Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts.
Welding also is used to join beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures and to join pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries. Skilled welders plan work from blueprints and determine how best to join the parts.
Welders select and set up welding equipment, execute the planned welds, and examine welds to ensure that they meet standards or specifications.
At Salina Tech welders learn to perform many different types of welds commonly used in various manufacturing industries in Kansas as well as across the nation. Students learn industry standards from our experienced instructor and hands-on practice with customer projects.
Sign up today for our nine-month welding program and advance your career with valuable training and experience.
Career Opportunities: General Welders, Maintenance Welders, Production Welders, General Layout Technicians, Cutters, Burners, and Fabricators
| Welding Technology Certificate | ||||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits | |
| ENV 102 Safety Orientation (OSHA- 10) | 1 | WEL 116 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I | 3 | |
| WEL 111 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I | 3 | WEL 216 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II | 3 | |
| WEL 112 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II | 3 | WEL 115 Gas Metal Arc Welding I | 3 | |
| WEL 101 Welding Math | 3 | WEL 215 Gas Metal Arc Welding II | 3 | |
| WEL 105 Welding Theory | 2 | WEL 223 Core Wire Welding | 3 | |
| WEL150 Welding Blueprint Reading | 3 | WEL 120 Fabrication and Production | 4 | |
| WEL 106 Cutting Processing | 3 | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS: | 18 | TOTAL CREDITS: | 19 | |
| TOTAL CERTIFICATE CREDITS: | 37 | |||
Admission Criteria
Associate of Applied Science Degree: 60 Credits
To complete the Associate of Applied Science Degree, the student must:
ENV 102 Safety Orientation (OSHA-10), 1 credit.
During this course students are familiarized with a wide range of integrated devices, their characteristics and the circuits in which they are used. Students receive practical experience on integrated device characteristics, how they are used in the design of circuits and troubleshooting problems.
WEL 105 Welding Theory, 2 credits.
This course prepares students to work in industrial welding shop settings. Students study the cause and prevention of accidents in shop and industry. First aid and emergency procedures are covered. Safety, housekeeping, proper use and maintenance of tools and equipment are emphasized.
WEL 101 Welding Math, 3 credits.
The course covers basic mathematical skills common related to welding content areas. Mathematical applications of the skills will be a focus in this course.
WEL 150 Welding Blueprint Reading, 3 credits.
This course is an introduction to blueprint reading and drawing procedures used in the production and fabrication areas of the welding industry. This course involves shape description, size description, and freehand sketching. It incorporates the reading and drawing of welding symbols as well as interpretation of industrial drawings used in the welding industry. The course includes applied math for welders, consisting of a review of fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio/proportion calculations, and tape measure reading. This course also includes applications to live welding projects.
WEL 106 Cutting Processes, 3 credits.
This course introduces metal cutting and includes cutting of ferrous and nonferrous materials with manual, motor driven, and oxy-fuel shape cutting equipment. Also included are plasma-arc cutting (PAC) and carbon arc cutting (CAC-A). Safety, equipment and the basic fundamentals of cutting processes are introduced.
WEL 111 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I, 3 credits.
This course includes hands on application of industrial welding components including safety, identification, set up, and use of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) equipment. Students perform a variety of welds in the flat and horizontal positions with various electrodes.
WEL 112 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II, 3 credits. (Prerequisite: WEL 105 and WEL 111)
This course continues the study of shielded metal arc welding providing more in-depth instruction on the identification, set up, and use of shielded metal arc welding in an industrial setting. The course reviews safety and equipment maintenance.
WEL 115 Gas Metal Arc Welding I, 3 credits. (Prerequisite: WEL 105 Welding Theory)
This course includes instruction on proper equipment set up, the development of technical and manipulative skills, and performance of correct safety precautions and techniques utilized in gas metal arc welding (GMAW).
WEL 215 Gas Metal Arc Welding II, 3 credits. (Prerequisites: WELD 105 Welding Theory and WELD 115 Gas Metal Arc Welding I)
This course continues the development of skills and knowledge of gas metal arc welding. It includes a review of safety precautions and procedures and proper equipment set up. Advanced techniques on joint preparation and welding in all positions are emphasized.
WEL 223 Core Wire Welding, 3 credits. (Prerequisites: WELD 105 Welding Theory and WELD 115 Gas Metal Arc Welding I)
This course provides instruction in the use of a variety of core wire electrodes. The student develops skills and knowledge in using various metals and joints and in performing various welds in all positions.
WEL 116 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I, 3 credits. (Prerequisites: (WELD 105 Welding Theory)
This course introduces the basic principles and fundamentals of gas tungsten arc welding. Students learn to safely set the power source of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) equipment to the correct parameters. Students perform GTAW welds on various metals, and in multiple positions, meeting industry standards.
WEL 216 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II, 3 credits. (Prerequisites: WELD 105 Welding Theory and WELD 116 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I)
This course continues the study of the principles and fundamentals of gas tungsten arc welding. Students review procedures to safely set the power source of a Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) to the correct parameters. Students continue to develop their skills in performing GTAW welds on various metals, and in multiple positions, meeting industry standards.
WEL 120 Fabrication and Production, 4 credits.
This course covers welding processes used in industry, including arc, oxyacetylene, MIG, soldering, brazing, fabrication, and spot welding Testing, safety procedures and robotic equipment are also covered in the course.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires Salina Area Technical College to report about its graduates' gainful employment. In order to be eligible for funding under the Title IV programs, an educational program must lead to a certificate or degree (associate, bachelor's, graduate, or professional) or prepare students for "gainful employment in a recognized occupation" (GE Programs). Complete information on the GE Program requirements is available on the designated Gainful Employment Information Page that can be found at http://ifap.ed.gov/GainfulEmploymentInfo/.
| On-Time Completion Rates | |||
| Academic Year | Enrolled | Completed | On-time Completion Percentage |
| 2006-2007 | 14 | 8 | 57% |
| 2007-2008 | 12 | 9 | 75% |
| 2008-2009 | 10 | 7 | 70% |
| 2009-2010 | 17 | 11 | 65% |
| 2010-2011 | 19 | 16 | 84% |
| 2011-2012 | 18 | 16 | 89% |
| Academic Year | Placement Rates | |
| 2006-2007 | link to SATC Placement Rates | |
| 2007-2008 | link to SATC Placement Rates | |
| 2008-2009 | link to SATC Placement Rates | |
| 2009-2010 | link to SATC Placement Rates | |
| 2010-2011 | link to SATC Placement Rates | |
| 2011-2012 | Data for 2011-12 will be reported in 2013. | |
| Academic Year | Total # of Loans taken by Post-Secondary WEL students | Median Loan Debt |
| 2006-2007 | 12 | $0 |
| 2007-2008 | 9 | $3,500 |
| 2008-2009 | 7 | $1,809 |
| 2009-2010 | 18 | $0 |
| 2010-2011 | 6 | $2,792 |
| 2011-2012 | 11 | $5,500 |
