Dear Prospective Student:

The faculty and staff appreciate your interest in the Welding Programs at Texas State Technical College Waco and I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about our programs. Currently we offer two welding programs: the one-year Combination Welding program, a two-year Welding Technology Associate Degree program.

The Combination Welding Program is designed to develop the skills needed to enter the job market ready to go to work as a welder. Intense training in the major welding processes of shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, flux core arc, gas tungsten arc, and submerged arc welding are encountered. The three-semester Combination Welding course is supplemented with support courses such as job planning and layout, welding symbols and blueprint reading, introduction to engine lathe, and non-destructive testing. The student receives a Certificate of Completion in Combination Welding upon graduation.

The five-semester Welding Technology Associate Degree program is designed to develop the skills of the major welding processes as well as the technical study of metals. In addition to the welding processes the student will have courses in general psychology, college algebra, composition, humanities, academic elective, job planning and layout, welding symbols and blueprint reading, introduction to metallurgy, welding metallurgy, two courses of nondestructive testing methods, and automated and robotic welding applications. Upon graduation the student will receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Welding Technology.

After graduation from either program the student has the opportunity to enroll in the Advanced Pipe Welding course. This is a thirty-hour per week course designed to develop the skills needed to perform the demanding tasks of the pipe welder. In both programs as well as the Advanced Pipe Welding option the student's lab objectives are designed to meet the requirements of the AWS, ASME, and API welding codes.

We also would like to let you know that the welding industry in Texas is doing very well. As companies are calling in, they are telling us about their potential for future growth and I am happy to say that it is looking good for Texas . The Welding Department does assist in job placement and although we cannot guarantee you employment upon graduation, the likelihood of you going to work is great.

Sincerely,

Frank Wilkins,
Department Chair