Welding Technology

Application Code:
0666
Degree Received:
Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS)

Description:

The AOS degree program will be for students who would like to take a two-year degree program. The first year students will complete AWS Level I standards for an Entry Level Welder. The second year will take students toward AWS Levels II and III - Advanced Welder and Expert Welder. Additional techniques such as high-pressure vessel, high-pressure pipe, and ship fitting will be taught as well as other advanced welding techniques.

The students perform extensive hands-on work in a fully equipped approximately 2,600 square foot welding lab. Every student will have an individual welding booth with adequate ventilation and air replacement equipment. Lecture will be held in a separate facility utilizing the latest instructional techniques.

In their second year, the students will work in a 10,000 square foot fabrication facility located at the nearby Wellsville Dresser-Rand facility. This laboratory was made possible through a commitment from Dresser-Rand and Lincoln-Electric in partnership with Alfred State College.

Entrance Requirements & Recommendations:

  • Recommended: In-depth knowledge of basic math skills

Accreditation/Certification:

  • AWS (American Welding Society) Certified

Graduation Requirements:

A student must successfully complete all courses in the prescribed four-semester program and earn a minimum cumulative index of 2.0, which is equivalent to a "C" average. Students are required to earn a grade of "C" or higher in WELD 1723 Welders Calculations to be eligible for graduation. (Articulation is available in this area.)

Career Opportunities:

  • Industrial Welder
  • Steel Construction
  • Equipment Repair
  • Self-employment
  • Fabrication Welder
  • Structural Welder

Typical Semester Layout:

A typical class day begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes approximately one hour of lecture in the latest welding technology. This is followed by approximately five hours of instructor-monitored lab time. Students receive 750 hours of lab instruction each year (1,400 hours if completing two years) and 200 hours of lecture a year (400 hours if completing two years).

First Semester credits
WELD 1724 Gas Welding, Gas Cutting and Plasma Cutting 4
WELD 1733 Weld Metallurgy, Bluepring Reading and Inspection & Testing 3
WELD 1728 Arc Welding, Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging 8
WELD 1723 Welder's Calculations 3
18
Second Semester credits
WELD 2715 Shielded Metal Arc and Flux Cored Arc Welding 5
WELD 2725 Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW I) 5
WELD 2735 Gas Tungsten Arc Weld'g 5
WELD 2733 Tolerancing and Working Drawings 3
18
Third Semester credits
WELD 3005 SMAW II, Codes/Insp, Basic CNC 5
WELD 3813 Metallurgy, Code, Certification, Inspection & Testing 3
WELD 3025 GTAW II, Comp of Materials 5
WELD 3015 GMAW II, FCAW II 5
18
Fourth Semester credits
WELD 4425 GMAW III, FCAW III, SAW 5
WELD 4435 SMAW III, GTAW III 5
WELD 4445 Welding Fabrication 5
WELD 4013 Senior Project 3
18
Employment and Transfer Report
Employment and Transfer Rate:
90%
Survey Details200420052006
Receiving Degrees 12 10 12
Responding to Survey 11 (92%) 10 (100%) 10 (83%)
Employed 10 (92%) 7 (70%) 9 (100%)
Employed in Field 9 (90%) 7(100%) 9 (100%)
Transfered -- 2 (20%) --
Unemployed & Seeking Employment -- 1 (10%) 1 (10%)
Unemployed & Not Seeking Employment 1 (9%) -- --
Salary Information
NACE Annual Average Salary Survey Data
(2003-04 survey for associate degree program;
2006-07 for baccalaureate degree program)
N/A
DOL Annual Mean Salary
(2006 survey for those employed in this career path)
$33,400