NEW! Welding/Fabrication Credit Program

 

Chesapeake College is proud to announce our new Welding/Fabrication Program!

For 50 years, Eastern Shore residents have turned to Chesapeake to prepare for well paying jobs in the areas of skilled trades, with an increasing demand for a straightforward career pathway toward welding certifications. Local employers are searching for certified welders and fabricators, and Chesapeake is aligning with partners in the industry to meet those demands.

Whether seeking a certificate in MIG & TIG welding and fabrication, or Stick & Flux-cored, our programs are designed to prepare students for immediate employment—by first laying a strong foundation in the basics of the welding, cutting, and fabricating process, then allowing for specialization in the area of their choice.

YOUR PATH—TO SUCCESS

 

Welding Program of study

Created in response to both student and industry needs, the new program has the following highlights:
Specialization – students have the option of two areas of concentration to choose from based upon their own interest or career goals (MIG & TIG or Stick & Flux-cored)
Fabrication – two fabrication classes have been developed to deliver focused instruction on the processes, techniques, and mathematical competencies needed for various applications of metal fabrication
Length – the new programs can be completed in one year and all classes can be taken in the evenings or online (non-welding courses) to allow students to maintain a full-time job
Job Skills – Two courses have been added to deliver instruction related to employability and job skills
Focus – the courses that comprise the two new certificates contain the critical information students need to gain employment as entry- or mid-level welders (this has been vetted through feedback from regional employers, industry professionals, and welding instructors)

Which certificate is right for you?

The MIG & TIG Welding/Fabrication Certificate (777) is designed for those interested in career pathways involving structural and decorative metal fabrication in shop settings using carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

The Stick & Flux-core Welding/Fabrication Certificate (778) is designed for students pursuing careers in the construction of steel structures, shipbuilding, pipeline/utilities construction, industrial fabrication and repair.

Fabrication techniques and the ability to fabricate assemblies from construction drawings are emphasized in both certificate tracks. These programs are aligned with the American Welding Society (AWS) standards for Entry Level and Advanced Welder certifications.Students will have the opportunity to obtain one or more AWS Advanced Welder certifications.

WELDING PROGRAM OF STUDY

At Chesapeake, welding is offered as a cohort-style program that is one year in length. Courses are held in the evenings and online to allow students to maintain full-time employment throughout their time in the program. All of the courses are offered on the Wye Mills campus.

SUMMER 1

Fundamentals of Welding / WEL 108 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $909*
Designed to provide introductory knowledge and skills for an entry-level welder. Topics include occupational and safety considerations, identification of suitable metals, electrodes and wires, performing various welding techniques, basic welding symbols and codes, welding inspection methods, and groove and fillet welds on carbon steel. Course provides an overview of oxy-fuel cutting, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) processes. Prerequisites: None

FALL

Welding and Cutting Processes / WEL 109 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $789*
Designed to develop skills in oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, shielded metal arc (SMAW), gas metal arc (GMAW), flux-cored arc (FCAW), and gas tungsten arc (GTAW) welding processes. Students will also establish a deeper understanding of drawing and welding symbol interpretation as they work towards the AWS Entry Level Welder Performance Qualification Tests. Prerequisite: WEL 108
Metal Fabrication I / WEL 152 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $789*
Designed to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to perform basic metal fabrication in a welding shop. Topics include occupational and safety considerations, identification and application of types of metal and joints, fabrication processes, practical job-based math applications, and use of welding symbols and detail drawings. Prerequisite: WEL 109
Career Planning and Preparation / CPL 105 | 15 weeks | 1 credit | Estimated Cost $242*
Designed to teach and improve necessary skills to succeed in a career field. Topics will include: career exploration/exposure, core employability skills/workplace competencies, leadership abilities/workplace initiatives, and other related principles. Course offered online or face-to-face. [Fall/Spring] Prerequisites: None

SPRING / Specialization

Communicating on the Job / ENG 100 | 15 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $498*
Instruction in writing and speaking skills necessary to communicate effectively in work situations. Attention will be given to tone, form, and style appropriate to meet the needs of various audiences, and to accomplish different purposes on the job. Effective use of evidence, grammatical correctness, and organization of details will be covered. A research project is required, focusing on issues relevant to the student’s specific career program. Course offered online. [Spring] Prerequisites: None

MIG & TIG Welder/Fabricator Certificate (777) Only:
Intermediate MIG & TIG Welding / WEL 201 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $789*
Designed to advance skills in the areas of gas metal arc (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Ideal for students interested in careers involving structural and decorative metal fabrication using carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Students will be prepared to pass the AWS Entry Welders Performance Qualification Tests for GMAW and/or GTAW. Prerequisite: WEL 152
Advanced MIG & TIG Welding / WEL 211 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $789*
Designed to allow students to master skills in the areas of gas metal arc (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Ideal for students interested in careers involving structural and decorative metal fabrication using carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Students will be prepared to pass the AWS Advanced Welder Performance Qualification Tests for GMAW and/or GTAW. Prerequisite: WEL 201

Stick & Flux-cored Welder/Fabricator Certificate (778) Only:
Intermediate Stick & Flux-cored Welding / WEL 221 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $789*
Designed to advance skills in the areas of shielded metal arc (SMAW) and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW). Ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in structural steel erection/fabrication, industrial utilities and pipeline construction and repair. Students will be prepared to pass the AWS Entry Level Welder Performance Qualification Tests for SMAW and/or FCAW. Prerequisite: WEL 152
Advanced Stick & Flux-cored Welding / WEL 231 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $789*
Designed to advance skills in the areas of shielded metal arc (SMAW) and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW). Ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in structural steel erection/fabrication, industrial utilities and pipeline construction and repair. Students will be prepared to pass the AWS Advanced Welder Performance Qualification Tests for SMAW and/or FCAW. Prerequisite: WEL 221

SUMMER 2

Metal Fabrication II / WEL 252 | 7.5 weeks | 3 credits | Estimated Cost $789*
Designed to advance students’ knowledge and skills related to metal fabrication. Topics include occupational and safety considerations, metallurgy, preheating and post heating of metals, advanced fabrication processes, practical job-based math applications, fabrication from welding detail drawings. Prerequisite: WEL 211 or WEL 231

*Costs include tuition, course fees, and estimated textbook prices. Students are also required to purchase approximately $100 worth of personal protective equipment which will be used in all welding courses.