Welding Technology AS Degree
Associate in Science | SC Program: AS.1490
The Welding Technology Program is designed to prepare students for positions in a variety of trades or service industries requiring technically trained and/or certified welders. The program is designed to prepare students for the opportunity to become certified welders under the standards set by the American Welding Society. Students can receive their certification by the American Welding Society in a variety of processes as part of the instructional program. The program is available in three formats:
- Associate in Science Degree in Welding Technology
- Certificate from Shasta College in Welding Technology
- Certification by the American Welding Society as a certified welder
This degree is approved through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Upon satisfactory completion of all degree requirements and filing an application for graduation with Admissions and Records, the student’s transcript will reflect completion of this degree.
Choose your path
Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.
A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.
Fall Semester, First Year
16 Units TotalThis course develops the reading, critical thinking, and writing skills necessary for academic success, emphasizing expository and argumentative writing as well as research and documentation skills. As a transferable course, it presupposes that students already have a substantial grasp of grammar, syntax, and organization, and that their writing is reasonably free from errors. A research paper is required for successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This is an introductory course designed for the student interested in acquiring basic welding skills to be used in a trade or service occupation. Emphasis is placed on current welding, cutting, and forming processes. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
This is a course to advance beginning arc welding skills with an emphasis on SMAW. Power sources, electrode identification, weldability of metals, joint design, air arc, oxyacetylene cutting, and introduction to GTAW and GMAW are covered in this course. Course activities include learning to weld stringer and weave beads, butt and fillet welds in flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) stresses certification and code welding on plate and structural steel in all positions. Course instruction and related information will include gas metal and flux core arc welding equipment and welding variables. The course will also cover shielding gases, equipment malfunctions, qualifications, and weld procedures. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) or TIG (tungsten inert gas) is an inert gas welding process also known as Heliarc which covers aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel, magnesium, and copper welding. The course consists of welding on flat and pipe stock in all positions. Course content will include metals identification and weld symbols. Welding exercises are stressed to develop welding skills. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, First Year
16 Units TotalThis course is designed to equip Career Technical Education students with college-level mathematical competencies required in today's workplace. Topics include college-level algebra, measurement units and conversion, estimation, solid figures, geometry, trigonometry, basic statistics, and probability. This course will promote quantitative reasoning through the use of mathematical applications and modeling with an emphasis on CTE topics. These applications and modeling will be reinforced by using requisite tools utilized by CTE courses to enhance students' visualization and problem-solving development.
This course is an introduction to the integrated management of forests, soil, watershed, fish, and wildlife in the context of protection and restoration of watersheds and ecosystems. An emphasis will be placed on natural resources careers, policy and law, tools, techniques and practices, and management philosophies of public and private lands. Basic biological and ecological processes will be introduced along with discussion of the scientific method and preparing reports. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This is a course covering metal fabrication techniques, layout, welding, and the use of metal fabrication equipment. The class simulates on-the-job welding situations. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Note: Students must provide safety glasses, welding gloves, and those materials which are of continuing value outside of the classroom setting. This cost will be explained at the first class meeting.
This is a course to advance arc welding skills with emphasis on vertical and overhead welding. Course activities prepare the student for weld certification and advanced arc welding classes using the SMAW process. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
This is a fundamental course in pipe welding with emphasis on open groove pipe joints using oxyacetylene, arc and inert gas welding process in all positions. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Fall Semester, Second Year
14.5 Units TotalThis course is an introduction to the process of human communication with emphasis on interpersonal communication. Emphasis is placed on the psychological, social, cultural and linguistic factors that affect normal person-to-person interactions. Subjects covered are the understanding of ethical interpersonal communication based in communication theory and research, listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, self-awareness/ self-concept, perception, emotions, relationships, communication climates, and conflict management. Students will increase their knowledge and skills in interpersonal communication. College level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines and short essays. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This is an advanced pipe welding class with emphasis on ASME and AWS Qualification. Course instruction includes welding codes, pipe classification, and identification. Completion of the class does not guarantee qualification unless welding procedure qualification tests are passed. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
This is an advanced welding laboratory class with emphasis on vertical and overhead welding. This class is designed for the student interested in improving his/her beginning skills in order to prepare for entry into the job force as a FCAW/GMAW welder. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
This is an advanced course designed to prepare students to pass structural steel certification in vertical and overhead positions. SMAW (stick) and FCAW (MIG) processes will be used. The goal of this class is to pass the AWS D1.1 welding certificate test. Strict adherence to the testing procedures will be followed. Completion of the class does not guarantee AWS certification unless welding procedure qualification tests are passed. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
An advanced welding laboratory class with emphasis on vertical and overhead welding. This class is designed for the student interested in improving his/her beginning skills in order to prepare for entry into the job force as a TIG welder. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, Second Year
14 Units TotalThis course is a comparative survey of the major ancient world civilizations which developed between 3500 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E. It examines political institutions, religious ideologies, the rise and fall of empires, and the major cultural innovations of each of the major world civilizations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course is intended to help students achieve a degree of computer literacy through exposure to a variety of basic computer concepts including discussions of hardware, software, computer history, programming, computer ethics, and cultural implications. In addition, the student will be introduced to several hands-on applications such as systems software (Windows), word processing software (MS Word), spreadsheet software (MS Excel), database software (MS Access), and presentation software (MS PowerPoint). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course is an advanced course designed to prepare students to pass structural steel certification in vertical and overhead positions. Students can obtain certifications in both the SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding), and Pipe Welding. The goal of this class is to pass the AWS D1.1, ASME, or API Welding Qualification tests. Strict adherence to the testing procedures will be followed. Completion of the class does not guarantee certification unless welding procedure qualification tests are passed. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.
*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:
- California State Universities – General Education
- IGETC – Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
Need a print out? Feel free to download and/or print out a copy of the sample program map(s).
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