Welding Technology Program Map

Award type:

AS Degree
Certificate of Achievement

The Welding Technology program is designed to prepare students to become certified welders under standards set by the American Welding Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Petroleum Institute. Certification examinations may be taken after completion of the courses. To be successful in this program, students need basic competence in mathematics, must possess good eyesight at least with corrective lenses, sufficient physical stamina to be able to stand and bend for long periods, and not to be bothered by extended exposure to the outdoors. Students who are still enrolled in high school and who are considering a career as an industrial welder are encouraged to take courses in mathematics, industrial education, and welding. Courses in physical sciences and physics would enhance a student's knowledge and broaden one's experiences. The objective of this program is to teach students to read and follow blueprints and plans, lay out jobs to be done, cut and bend materials, operate an oxy-acetylene torch, shielded metal arc, flux core arc, and do mig and tig welding, and certify in the above processes. For certified welders employment opportunities are virtually unlimited. High-paying jobs are open in both heavy and light industry throughout California as well as the nation and the world. As far as can be seen in the future, the job market for certified welders will be excellent. After completion of the program, students will be prepared to take the Welder Certification test. Students who complete the program can also receive a Certificate in Welding Technology Level I, a Certificate in Welding Technology Level II, a Certificate in Welding Technology Level III, and a Certificate of Achievement and may elect to earn an Associate's degree in Welding Technology. Admission to the Program: The prerequisites to the Welding Technology program are completion of WLD 20 and WLD 21. The program is currently impacted. Contact the Department to start the process and paperwork that is required for this program. Please visit the Welding Technology Departments home page: http://www.butte.edu/departments/careertech/welding/weldingapplication.html. Estimated expenses average about $5,200 - $6,200 for the entire program. This includes tools, books, tuition, and welding qualification documentation (if you pass the welding certification test). Financial aid is available to qualified students.

Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Community of interest: ITAG Industrial Technologies & Agriculture
Award: AS Degree
Program code: 01325.00AS
Department: Welding Tech
CIP code: 48.0508: Welding Technology/Welder.
TOP code: 0956.50 - Welding Technology*

Map Class Schedule

Program Schedule Report Meet with a counselor

Welding Technology

AS Degree

The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2026-27 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

15–20 units

Select one:

Required

3 units

Choose one of 2 choices

BCIS 18
Introduction to Business Technology
3 units
course details
This course is an examination of information and communication technologies used in today's businesses and the impact these technologies are having on today's workplaces. The course will include examination and application of a wide range of information and communication technology tools used to support and enhance business functions and processes. Focus will be placed on solving a variety of business problems, improving organizational productivity, and achieving the goals of business.
View full course outline for BCIS 18
+−
CSCI 2
Business and Computer Information Systems
3 units
course details
This course is an examination of information technologies and information systems used in business. It focuses on information systems, database management systems, networking, ethics and security, computer hardware, and software applications and development. It applies these concepts and methods through hands-on projects developing computer-based solutions to business problems. (C-ID ITIS 120).
View full course outline for CSCI 2
+−

General Education: Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

General Education: Area 2

Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.

General Education: Area 5

Physical and Biological Sciences

The physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena — astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physics — taught alongside the scientific method that makes them work.

General Education: Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Term 2

Class Schedules

15–16 units

AB 54

Supervision and Management in Agriculture

3 units

This course introduces students to the knowledge and skills relevant to the supervisor in agricultural business. Topics include the regulatory requirements relevant to labor management in agriculture and effective communication with native and non-native English speakers. The course will include case studies on labor management, human relations, public relations, production control techniques and job analysis.

View full course outline for AB 54

BUS 25

Introduction to Entrepreneurship

3 units

This course covers the practical considerations, challenges and rewards associated with starting and operating a small business. The course explores how to identify small business opportunities; the factors influencing entrepreneurial success; and financing, marketing, managing, record-keeping and computer applications to support small business operations. Each student will identify a business opportunity, then create a detailed business plan.

View full course outline for BUS 25

General Education: Area 1B

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.

