Welding

email: welding@bigbend.edu

The Welding Technology program is designed for persons to acquire the technical knowledge and skills required to obtain a career in welding, fabrication, and related occupations.

Graduates may qualify for positions in industries such as machinery fabrication, structural fabrication, pipe fabrication, plant maintenance, and trade occupations which require welding skills. Students who complete the first year of the program will gain sufficient training to obtain entry-level employment. The second year of the program will focus on advanced skills in welding applications in specialty areas.

Persons who complete the two-year program of study may earn the Associate in Applied Science degree in Welding Technology with an emphasis in structural welding, industrial production welding, or pipe welding. The one-year welding certificate of achievement is available for students who do not wish to complete a two-year degree. Local employers indicate that there are jobs available for students who complete either the certificate or the AAS degree.

Interested students must work out their individual programs with a department advisor. This program has been designed to allow students to enroll at the beginning of each quarter. Students entering the program will progress sequentially through the lab classes; lecture classes are offered during scheduled quarters only.

Welding Program Electives

Students must meet with their faculty advisor before enrolling in Work-Based Learning

WLD 190 Skills Improvement*

WLD 290 Skills Improvement*

WLD 295 Work-Based Learning

WLD 297 Work-Based Learning Seminar

* Skill level improvement classes are not required but may be needed to achieve desired skill levels. See the program advisor.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

WLD 110: Welding Theory I

Credits 5
General introduction to industrial welding and cutting. Safety rules of oxy-fuel, electric and other welding processes, principles, and electrodes.

WLD 111: Welding Process I

Credits 3 Max Credits 6
An introduction to the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process. Students will perform beads, fillets and Plate tests in all position with E6010 and E7018 Electrodes. Students must complete all 6 credits of WLD 111 prior to enrolling in WLD 121.

WLD 112: Thermal Cutting and Welding

Credits 3
Various techniques of steel cutting with oxy-fuel, air carbon arc, plasma arc processes and oxy-acetylene welding and brazing with various metals.

WLD 120: Welding Theory II

Credits 5
Fundamentals of G.M.A.W. and F.C.A.W. processes with their related equipment. Basics of electrical theory and welding machines. Shielding gasses, filler materials, and general welding procedures including carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

WLD 121: Welding Process II

Credits 3 Max Credits 6
An introduction to welding open root joints. Students use E6010 to complete open root corner joints out of position and open root plate tests out of position. Students must complete all 6 credits of WLD 121 prior to enrolling in WLD 131.

WLD 122: Gas Metal Arc Welding I

Credits 3
Students will learn to apply the Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) process on steel in all positions using the short circuit transfer mode and the spray transfer mode in the flat and horizontal positions.

WLD 130: Welding Theory III

Credits 5
Basic welding blueprint reading and interpretations of conventional drafting, symbology, and specialized welding symbols: basic lines and views, dimensions, welding symbols, abbreviations, pipe welding symbols, NDT symbols and ISO welding symbols.

WLD 131: Welding Process III

Credits 3 Max Credits 6
Using E-7018 electrodes, students weld comer joints, groove plates in all positions and ASME and WABO performance certification tests. Students must complete all 6 credits of WLD 131 prior to enrolling in more advanced welding classes.

WLD 145: Agricultural Welding

Credits 4
This course will cover cutting, repairing and welding metals using a variety of tools and techniques. Students will learn to choose the appropriate metal for various repair situations and techniques to accurately assess the amount of material needed. By course completion, students will be able to MIG and Arc weld proficiently and will be comfortable fabricating and building basic parts and tools. Additionally, this course will introduce students to oxy acetylene welding and brazing.

WLD 146: Industrial Welding

Credits 4

In this course, students will explore theory in the classroom and gain hands-on experience with essential welding and cutting practices commonly used in industrial applications. Students will practice welding techniques using the following processes: GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) FCAW (Flux Core Arc Welding, SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), and GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding). Students will explore theory and practice for cutting processes such as oxyfuel cutting, plasma cutting, and ironworker operation. Additional topics include Blueprint reading (welding symbols), Inspection, Codes and Standards, and Metallurgy (Material Properties and Characteristics). Students will learn how to thoroughly inspect and set up the equipment before welding or cutting, and how to prepare materials and several types of joints for welding. Students will also learn about finishing procedures and quality control. By course completion, students will be able to weld GMAW, FCAW, SMAW and GTAW proficiently on various materials and will be comfortable fabricating and welding from work procedure specifications (WPS).

WLD 151: Technical Drawings Interpretation

Credits 3

Basic technical drawings interpretation skills for welding engineering to develop abilities in reading and understanding technical drawings; emphasis on visualization and sketching of multi-view, isometric, schematic, and pictorial drawings.

WLD 152: Welding Layout I

Credits 3
Specialized weldment drafting techniques; intersections and developments, patterns for geometric shapes used in cardboard, sheet metal and structural shapes: fabrication and model construction.

WLD 153: Welding Layout II

Credits 3
Basic technical pipe drawing interpretations and developments. Patterns for geometric shape used in pipe component fabrication and model construction.

