Welding Technology, AAS

Program Code: 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.

Short-Term Training

For students who need a quick-entry strategy into the workforce, 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.

Oregon Tech Transfer Courses

The Automotive and Welding Department, in cooperation with Oregon Tech, offers a number of transferable classes into Oregon Tech’s Bachelor of Applied Technology and Management degree program. Students planning to continue their studies at a four-year college should consult an advisor to obtain the most recent transfer information.

For information contact Dustin Bates, 503-594-3973, dustinb@clackamas.edu, or the Automotive and Welding Department, 503-594-3047

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.

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 Related Instruction for course list
• Use effective life skills to improve and maintain mental and physical wellbeing.

¹

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.

Electives

Career opportunities include:

• welding
• fabrication
• construction
• production welding
• sheet metal fabrication