Overview
Welding Technology offers students a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on lab experience to build essential skills in oxy-fuel cutting and shielded metal arc welding. Safety is emphasized at all times through OSHA standards and American Welding Society (AWS) guidelines. Students learn about the properties of metals, electrical principles, welding symbols, mechanical drawing, and print reading, applying these concepts to real-world projects and exercises that prepare them for both college and career success. In the second year, students advance their skills while preparing for the AWS SENSE Level I industry certification. Successful students also have the opportunity to complete co-op experiences with local companies, gaining valuable on-the-job experience and connections in the welding field.
Early College Option
- Students can earn an Ivy Tech Certificate (CT) in Structural Welding.
- Students must successfully complete all required dual credit courses over two years at WCC.
- The CT is the first-level postsecondary credential students can earn in Industrial Technology at Ivy Tech. See below for the next steps.
Students who complete the Certificate are eligible to participate in Ivy Tech Richmond’s commencement ceremony. Take additional academic dual credit classes at your high school to work toward the next steps of a Technical Certificate and/or Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology. Classes include dual credit speech, math, English, and physical science.
Curriculum Note: The Early College Option is not required to participate in the Welding Technology career program.
IKORCC Partnership
Welding Technology is now considered an approved pre-apprenticeship program. WCC has entered into an agreement with IKORCC (Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters) to align the program with formal union apprenticeship programs. Students who successfully complete the two-year program here can bypass the IKORCC pre-apprenticeship program and have direct entry into the formal apprenticeship program in their industry.
You Will Learn:
- 4 major welding processes along with oxy-fuel & plasma cutting
- How to weld in flat, vertical, horizontal, & overhead positions
- How to read welding symbols & understand blueprints
A Typical Student
The typical student is a solid academic student on track with credits for graduation. Students who enroll in Welding Technology like hands-on work and plan to pursue a career in a technical field. Successful students have the patience and attention to detail to solve problems using the skills they have learned. They can work on projects independently or with other students. They take initiative, check their work as needed, and stay on task without constant supervision. Safety is a primary focus, and students must follow the guidelines to keep themselves and others safe.
