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Welding Fundamentals, Specialized Diploma

Overview

Narrative

Northampton's Welding programs are designed to prepare you to enter a welding profession. The Welding Fundamentals specialized diploma is designed to prepare you to enter a welding setting in a short time frame or advance your current welding skills to the next level. The program offers career-specific coursework for a student wishing to complete their studies within two semesters.

Your studies will include state-of-the-art welding equipment and principles from the American Welding Society. You will learn the marketable skills required to work effectively within a welding environment. Strong emphasis on the development of professional attitudes, values, and ethics. As you progress through the program, you'll gain critical thinking, priority setting, and decision-making skills needed in today's quality-oriented business environment.

Graduates of this specialized diploma program can gain employment and then pursue NCC's Welding & Fabrication certificate or Welding Technology associate degree programs. This program will be of benefit to those who are seeking an entry level position in welding or those who are seeking to change careers. It is also useful for welders in need of updated skills and certification.

Features

This program prepares you for the responsibilities and challenges expected of a skilled trades person in an entry level welding setting. Responsibilities of a welder include the ability to read and interpret blueprints and demonstrate basic welding principles. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for American Welding Society certification exams while achieving a competency-based academic specialized diploma. The program may be completed in as little as two semesters if taking courses during the day.

Courses for the Welding Fundamentals specialized diploma include Welding Fundamentals, OSHA, Fabrication & Welding Symbols, Introduction to Pipe Welding Processes, Advanced Plate Welding Processes, and Gas Tungsten Arc & Semiautomatic Welding Processes. All of the courses in the specialized diploma can be applied to either the certificate or associate degree welding programs.

Graduates of this specialized diploma can also continue on to complete the Welding & Fabrication certificate or the Welding Technology associate degree with ease. 

Endorsed by Local Employers

Potential employers for those following this welding pathway include:

  • Manufacturers
  • Sheet Metal Fabricators
  • Construction Companies

This program can be completed in the day or evening, on a full or part-time basis.

Please contact Dino Forst, Program Manager, at 610.332.6270 or dforst@northampton.edu or the Admissions Office at 610.861.5500 for more information.

Career Potential: Autobody Repairer, Business Owner, Maintenance Repair Technician, Welding Assistant, Welder Fabricator.

Outcomes

Graduates of the Welding Fundamentals specialized diploma program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate competent speaking, technical vocabulary, and technical writing skills when working with diverse groups displaying the ability to work independently & collaboratively for observation, integrative, and synthetic skills.
  • Demonstrate the ability to solve common weldability problems and the proper use and care of common welding equipment.
  • Demonstrate safe welding and thermal cutting practices and apply basic defect prevention philosophy and techniques to achieving weld integrity.
  • Produce welds that consistently meet industry, American Welding Society (AWS), and pressure vessel standards.
  • Apply knowledge mastered to troubleshooting and solving discipline and industry-related problems by analyzing and presenting data in an acceptable and standardized manner with proficient research and computer data-gathering skills.  

Courses

First Semester

CADM117Technical Drawings & Specifications

3 credits

COLS101College Success

1 credits

EMEC114Mechanical Skills for the Trades

2 credits

WELD105Introduction to Welding Processes

5 credits

WELD135Welding Fabrication and Symbols

2 credits

Total Credit Hours:13

Second Semester

WELD110Introduction to Pipe Welding Processes

3 credits

WELD123Advanced Plate Welding Processes

5 credits

WELD125GTAW and Semiautomatic Welding Processes

5 credits

 

OSAH102
General Industry Outreach Safety Education**

1 credits

OR

OSAH101
Construction Industry Outreach Safety Education

1 credit

Total Credit Hours:14

Total Credit Hours: 27

** OSAH102 is the recommended selection.