Effective Fall 2024
The welding certificate offers practical skills, training, and welding with theory and practice in shielded metal arc welding, flux cored welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, advanced semi-automatic processes, pipe welding, robotic welding, advanced blueprint and layout, non-destructive testing and basic CNC programming.
Career Opportunities
Penn College has partnered with some of today’s leading companies in the welding industry to provide an education in welding technology that is second to none. With the only electron beam welding (EBW) machine at an educational institution in the U.S. and a vast array of robotic and welding power supply equipment, Penn College provides more technological and industrial diversity than anyone else. Regardless of whether students are interested in automotive, aerospace, nuclear, or heavy fabrication, the Penn College welding department prepares graduates to work on equipment that is used every day in the welding. Possible job titles include: entry level welder, welder, apprentice, journeyman, CNC operator, robotic technician, and many more.
Recommended High School Subjects
Industrial arts or vocational welding or metalworking courses, introductory blueprint reading, and technical math.
Special Equipment Needs
See program Tool List for major.
Laptop Computer Required
- Windows 11 or higher (recommended).
- 64-bit, 3.0 GHz or greater, 4 or more cores (Intel or AMD) (required).
- 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended).
- 16+ GB RAM (required); 32+ GB RAM (recommended).
- 1 GB GPU minimum Graphics Card (required); 4 GB GPU (recommended).
- Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required).
- Laptop must include a wireless network card (required).
- Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required).
- Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services Service Desk available for assistance).
- Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS are prohibited.
Remediation Strategies
All incoming students must meet placement requirements in math. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in the College Catalog (see https://www.pct.edu/catalog/admissions-policy).
Transfer Procedures
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.
Program Goals
A graduate of this major should be able to:- demonstrate safe welding practices in the field and the shop.
- demonstrate the skills of an entry-level welder using common welding processes of various levels.
- distinguish the types of welding power sources and their characteristics, uses, and limitations.
- inspect welding jobs using visual, destructive, and non-destructive testing methods.
- construct weldments from sketches, blueprints, or oral instructions.
- select the proper welding process based on characteristics of material as well as cost considerations.
- follow welding qualification tests/procedures according to specifications of the AWS, API, and ASME codes.
Curriculum
| First Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYE101 | First Year Experience | 1 | .50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| WEL119 | Shielded Metal Arc Welding | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| WEL133 | Flux Cored Arc Welding | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| CSC124 | Information, Technology & Society | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| MTH123 | Technical Algebra & Trigonometry I | 3 | 2.50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 | ||||||
| Second Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| WEL142 | Gas Metal Arc Welding | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| WEL146 | Gas Tungsten Arc Welding | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| ENL010 | Communications | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| WEL102 | Welding Blueprint & Layout | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14 | ||||||
| Third Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| WEL209 | Advanced Semi-Automatic Processes | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| WEL216 | Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| WEL240 | Basic CNC Programming | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| QAL241 | Non-Destructive Testing I | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14 | ||||||
| Fourth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| WEL244 | Gas Tungsten Arc Pipe Welding | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| WEL264 | Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Pipe Welding | 4 | 1 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| WEL249 | Robotic Welding | 3 | 1 | 6 | M | REQ | |
| WEL252 | Welding Blueprint & Layout II | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14 | ||||||
Welding core courses are taught in eight-week formats.
Additional Information
American Welding Society (AWS) Accredited Test Facility (ATF) and Sustaining Company Member