The welding program trains students in manual, and semiautomatic welding processes used in a variety of fabrication and construction industries. Students develop skill proficiency through practice in over 19 welding processes, in all positions, and with a variety of metals. In addition, welding students learn to identify base and filler materials and their properties, operate equipment properly, practice correct procedures, test for strength and appearance, work safely and productively, be responsible for quality control, read blueprints for necessary information, measure and use math, and practice good interpersonal relations.
- Overview
-
Is This Program for You?
Do you enjoy building things? Are you mechanically inclined, with strong math skills? Does a job working independently appeal to you? Welding may be a great career choice.
Students entering the Welding program should:
- Enjoy building things.
- Have good math skills.
- Have manual dexterity.
- Be able to work with little direction or supervision.
- Have good vision (glasses are acceptable).
- Have good hand-eye coordination.
- Be able to concentrate with patience on detailed work.
Program Basics
- Technical diploma, requiring a minimum of nine months to complete.
- High school articulation courses accepted.
- Financial aid available.
- Curriculum & Costs
-
Cost of Attendance (COA) 25-26
Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.
Category Amount Tuition and Fees $4,932 Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $10,305 Books and Supplies $1,463 Personal Expenses $3,065 Transportation $4,103 Charger Tech 360 Fee $700 Loan Fees $85 Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $24,653 1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $12,327 Based on Wisconsin Residents.
Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.
Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.
These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.
- Admissions & Requirements
-
Admission and Program Requirements
- Submit Application
Most programs admit students as applications are completed. For certain high-enrollment programs with limited space, applications are reviewed in order of residency and review dates. Programs currently in this category include Radiography, Electrical Power Distribution, Midwifery, Cosmetology, and Nail Technician. Learn more about our Admissions and Wait List Policy.Academic Preparedness Requirements
- Log in to your MySWTC account, go to My Profile → Document Center → All Programs to complete the following:
- Send your transcripts and scores to Southwest Tech: While not required, sending your transcripts and test scores helps us make sure your classes are the right fit. We consider any previous college credit you’ve earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit your high school transcripts, college transcripts, and test scores by emailing admissions@swtc.edu, or mailing them to Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
- Career Assessment Plan
Start your Student Success Plan by exploring your career interests, talking through your program choice, and confirming your path feels like the right fit. This step can be completed either by setting up a One-on-One Career Assessment Meeting with a recruiter or as part of your Student Success Plan Meeting with an advisor. Schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor. - Academic Map + Supports & Services Plan
Continue building your Student Success Plan by planning your courses, reviewing funding options, and connecting with resources. To complete this step, schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.
- Submit Application
- Outcomes
-
Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate industry-recognized safety practices
- Interpret welding drawings
- Produce shielded metal arc welds (SMAW)
- Produce gas metal arc welds (GMAW)
- Produce flux core welds
- Produce gas tungsten arc welds (GTAW)
- Perform cutting operations
- Produce Oxyfuel welds
Technical Skill Attainment (TSA)
This TSA scoring guide will be used to document your attainment of technical program outcomes for the Welding Degree. To meet the requirements on the scoring guide, you will be asked to draw upon the skills and concepts that have been developed throughout the program and are necessary for successful employment in your field. Results will be used to inspire continual improvement of teaching and learning in Wisconsin Technical College System. In addition, this assessment will provide feedback to you about your performance.
If you are unable to access documents here, please contact Technical Skill Attainment Team (tsa@swtc.edu, 608.822.2464) - Career Opportunities
-
Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts, so welders are employed in a wide variety of manufacturing and construction jobs, including automotive and equipment manufacturing, structural building, maintenance, and repair. Welders may work on land or underwater, inside and outside.
- Welding Technicians, Supervisors, Inspectors, Instructors, Repair Shop Owners
- Pipe Layers, Plumbers, Pipe Fitters and Steam Fitters
- Aircraft Body and Bonded Structure Repairers
- Aircraft Structure Assemblers
- Welder-Fitters
- Weld Fabricators
- Iron Workers
- Ship Building Workers
- Bridge Construction Workers
Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.
- Transfers
- Prior Learning
-
Credit for Prior Learning
Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!
Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.
For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.
At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.
Welding Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:
Course # Course Title Challenge Exam
(Demonstration)Challenge Exam
(Standard)CLEPCredentialPortfolio31-442-311 Oxyfuel Gas Cutting & Gouging 31-442-312 Arc Cutting & Gouging 31-442-313 Plasma Cutting & Gouging 31-442-314 Oxyfuel Equipment 31-442-315 Oxyfuel Brazing & Welding-Carbon Steel 31-442-316 Oxyfuel Brazing & Welding-Stainless Steel 31-442-320 SMAW - Equipment 31-442-323 GTAW - Equipment 31-442-324 GTAW - Carbon Steel 31-442-325 GTAW - Aluminum 31-442-326 GTAW - Stainless Steel 31-442-327 GMAW - Equipment 31-442-328 GMAW - Carbon Steel (S Process) 31-442-329 GMAW - Aluminum 31-442-330 GMAW - Stainless Steel 31-442-331 GMAW - Carbon Steel (Spray Transfer) 31-442-332 FCAW - Equipment 31-442-333 FCAW - Carbon Steel (Gas Shielded) 31-457-317 Forming & Folding Metal 31-457-318 Fabricating 31-457-334 Fabrication Planning & Drawing 31-804-305 Applied Mathematics College Mathematics CLEP Test would also be accepted. 32-442-308 Blueprint Reading-Welding 1 32-442-309 Blueprint Reading-Welding 2 - Accreditation
-
The Welding curriculum was developed in part through a Department of Labor TAACCCT Grant. This is an equal opportunity program. Veterans and TAA eligible populations are encouraged to participate.
Accreditation Status
The Southwest Tech Welding program is accredited by the American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 Street, #130, Miami, Florida 33166. 305-443-9353 / 800-443-9353 (voice) 305-443-7559 (Fax).