General Education: Area 3

Arts and Humanities

How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.

General Education: Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.

Term 3

Class Schedules

18 units

WLD 22

Oxyacetylene Welding and Flame Cutting

2 units

This course includes the techniques used for oxyacetylene welding (OAW) in all positions (flat, vertical, horizontal and overhead) and uses a variety of freehand and automatic burning equipment on different metals.

Prerequisite: WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification

View full course outline for WLD 22

WLD 24

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick Electrode)

8 units

This course includes pre-employment training for welding technicians. Emphasis on developing manipulative proficiency in the use of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux core arc welding (FCAW), in the flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions. These welding processes will be applied to light and heavy gauge plate steel for light construction. Part of the Level Two welder qualification for American Welding Society (AWS).

Prerequisite: WLD 21 and NCCER Level Welding I Qualification

View full course outline for WLD 24

WLD 25

Fabrication Practicums

2 units

This course will instruct students on theory, proper operation, and applications of manual and CNC equipment, tools, fasteners, and processes used in welding and fabrication industries. Emphasis is placed on hands-on applications.

Prerequisite: WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification

View full course outline for WLD 25

WLD 26

Symbol Reading, Blue Print Interpretation and Computations

3 units

This course includes an introduction to blueprint reading and welding symbols interpretation as applied to measurement and computations of metal and pipe layouts. Included within the course are layout and marking tool techniques used in the welding industry. Techniques of fabrication, structured materials listing and assembly methods will be emphasized.

Prerequisite: WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification

View full course outline for WLD 26

WLD 40

Welding Equipment Maintenance and Service

2 units

This course is a study of the theory, application and practices for welding equipment. This will include the maintenance and service skills for the equipment used in the welding industry.

Prerequisite: WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification

View full course outline for WLD 40

WLD 154

Shop Practices for Welders I

1–2 units

This is a supervised lab experience for first semester welding program students. Students will practice skills in oxyacetylene welding (OAW), oxy-fuel cutting (OFC), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux core arc welding (FCAW) in all positions (flat, vertical, horizontal and overhead). Students will also use a variety of freehand and automatic burning equipment including plasma arc cutting (PAC) units and air carbon arc cutting and gouging (CAC-A) units. This course may be repeated to a maximum of 2.00 units to complete the entire curriculum of the course. Pass/No Pass only. Open Entry/Open Exit.

Prerequisite: WLD 21 and NCCER Level I Welding Qualification

Corequisite: WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40

View full course outline for WLD 154

Term 4

Class Schedules

3 units

WLD 50

Pipe Fitting and Cutting

2 units

This course assists students in pipe fitting, measurements, patterns, marking and layout tools used in the pipe welding industry. Techniques of fitting and cutting various pipe joint designs will be practiced.

Prerequisite: WLD 22, WLD 24, WLD 25, WLD 26, WLD 40, WLD 154 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification

View full course outline for WLD 50

WLD 99

Work Experience-WLD

0.5–8 units

Work experience is an experiential course where students apply what they have learned in the classroom to a work environment. The course offers students the opportunity to develop technical skills, explore possible career choices, build confidence, network with people in the field, and transition into the world of work. Work experience may include paid or unpaid employment. Students may earn one semester unit of college credit in this course for every fifty-one hours of work experience. Students may enroll in this course up to 8 unit(s) to complete the entire curriculum of the course. A maximum of sixteen units can be earned in work experience courses during a student’s enrollment with Butte College.

Prerequisite: Permission of Work Experience Education instructor and employment supervisor

View full course outline for WLD 99

Term 5

Class Schedules

22 units

WLD 28

Mig and Tig Arc Welding

3 units

This course includes the gas metal arc welding (GMAW)/metal inert gas (MIG), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)/tungsten inert gas (TIG) and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) processes, in the flat, vertical, horizontal, and overhead positions. It will also include safety procedures, electrode identification, joint fit-up and alignment, base metal preparation, weld quality, and beads, with a focus on theory and practice.