Welding Technology

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Program Overview

The Welding Technology program prepares you for a variety of welding careers. Coursework is aligned with the American Welding Society's SENSE standards. You will learn various welding techniques, including:

Gas metal arc welding
Thermal cutting
Shielded metal arc welding
Flux cored arc welding
Gas tungsten arc welding

You will also gain the knowledge and skills in:

Blueprint reading
Metal types and the welding applications to use with them
Metal cutting and fabrication
Welding positions
Pipe welding
Weld inspection and testing
Robotic welding

The program offers three levels of welding skills and techniques that build up to the two-year Welding Technology program.

The one-semester Welding certificate prepares you with the skills needed for general maintenance or production welding.
The two-semester Intermediate Manufacturing Welding diploma prepares you with the skills needed for custom fabrication and construction welding.
The three-semester Advanced Manufacturing Welding diploma prepares you with the skills needed in food production maintenance and high-end custom fabrication.

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Welding Lab: Use the latest welding equipment in the industry as you learn and perfect your welding skills on various type of metals.
Virtual Welder: Become comfortable with various types of welds while learning how to reduce costs and improving your efficiency in a safe, controlled environment.
Robotic Welder: Learn how to program and use robots to weld in modern manufacturing.

Certification

An independent certification laboratory evaluates your performance for possible certification with the American Welding Society.

Faculty Spotlight

Jeff Jantzen

“As a 1992 graduate, I am very proud of all I have accomplished and built with the education I have received from Hawkeye."

Video Overview

Robotic and Virtual Welding Training at Hawkeye Community College

The virtual welder at Hawkeye helps students learn welding techniques without wasting materials and helps them become more proficient welders. The robotic welder offers students a taste of what many of the manufacturing companies are doing to help them prepare for future employment. Check out the Virtual and Robotic Welding video to learn more!

See More Video

Courses

Core Courses

Ag Computers
Welding Design
Procedures and Qualifications
Introduction to Welding, Safety, and Health of Welders
Print Reading and Welding Symbol Interpretation
Gas Metal Arc Welding (Short Circuit Transfer and Spray Transfer)
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding for Carbon Steel, Aluminum, and Austentitic Stainless Steel
Welding Inspection and Testing Principles
Thermal Cutting Processes I and II
Shielded Metal Arc Welding I and II
Flux Cored Arc Welding (Self-Shielded and Gas-Shielded)
Pipe Welding GTAW and SMAW
GMAW Developmental I and II
GTAW Developmental
SMAW Developmental I and II
Robotic Welding

Program Details

Award: Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Required number of credits: 64

Program Start: Fall

Careers

Positions

Graduates find jobs as maintenance, production, manufacturing, construction, custom fabrication, or job shop welders. With advanced skill, graduates may find employment as pipe welders or iron workers.

Example Careers and Average Wages
	Entry	Average	Experienced
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$27,900	$36,200	$40,400
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$29,200	$35,800	$39,100

Source: 2016 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development

Many graduates in this field work overtime. Overtime wages are not included in the above average wages.

Gainful Employment

Employers

The following is a partial list of employers who have hired graduates from this program:
Business	Location
ADA Enterprises, Inc.	Northwood, IA
Baumgartner Gate Factory	Manchester, IA
GMT Corporation	Waverly, IA
Iowa Laser Technology	Cedar Falls, IA
John Deere	Waterloo, IA Ottumwa, IA
Wayne Engineering	Cedar Falls, IA

Explore local data on wages, employment, job postings, and more!

Admissions Requirements

Apply at Hawkeye

Complete Hawkeye's online admissions application to apply and be considered for the Welding program.
Request to have your transcripts sent to the Admissions office.

Basic Skill Competencies

In order to be eligible for the Welding program, all students must meet minimum score requirements and/or successfully complete the required college success courses in English, reading, and math with a "C" grade or higher at Hawkeye Community College or comparable courses at another accredited college. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

Minimum score requirements
	ACT	ACCUPLACER	COMPASS	ASSET
Math	14	40 Arithmetic	24 Pre-Algebra	38 Numerical
English/Writing	16	64 Sentence Skills	41	35
Reading	16	58	69	34

Program Acceptance

Applicants meeting the Basic Skill Competencies Requirements criteria are eligible for acceptance.

Applicants not meeting the Basic Skill Competencies Requirements criteria will be accepted to a Pre-Program. As a pre-program student, you will begin with general education and prerequisite classes. An advisor will help you create an academic plan to meet your program admission requirements. Once you have completed your pre-program coursework contact Admissions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Contact Us
Admissions		Email us	319-296-4000	Hawkeye Center 114
Student Success Specialist	Natasha Ceasar	Email me	319-296-2329 ext.1062	Buchanan Hall 126
Program Advisor	Ryon Eiklenborg	Email me	319-296-2329 ext.1347	Buchanan Hall 155B
Program Advisor	Jeff Jantzen	Email me	319-296-2329 ext.1432	Buchanan Hall 155B
Administrative Assistant	Kendra Wyatt	Email me	319-296-4009	Buchanan Hall 131
Dean	Dave Grunklee	Email me	319-296-4042	Butler Hall 131A

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