What can I do with this?
The Welding Technology AS Degree
- Trains students in multiple welding processes.
- Prepares students for an entry level welding position in diverse fields.
- Promotes safe and clean work habits.
You can use this to:
- Earn a two-year Associates degree
- Enhance career opportunities in:
- Pipe Welder
- Fitter/Fabricator
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Manufacturing
- Structural Welder
- Potentially find work in the following industries
- Aircraft
- Construction
- Marine
- Mining
- Renewable Energy
- Aerospace
- Manufacturing
- Metal Art
- Railroad
- Ship Building
The basic skills of welding are the same across industries, so welders can easily shift from one industry to another, depending on where they are needed most.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
What will I learn?
- To demonstrate competency in major welding processes used in industry.
- To apply welding processes and the use of hand tools and shop equipment to fabricate projects.
- To accurately fabricate items from technical drawings using appropriate math skills.
- To apply and practice workplace safety policies and procedures while learning welding and related skills.
Program Learning Outcome Assessments
I wanted to tell you how much I have appreciated your welding classes. I am a metal fabricator at Searles Valley Minerals and your classes have helped me excel in my trade.
—Anthony Blanco, Student
What courses do I take?
Note: Some courses within the major may have a required prerequisite. If you feel you have equivalent knowledge and skills to those included in the prerequisite course through professional experience, licensure, or certification, you have the opportunity to submit a Prerequisite Challenge to be reviewed by the faculty chair. For the Prerequisite Challenge to be considered, you must submit documentation/verification to substantiate the basis for the challenge. Please consult a counselor for more information regarding Prerequisite Challenge.
Fees are required for four welding courses @$40.00 and two @$50.00 each.
Complete all of the following courses:
Advisory: ENGL C040
54 hours lecture. This course provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in reading and interpreting technical drawings used in an industrial environment. Principles of technical drawing are introduced along with standard symbols and abbreviations found in industrial drawings, schematics, and diagrams. Students produce technical sketches without the use of instruments.
54 hours lecture. This course introduces the practical mathematical skills needed in a wide variety of trade and technical areas. Basic use of scientific calculators to aid in solving real-world problems is included as well as how to use measuring instruments such as calipers, micrometers, and meters.
Advisory: ENGL C070
18 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course prepares students to identify and properly use a variety of tools and equipment in an industrial environment. Emphasis is placed on safety and the use of the correct tool for a specific task. Students are given hands-on experience with many of the tools and equipment during practical lab exercises and demonstrations.
36 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. In this course students gain practical experience in welding, brazing, soldering, and cutting of steel using oxyacetylene. Topics include safety, metals and their physical properties, setup and use of oxyacetylene equipment, and welding and cutting techniques.
Prerequisite: WELD C101
18 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. In this course students gain practical, hands-on experience in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) as well as learn safety, the different types of SMAW machines, identification of metals, electrode selection and electrical theory.
Prerequisite: WELD C101
18 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. In this course students gain practical experience in Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Metal Inert Gas (MIG) as well as learn safety, welding and identification of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, shielding gasses, bare and flux cored electrodes, and proper selection of welding materials for different applications.
Prerequisite: WELD C102, WELD C200
18 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. This course provides practical experience in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) as well as lectures on safety, welding and identification of exotic metals, types of filler metals and shielding gasses.
Prerequisite: WELD C102
36 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $50 materials fee. This course is designed to help the student develop skills required to be proficient at the welding of pipe and tubing using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) processes. Welding position, preparation, and fit-up are covered as well as techniques and special conditions associated with the welding of pipe and tubing.
Prerequisite: WELD C102, WELD C200
36 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $50 materials fee. This course is designed to enable the student to construct welded projects using the processes learned in previous courses. The student learns to read technical drawings, interpret welding symbols, produce shop drawings, and use trade related math in the layout and assembly process.
Complete one of the following general education patterns:
The awarding of an Associate Degree at Cerro Coso Community College is intended to represent more than an accumulation of units. It is intended to lead students through patterns of learning experiences designed to develop certain capabilities and insights.
Please consult the Transfer Center or Counseling for more information regarding which classes will transfer to a four-year institution.
Students desiring transfer to the California State University system may conform to either (1) the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or (2) CSU General Education Certification.
Please consult the Transfer Center or Counseling for more information regarding which classes will transfer to a four-year institution.
IGETC is a series of courses that community college students can use to satisfy lower division general education requirements at any CSU or UC campus.
Please consult the Transfer Center or Counseling for more information regarding which classes will transfer to a four-year institution.
Program Pathways
Official Catalog Copy
All classes needed for this degree are available at the following campuses: Ridgecrest / IWV
Additionally, some of the general education courses needed to complete this major are available at all our locations.
See Counseling for specific help with enrolling and completing this major.
How can I afford it?
This degree requires 60.0 units and will likely take 4 semesters.
Approximate Total Costs
CA Residents
60.0 units
at $46 per unit
Equals $2,760 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $3,600* for books and supplies
Total cost $6,360 for 4 semesters
Non-residents
60.0 units
at $329 per unit
Equals $19,740 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $3,600* for books and supplies
Total cost $23,340 for 4 semesters
*This is an estimate. Actual costs will vary.
Need help? Financial Aid can help with fee waivers and scholarships and other aid. Make sure to fill out your FAFSA every January.
