About the Program
The Welding Technology program is designed to prepare students to become certified welders under standards set by the American Welding Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Petroleum Institute. Certification examinations may be taken after completion of the courses.
To be successful in this program, students need basic competence in mathematics, must possess good eyesight at least with corrective lenses, sufficient physical stamina to be able to stand and bend for long periods, and not to be bothered by extended exposure to the outdoors.
Students who are still enrolled in high school and who are considering a career as an industrial welder are encouraged to take courses in mathematics, industrial education, and welding. Courses in physical sciences and physics would enhance a student's knowledge and broaden one's experiences.
The objective of this program is to teach students to read and follow blueprints and plans, lay out jobs to be done, cut and bend materials, operate an oxy-acetylene torch, shielded metal arc, flux core arc, and do mig and tig welding, and certify in the above processes.
For certified welders employment opportunities are virtually unlimited. High-paying jobs are open in both heavy and light industry throughout California as well as the nation and the world. As far as can be seen in the future, the job market for certified welders will be excellent.
Program Requirements
For current program requirements -> 2024-2025
Program Goal: Career
GE Pattern(s): Butte Local
Program Code: 01325.00AS
Program Learning Outcome(s):
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
Setup and safely operate welding equipment.
Demonstrate the skill set necessary to qualify for an unlimited position welding qualification meeting AWS standards.
Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in a variety of situations, utilizing proper welding terminology and acronyms.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 154
Unit(s): 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 68.00
This course includes the techniques used for oxyacetylene welding (OAW) in all positions (flat, vertical, horizontal and overhead) and uses a variety of freehand and automatic burning equipment on different metals.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 154
Unit(s): 8.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 306.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 340.00
This course includes pre-employment training for welding technicians. Emphasis on developing manipulative proficiency in the use of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux core arc welding (FCAW), in the flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions. These welding processes will be applied to light and heavy gauge plate steel for light construction. Part of the Level Two welder qualification for American Welding Society (AWS).
Prerequisite(s): WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 154
Unit(s): 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 68.00
This course will instruct students on theory and proper operation and applications of equipment, tools, fasteners and processes used in welding and fabrication industries. Emphasis is placed in hands-on applications.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 40, WLD 154
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 102.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 119.00
This course includes an introduction to blueprint reading and welding symbols interpretation as applied to measurement and computations of metal and pipe layouts. Included within the course are layout and marking tool techniques used in the welding industry. Techniques of fabrication, structured materials listing and assembly methods will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 30, WLD 32, WLD 34, WLD 36, WLD 42, WLD 56, WLD 156
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 102.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 119.00
This course includes the gas metal arc welding (GMAW)/metal inert gas (MIG), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)/tungsten inert gas (TIG) and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) processes, in the flat, vertical, horizontal, and overhead positions. It will also include safety procedures, electrode identification, joint fit-up and alignment, base metal preparation, weld quality, and beads, with a focus on theory and practice.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 32, WLD 34, WLD 36, WLD 42, WLD 56, WLD 156
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 102.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 119.00
This course includes the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) processes and the flux cored arc welding (FCAW) Process, in the flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions on heavy plate (3/4" to 3" thick). It will also include safety procedures, electrode identification, joint fit-up and alignment, base metal preparation, weld quality, and beads, with focus on theory and practice.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 30, WLD 34, WLD 36, WLD 42, WLD 56, WLD 156
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 102.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 119.00
In this course students will perform layout, fitting, welding, inspection of structural weldments, piping, tank, and low pressure vessel simulation. Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) processes are emphasized. Shop fabrication and field erection are simulated. Limited access welding is encountered.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 30, WLD 32, WLD 36, WLD 42, WLD 56, WLD 156
Unit(s): 4.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 153.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 170.00
This course covers shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux core arc welding (FCAW) processes on several pipe systems. A variety of materials and configurations on sub critical pipe welding (pressure and power systems, cross-country transmission, pipeline welding and water transmission pipe welding) will be used. Special attention and performance standards for the qualifications will be used from the following codes: American Petroleum Institute (API), American Welding Society (AWS) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 30, WLD 32, WLD 34, WLD 42, WLD 56, WLD 156
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 102.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 119.00
This course prepares students for qualifications in several codes to meet the required standards for entry-level employment. Training in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux core arc welding (FCAW) to meet the American Welding Society (AWS), American Petroleum Institute (API), and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code standards. Skills and proficiencies of all positions qualification test on plate and pipe are emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 154
