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Welding Technology AAS
Industrial Technology Department | A.A.S. Associate of Applied Science Degree | 2 years
Earn a degree in Welding Technology at Clackamas Community College and enter or further your career in the welding industry.
Become a professional welder while learning from American Welding Society (AWS) certified professionals in a well-equipped facility in the Welding Technology program at Clackamas Community College.
Welding Technology AAS
You will develop some exciting new skills in this program. Among these new skills, you should be able to:
- Work safely in an industrial environment around machinery, power tools, and chemicals
- Set up, operate, and make adjustments to welding equipment
- Apply basic knowledge of blueprint reading to fabricate projects as assigned
- Perform advanced welding on materials such as stainless steel and aluminum with all welding processes
- Pass AWS D 1.1/D 1.1M structural steel welding certification tests
- Recognize and be able to repair common welding defects according to AWS and industry standards
Careers
Career opportunities include
- welding
- fabrication
- construction
- production welding
- sheet metal fabrication
Job Market
Search related careers and regional data on wages and job outlook on Career Coach and WorkSource.
PROGRAM CODES: AAS.WELDINGTECH
This program prepares students for entry into these industries: fabricated structural metal products, motor vehicles and equipment, construction and heavy construction, transportation equipment, ship and boat building and repair, aircraft and parts, self-employment and miscellaneous fabricated metal products.
CCC’s welding instructors are American Welding Society (AWS) certified professionals. The program’s curriculum is based on the AWS national standard for entry level welders.
Course work focuses on the knowledge and skills to perform:
- Fillet welds and groove welds using:
- Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
- Gas-metal arc welding (GMAW)
- Flux-core arc welding (FCAW)
- Gas-tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
- Steel, stainless steel and aluminum
- A variety of different electrodes
- Plasma arc cutting (PAC), air carbon arc cutting (CAC-A) and gouging, manual and automatic oxy-fuel cutting (OFC and OFC-Track Burner) processes
- Knowledge of materials science and welding theory
- Print reading, inspection, quality, safety and shop practices
- Fabrication techniques, including job cost calculations, layout, sketching, bills of material, fitting and cutting welding applied to real projects designed by industry partners
RELATED INSTRUCTION OUTCOMES
Computation (1 course- MTH-050 Technical Mathematics I)
- Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems.
Communication (1 course- WR-101 Workplace Writing)
- Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for professional audiences.
Human Relations (3-4 credits- Recommended: COMM-100Z Introduction to Communication)
- Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals.
Physical Education/Health/Safety/First Aid (1-3 credits- see catalog for course list)
- Use effective life skills to improve and maintain mental and physical wellbeing.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- work safely in an industrial environment around machinery, power tools, and chemicals, including being able to set-up, operate, and make adjustments to various types of welding and cutting equipment;
- complete welding projects such as fillet welds and groove welds in all positions that will meet visual inspection criteria based on American Welding Society (AWS) codes; [Processes include Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)]
- apply basic knowledge of blueprint reading to fabricate projects as assigned;
- recognize and be able to repair common welding defects according to AWS and industry standards.
SHORT-TERM TRAINING
For students who need a quick-entry strategy into the work force, an individualized education and employment plan can be created that concentrates the knowledge and skills necessary to start or change a career path. Please see a faculty advisor for more information.
For information contact Dustin Bates, 503-594-3973, dustinb@clackamas.edu, or the Automotive and Welding Department, 503-594-3047
Welding Technology Core Requirements
Complete the following Core Requirements
- IMT-108
- Rigging and Lifting
- 2
- MFG-103
- Machining for Fabrication & Maintenance
- 3
- MFG-221
- Materials Science
- 3
- WLD-100
- Welder's Print Reading I
- 3
- WLD-110
- Welder Certification
- 4
- WLD-200
- Welder's Print Reading II
- 3
- WLD-210
- Pipe Welding
- 4
- WLD-211
- Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- 4
- WLD-213
- Advanced Gas Metal Arc Welding/Flux Core Arc Welding
- 4
- WLD-215
- Advanced Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- 4
- WLD-250
- Welding Fabrication I Beginning Project
- 4
- WLD-251
- Welding Fabrication II Intermediate Project
- 4
- WLD-252
- Welding Fabrication III Advanced Project
- 4
Computation Related Instruction
Complete MTH-050
- MTH-050*
- Technical Mathematics I
- 4
Communication Related Instruction
Complete WR-101
- WR-101*
- Workplace Writing
- 4
Human Relations Related Instruction
Complete 3-4 credits. Recommended: COMM-100Z. See catalog for approved Related Instruction Courses.
PE/Health/Safety Related Instruction
Complete 1-3 credits. See catalog for approved Related Instruction Courses.
Program Electives
Complete 8 credits of Welding Technology Program Electives. See catalog for a complete list of Welding Technology Program electives.
*Substitute college transfer courses for these courses if you plan to continue your education at a higher education institution. It is recommended that you consult with a faculty or academic advisor for the transfer requirements of the specific advanced program or school.
Welding Tech Shielded Metal Arc Welding Requirement
Complete WLD-111, or WLD-111A and WLD-111B
- WLD-111
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick)
- 8
- WLD-111A
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick)
- 4
- WLD-111B
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick)
- 4
Welding Tech Wirefeed Welding Requirement
Complete WLD-113, or WLD-113A and WLD-113B
- WLD-113
- Gas Metal Arc Welding/Flux Core Arc Welding (Wirefeed)
- 8
- WLD-113A
- Gas Metal Arc Welding/Flux Core Arc Welding (Wirefeed)
- 4
- WLD-113B
- Gas Metal Arc Welding/Flux Core Arc Welding (Wirefeed)
- 4
Welding Tech GTAW Welding Requirement
Complete WLD-115, or WLD-115A and WLD-115B
- WLD-115
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
- 8
- WLD-115A
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
- 4
- WLD-115B
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
- 4

Contact Us
Dustin Bates
Department Chair, Welding Instructor