shown.

First Semester

10-890-101

College 101

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

10-890-101 COLLEGE 101 ...Students will utilize digital tools and resources to assess, explore, practice, apply, and evaluate both employability and learning skills. By establishing NWTC cultural values as hallmarks of success in academic, career, and personal settings the course encourages reflective, personalized development of a growth mindset and emphasizes the importance of making wise choices. To maximize the return on investment, students should take this course in their first semester as it identifies key expectations (hidden rules) of higher learning and professional employment.

Course Typically Offered: Summer/Fall/J-Session/Spring

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10-804-301

Vocational Math A

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

10-804-301 VOCATIONAL MATH A ...This course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge and skills to apply the concepts of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, measurement, proportions, and percent to their career. No prerequisites needed.

Course Typically Offered: Summer/Fall/Spring

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31-442-301

Material Cutting Applications

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

31-442-301 MATERIAL CUTTING APPLICATIONS...visual inspection of weld and cut edges, manual and machine oxy fuel gas cutting, air carbon arc cutting, plasma arc cutting, and mechanical cutting methods.

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-421-335

Blueprint Reading for Welders1

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

31-421-335 BLUEPRINT READING FOR WELDERS 1 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge and understanding of orthographic projection, sketching, dimensioning, section and auxiliary views, structural shapes, metric conversation and interpretation of fabrications from prints. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Welding program, Metal Fabrication technical diploma or the Intro to MIG Certificate AND Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 15; OR preparatory courses)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-342

Shielded Metal Arc Welding 1

1

31-442-342 SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING 1 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of surfacing welds in the flat position, fillet and groove welds on plain carbon steel. (Corequisite: 31-442-301, Material Cutting Applications)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-343

Shielded Metal Arc Welding 2

2

31-442-343 SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING 2 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of welds in the horizontal and vertical positions, fillet and groove welds on plain carbon steel. (Prerequisite: 31-442-342, Shielded Metal Arc Welding 1)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-357

Shielded Metal Arc Welding 3

1

31-442-357 SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING 3 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of welds in the horizontal, vertical, overhead positions on groove welds with and without backing and overhead T-Joints on plain carbon steel. (Prerequisite: 31-442-343, Shielded Metal Arc Welding 2)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-421-336

Weld Symbols

1

31-421-336 WELD SYMBOLS ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge and understanding of welding symbols AWS and ISO, weld joint nomenclature and welding joint geometry. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Welding program, Metal Fabrication technical diploma or the Intro to MIG Certificate)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-457-337

Metal Fabrication I

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

31-457-337 METAL FABRICATION I (LAYOUT) ...provide the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process, and understanding of basic line and angle construction, basic measuring techniques, basic squaring techniques, along with basic part layout for fabrication. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Welding program or Metal Fabrication technical diploma; Corequisite: 31-457-338 Metal Fabrication II)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-457-338

Metal Fabrication II

1

31-457-338 METAL FABRICATION II (EQUIPMENT) ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process, and understanding of…general fabrication equipment safety and operation used for sawing, shearing, bending, drilling, punching and CNC cutting. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Welding program or Metal Fabrication technical diploma; Corequisite: 31-457-337 Metal Fabrication I)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-348

Gas Metal Arc Welding 1

1

31-442-348 GAS METAL ARC WELDING 1 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of welding in the flat and horizontal positions, fillet, pipe to plate and groove welds on plain carbon steel. (Corequisite: 31-442-301, Material Cutting Applications)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-356

Gas Metal Arc Welding 2

2

31-442-356 GAS METAL ARC WELDING 2 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of welds in the vertical and overhead positions, fillet, pipe to plate and groove welds with and without backing on plain carbon steel. (Prerequisite: 31-442-348, Gas Metal Arc Welding 1)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-358

Gas Metal Arc Welding 3

2

31-442-358 GAS METAL ARC WELDING 3 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of welds in the flat and horizontal positions on T-Joints (1F & 2F) and groove welds with backing (1G & 2G) on plain carbon steel using the spray mode of transfer and on aluminum. (Prerequisite: 31-442-356, Gas Metal Arc Welding 2)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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10-804-302

Vocational Math B

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

10-804-302 VOCATIONAL MATH B ...This course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge and skills to apply the concepts of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry to their career. (Pre-requisite: Completion of 10-804-301 Vocational Math A with a "C" or better)

