(CIP: 48.0508)

The Structural Steel Welding Advanced Skills Set Program is designed to prepare individuals with advanced welding skills that make them ideal candidates for employment for a wide range of industrial settings. Students in the program will weld plate in various processes in all positions to AWS (American Welding Society) standards. All technical courses in the program provide extensive hands-on experiences. Students will have a broad based foundation in welding that includes Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).

The Structural Steel Welding Program has been designed as an integrated program of study with secondary (high school) programs in the College’s service area in West Virginia. Students completing a secondary program may be eligible for advance standing and should confer with program faculty and/or advisors about processed to obtain advanced standing.

In addition to General Education Outcomes, upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate safe practices in all welding activities.
• Demonstrate ability to weld fillet welds in all positions on structural steel plate using SMAW to AWS and ASME standards.
• Demonstrate ability to weld fillet welds in all positions on structural steel plate using GMAW and FCAW to AWS standards.

The employment outlook is currently above average at the regional, state, and national levels. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report an average annual salary of $30,000 to $75,000 for Structure Steel Welder. Career opportunities are available in a number of industries including manufacturing, fabrication, oil and gas, construction, and equipment maintenance and repair.