Unit(s): 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 68.00
This course is a study of the theory, application and practices for welding equipment. This will include the maintenance and service skills for the equipment used in the welding industry.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 30, WLD 32, WLD 34, WLD 36, WLD 56, WLD 156
Unit(s): 2.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 34.00
This course instructs on the qualifications and knowledge requirements of a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). Methods of testing, various procedures, and techniques of inspection. familiarize students with the basic concepts of destructive and nondestructive evaluation processes. Emphasis of record keeping methods used by the American Welding Society (AWS), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Petroleum Institute (API), and American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Unit(s): 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 68.00
This course assists students in pipe fitting, measurements, patterns, marking and layout tools used in the pipe welding industry. Techniques of fitting and cutting various pipe joint designs will be practiced.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 30, WLD 32, WLD 34, WLD 36, WLD 42, WLD 156
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course teaches job seeking skills demanded of welders in the industry today. Topics include a comparison of prospective employers within the welding industry, preparation for taking employment required skills tests, portfolio development, job-specific interview techniques and work place ethics and professionalism.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40
Unit(s): 1.00
- 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: NT
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This is a supervised lab experience for first semester welding program students. Students will practice skills in oxyacetylene welding (OAW), oxy-fuel cutting (OFC), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux core arc welding (FCAW) in all positions (flat, vertical, horizontal and overhead). Students will also use a variety of freehand and automatic burning equipment including plasma arc cutting (PAC) units and air carbon arc cutting and gouging (CAC-A) units.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 50, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Corequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 30, WLD 32, WLD 34, WLD 36, WLD 42, WLD 56
Unit(s): 1.00
- 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: NT
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This is a supervised lab experience for second semester welding program students. Students will practice skills in gas metal arc welding (GMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) on a variety of materials in the flat, vertical, horizontal, and overhead positions.
Prerequisite(s): WLD 28, WLD 30, WLD 32, WLD 34, WLD 36, WLD 42, WLD 56, WLD 156
Unit(s): 1.00
- 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II; Math Level II
Transfer Status: NT
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This is a supervised lab experience to help prepare students to meet the required standard for qualification papers in welding codes using American Welding Society (AWS) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) specifications. Students will practice skills in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux core are welding (FCAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), in all positions on plate and pipe, in preparation for weld performance tests with certified welding inspectors (CWI) or contractors.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course covers the practical considerations, challenges and rewards associated with starting and operating a small business. The course explores how to identify small business opportunities; the factors influencing entrepreneurial success; and financing, marketing, managing, record-keeping and computer applications to support small business operations. Each student will identify a business opportunity, then create a detailed business plan.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course introduces students to the knowledge and skills relevant to the supervisor in agricultural business. Topics include the regulatory requirements relevant to labor management in agriculture and effective communication with native and non-native English speakers. The course will include case studies on labor management, human relations, public relations, production control techniques and job analysis.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: BCIS 84, ability to key 25 wpm, Reading Level IV; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
42.50 hours Lecture
/ 25.50 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 68.00
This course is an examination of information and communication technologies used in today's businesses and the impact these technologies are having on today's workplaces. The course will include examination and application of a wide range of information and communication technology tools used to support and enhance business functions and processes. Focus will be placed on solving a variety of business problems, improving organizational productivity, and achieving the goals of business.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level IV; Math Level III and 25 wpm keyboarding
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course is an examination of information systems and their role in business. Focus on information systems, database management systems, networking, e-commerce, ethics and security, computer systems hardware and software components. Application of these concepts and methods through hands-on projects developing computer-based solutions to business problems. (C-ID ITIS 120).
Prerequisite(s): Permission of Cooperative Work Experience Education instructor and employment supervisor
Unit(s): 1.00
- 8.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 0.00
Career Work Experience (CWE) is a course that gives students the opportunity to earn both a grade and units for what they learn on the job related to their vocational major while gaining practical work experience. Students may earn one semester unit of college credit in this course for every sixty hours of unpaid work experience (60-480 hours unpaid) or seventy-five hours of paid work experience (75-600 hours paid). Students may earn a maximum of sixteen units for all types of Work Experience.
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Contacts
Miles Peacock, Chair
(530) 879-6162
Department Office: AHPS 251
(530) 895-2551
Counseling and Advising:
(530) 895-2378
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