Welding Technology

Degree Types
A.A., C.L., Certificate
Mode of Study
Hybrid, On Campus
Play students welding

Program Description

The Merced College Welding Technology Program prepares participants for employment in welding repair, job shop welding, and production welding. The program is also designed to retrain and update persons presently employed in welding and related trades.

Degrees/Certificates

Merced College offers the following degrees/certificates in Welding Technology:

Welding Technology (AA)
Advanced Welding and Metal Fabrication (CL)
Entry Level Welding (CE)
Pipe Welding Technology (CE)

See Degree Requirements & Course Descriptions
See Fast Track Career Training Certificate

The Program includes welding and related skills in the areas of: (OAW) oxyacetylene welding, (OFC-A) oxyacetylene cutting, (SMAW) shielded metal arc welding, (GMAW) gas metal arc welding, (GTAW) gas tungsten arc welding, and equipment used in metal fabrication. Basic welding processes are introduced and related skills are developed in the WELD 6 and WELD 7 courses. The WELD 40 courses are designed to develop skills in design, layout, selection of materials, and production welding. WELD 46 is structured to prepare students for and pass the structural AWS qualification test. The curriculum used in the welding program is competency based.

Program Requirements

  • Students are required to furnish their own safety glasses, welding gloves, pliers, measuring tape and text.
  • Students who wish to construct personal welding projects in WELD 40A & WELD 40B are required to pay for the cost of their materials.

Career Opportunities

The welding trade has maintained an above-average employment status during recent years. At present, this trend is still prevalent with the best opportunities being in the GMAW and GTAW welding processes.

The welding facility at Merced College is well furnished with up-to-date equipment with which students can attain the above skills. The instructional staff is composed of quality teachers with many years of experience in welding and closely related trades.

Welding Technology Faculty