Course Typically Offered: Summer/Fall/Spring

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Semester Total

17

Second Semester

31-421-337

Blueprint Reading for Welders2

2

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

31-421-337 BLUEPRINT READING FOR WELDERS 2 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop advanced blueprint reading skills to read and interpret moderate to advanced blueprints and shop drawings. (Prerequisites: Accepted into the Welding program or the Metal Fabrication program; 31-421-335, Blueprint Reading for Welders1; 31-421-336, Weld Symbols)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-359

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 1

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

31-442-359 GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING 1 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of GTAW equipment set-up as well as the basic skills needed to make welds on plain carbon steel. Weld quality will be discussed but this course is only used to understand the basics of the GTAW process. (Corequisite: 31-442-301, Material Cutting Applications)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-362

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 2

2

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

31-442-362 GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING 2 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of making groove and fillet weld on sheet metal with plain carbon steel, 3XX stainless steel. Weld quality will be emphasized with all lab assignments. (Prerequisite: 31-442-359, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 1)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-363

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 3

2

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

31-442-363 GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING 3 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of GTAW on aluminum as well as multipass groove welds on plain carbon steel. (Prerequisite: 31-442-362, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 2)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-329

Flux Cored Arc Welding 1

1

31-442-329 FLUX CORED ARC WELDING 1 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of surfacing welds in the flat position as well as fillet and groove welds in the flat, horizontal position using gas shielded flux cored arc welding. (Corequisite: 31-442-301, Material Cutting Applications)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-330

Flux Cored Arc Welding 2

2

31-442-330 FLUX CORED ARC WELDING 2 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of fillet and groove welds in the vertical and overhead position on plate and pipe welds using gas shielded flux cored arc welding. (Prerequisite: 31-442-329, Flux Cored Arc Welding 1)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-442-364

Flux Cored Arc Welding 3

1

31-442-364 FLUX CORED ARC WELDING 3 ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of fillet and groove welds in the flat, horizontal and vertical position using self-shielded flux cored arc welding and metal cored electrodes and sub arc equipment. (Prerequisite: 31-442-330, Flux Cored Arc Welding 2)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-457-339

Metal Fabrication III

2

31-457-339 METAL FABRICATION III (ADVANCED ASSEMBLY) ...course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of building projects from advanced blueprints using all fabrication equipment and welding processes. (Prerequisites: 31-457-337, Metal Fabrication I; 31-457-338, Metal Fabrication II)

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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31-422-311

Metallurgy

1

31-422-311 METALLURGY ...manufacture of iron and steel, mechanical and physical properties of metals, metal identification, macro and microscopic grain structures, welding metallurgy, applied heat treating processes, and weld failures and fractures.

Course Typically Offered: Contact an Advisor

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Semester Total

14

Total Credits

31

Curriculum Note: The credit for 10-890-101, College 101, is an Institutional Requirement for graduation. Consequently, it is not part of the program credit requirements, but must be passed with a C or better.

Program Outcomes

• Be successfully employed in the welding industry.
• Perform procedures using plasma, carbon arc, oxyacetylene processes.
• Perform procedures using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process (S.M.A.W).
• Perform procedures using the Gas Metal Arc Welding process (G.M.A.W).
• Perform procedures using the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process (G.T.A.W).
• Perform procedures using the Flux Core Arc Welding process (F.C.A.W).
• Perform procedures using the Submerged Arc Welding process (S.A.W).
• Perform welding procedures using the Metal Core process.
• Interpret mechanical drawings.
• Fabricate projects from blueprints and sketches.
• Perform basic mathematical computations.
• Identify various ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
• Communicate with co-workers and supervisors.

Industry Credentials

Students will be trained in code welding according to the AWS (American Welding Society) and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) with testing provided on campus.

Certification

All NWTC Welding Program instructors are certified welders.

Note

• Students are responsible for purchasing their own Personal Protective Equipment. Details will be provided at orientation. Students are eligible for discounts.

Study Abroad Opportunities

The International Programs staff continually seeks opportunities for students to travel abroad for educational experiences that may be offered in association with program courses. To find out more about which of your program courses may offer an opportunity during this academic year, contact your academic advisor or visit nwtc.edu/studyabroad.