WLD 190: Skill Improvement

Credits 2 Max Credits 6
Extra welding time and instruction to enhance students welding skills and/or update their qualifications for testing. This is an open enrollment course offered throughout each quarter. (May be repeated for credit; graded on pass-fail basis.)

WLD 205: Weld Testing Methods

Credits 4
Upon successful completion of the course the student will understand the various methods used to test welds. Students will be capable of applying a variety of destructive tests to asses the soundness, ductility, and strength of various weldments. Students will also have a working knowledge of the common methods used in industry to non-destructively examine weldments for acceptability.

WLD 206: Welding Codes and Standards

Credits 4
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to follow codes to interpret their workmanship. Use procedure qualifications and performance qualifications. Use DT and NDT methods to inspect the students own weldments. Use visual inspection of welded structures.

WLD 207: Welding Metallurgy

Credits 4
An introduction to metallurgy. Ferrous and nonferrous metals, alloys and their groupings will be covered.

WLD 212: Gas Metal Arc Welding II

Credits 3
Students will learn to apply both types of Flux core arc welding process on steel and perform Gas Metal Arc Welding on aluminum and stainless steel.

WLD 241: Structural Weld Process I

Credits 6
This course focuses on student learning of structural connection mockups applying the Shielded Metal Arc and Flux Cored Arc Welding processes.

WLD 242: Structural Welding I

Credits 3
An introductory course focusing on fabrication of structural weldments utilizing shielded metal arc welding and flux cored arc welding on structural connections.

WLD 243: Structural Weld Process II

Credits 6
A structural welding course focusing on student application of Shielded Metal and Flux Cored Arc Welding processes on large outdoor structural weldments in accordance with drawings.

WLD 244: Submerged Arc Welding

Credits 3
This course focuses on student learning of submerged arc welding process which entails an arc that takes place beneath a bed of granular flux. This is a high deposition industrial orientated welding process that is used to manufacture light to heavy weldments.

WLD 245: Structural Weld Process III

Credits 6
A structural welding course focusing on student application of Shielded Metal and Flux Cored Arc Welding processes on tubular structural weldments in accordance with drawings.

WLD 261: Production Weld Process I

Credits 6
An introductory course focusing on student learning of production welding techniques by applying the Gas Metal Arc, Flux Cored Arc, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding processes.

WLD 263: Production Weld II

Credits 6
An intermediate course that focuses on student learning of production welding techniques by applying the Gas Metal Arc, Flux Cored Arc, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding processes on large parts in accordance with drawings.

WLD 264: Advanced Weld Process

Credits 3
An advanced course focusing on student learning of welding processes such as pulsed gas metal arc, pulsed gas tungsten arc, and welding on advanced materials i.e., titanium and inconel.

WLD 265: Production Welding Process III

Credits 6
An advanced production welding course focusing on application of Gas Metal Arc, Flux Cored Arc, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding processes on small parts in accordance with drawings. Parts will be welded in student manufactured fixtures.

WLD 281: Pipe Welding I

Credits 3 Max Credits 6
Students will be introduced to pipe welding in the 1G, 2G, 5G, and 6G positions using E-6010 electrodes with schedule 60, 80, 100,120 and various size pipes. May be repeated for credit up to six credits.

WLD 282: Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II (TIG)

Credits 3
This course introduces students to carbon steel pipe welding in the 1G, 2G, 5G, and 6G positions using cup walk methods with 1/8" electrodes on various sizes of pipes.

WLD 283: Pipe Welding II

Credits 3 Max Credits 6
Students will enhance carbon steel pipe welding in 1G, 2G, 5G, and 6G positions using E-6010 and E-7018 electrodes with schedule 60,80,100 and 120 pipes and various other sizes of pipes. May be repeated for credit up to six credits.

WLD 284: Gas Tungsten Arc Welding III (TIG.)

Credits 3
Students will gain advanced skills on carbon steel pipe in the 2G, 5G, 6G positions, carbon steel pipe with stainless steel rods, and stainless steel pipe in the 2G, 5G, and 6G positions.

WLD 285: Pipe Welding III

Credits 3 Max Credits 6
This course focuses on pipe welding 1G, 2G, 5G, and 6G positions using E-6010 and E-7018 rods and a combination of G.T.A.W. and S.M.A.W. process with schedule 40,60,80,100, 120, and various other sizes of pipes.

WLD 290: Skill Improvement

Credits 2 Max Credits 6
Extra welding time and instruction to enhance students welding skills and/or update their qualifications for testing. This is an open enrollment course offered throughout each quarter. (May be repeated for credit; graded on pass-fail basis.)

WLD 295: Work Based Learning

Credits 1 Max Credits 6
A supervised work experience in the welding technology field to enhance the application of classroom instruction and skills and/or area of specialization approved by the program instructor. May be repeated up to twelve (12) credits. WLD Instructor permission and concurrent enrollment in WLD 297.

WLD 297: Work Based Learning Seminar

Credits 1
Feedback and discussion to integrate and relate Work Based Learning and classroom based instruction. Work ethic, leadership, safety and occupational health, environmental issues, and other student generated topics are examined. May be repeated up to six (6) credits.