Effective Fall 2024
- School of Engineering Technologies
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
- More Information about Welding & Fabrication Engineering Technology
The Welding and Fabrication Engineering Technology bachelor’s degree is designed for the student who has a passion for not only welding, but how welding works. This program has the same hands-on welding component as the welding associate degree and welding certificate. The second two years focus on the many different skill-sets needed to be a well-rounded engineering technologist. This degree dives deep into the world of welding, and then branches out to expose the student to many other facets that are involved with and are affected by welding. From design for welding to continuous improvement of systems, students enter industry and have an immediate impact. Graduates of this program will be able to perform basic fabrication as well as set-up, weld and troubleshoot most manual and automated operations, design welding systems, address manufacturing and welding related problems, provide training on welding operations and function as a liaison between upper management and the shop floor.
Career Opportunities
Penn College has partnered with some of today’s leading companies in the welding industry to provide an education in welding and fabrication engineering technology that is second to none. With the only electron beam welding (EBW) machine at an educational institution in the U.S., a vast array of robot and welding power supply equipment, and our minor in non-destructive testing, 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 industry. Possible job titles include: welding engineer, welding technician, manufacturing engineer, process engineer, project manager, quality engineer, and many more.
Welding and Fabrication Engineering Technology graduates find work in the following industries: aerospace, automotive, aviation, construction/fabrication, entrepreneurship, non- destructive evaluation and inspection, nuclear and power generation, oil and gas, and vocational instruction (career center and collegiate).
Recommended High School Subjects
A strong background in high school math and sciences is desirable. An awareness of computer science equipment and software also is desired.
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/admissions/transfer/Transferring-Credits). Exceptions must be approved the school dean.
Program Goals
A graduate of this major should be able to- apply knowledge of industrial safety standards to both field and factory environments.
- demonstrate knowledge in welding, welding automation, principles of fabrication, and process integration.
- design welding systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly defined engineering problems appropriate to the welding discipline.
- apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, scientific principles and methodology, engineering, and technology to analyze and solve manufacturing problems with economic, technical, organizational, and design solutions.
- function effectively as a team member as well as a leader on technical teams.
- conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and analyze the results while developing solutions to material joining challenges using the characteristics of materials, industrial inspection techniques, welding processes, and manufacturing standards.
- apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature.
- understand professional, ethical, and social responsibilities and their implications related to the level and practice of a welding engineering technologist in a global/social context.
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 | ||
| MTH181 | College 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 | |
| WEL102 | Welding Blueprint & Layout | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| ENL111 | English Composition I | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| MTH183 | College Algebra & Trigonometry II | 3 | 2.50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17 | ||||||
| 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 | |
| ENL201 | Technical & Professional Communication | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| MTH230 | Applied Calculus | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| MTH240 | Calculus I | 4 | 4 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17 | ||||||
| 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 | |
| WEL252 | Welding Blueprint & Layout II | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| QAL241 | Non-Destructive Testing I | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| MSC106 | Introduction to Metallurgy | 4 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 18 | ||||||
| Fifth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| SPC | Speech Elective | 3 | S | SPC | |||
| WEL249 | Robotic Welding | 3 | 1 | 6 | M | REQ | |
| PHS115 | College Physics I | 4 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| DSG328 | Parametric Modeling & FEA Applications for Welders | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| CDP | Core Global & Cultural Diversity Perspective | 3 | S | CDP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16 | ||||||
| Sixth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| WEL401 | Industrial Project Support Systems | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| DSG323 | Design Statics & Strength of Materials | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| WEL302 | Advanced High Energy Density Processes | 4 | 2 | 6 | M | REQ | |
| QAL301 | NDT Quality Assurance | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| OEA | Open Elective | 3 | S | OEA | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16 | ||||||
| Seventh Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| WEL410 | Industrial Weld Design | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| WEL400 | Fabrication of Alloys | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| EET303 | Industrial Electronics & Applications | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| MET321 | Engineering Ethics & Legal Issues | 3 | Writing Enriched Requirement & Science, Technology and Society Requirement | 3 | M | REQ | |
| SSP | Core Social Science Perspective | 3 | S | SSP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 | ||||||
| Eighth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| WEL420 | Welding Codes & Procedures | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| WEL495 | Welding Internship | 1 | M | REQ | |||
| HIP | Core Historical Perspective | 3 | S | HIP | |||
| OEA | Open Elective | 3 | S | OEA | |||
| ARP | Core Arts Perspective | 3 | S | ARP | |||
| OEE | Exploration Elective | 3 | S | OEE | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16 | ||||||
Welding core courses are taught in eight-week formats.
Additional Information
American Welding Society (AWS) Accredited Test Facility (ATF) and Sustaining Company Member.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the commission’s General Criteria with no applicable Program Criteria.