Fire up your career in welding - Fall and Spring start options available now!
Career Area: Engineering, Manufacturing & Trades
Program: Welding Technology
Campus(es): Winona
Major Details
Fire up your career in 9 short months with a diploma in welding technology, or in just 7 months if you take our Spring/Summer accelerated program.
As a skilled welder, you'll enjoy a career where every day is different -- and you'll be paid very well for your efforts! Employers in Southeast Minnesota and nearby Wisconsin are looking for people with welding skills. Statewide, the need for welders is expected to increase by more than 6% between 2022-2032. The median salary in Minnesota is about $55,000, but experienced welders can make much more.
From day one in the Welding Technology diploma at Southeast in Winona, you'll be getting hands-on experience in the welding shop. The program begins with training in safety and the proper handling of tools and shop supplies. Over the course of the year, our students become skilled in several welding and cutting processes in a variety of positions, including:
(OFW) oxy-fuel welding and cutting
(SMAW) stick welding
(GMAW) mig welding
(GTAW) tig welding
Students also learn the proper set up and selection of welding equipment and how to read and perform duties from weld shop blueprints. Since quality is critical, you'll also learn how to inspect your welds to meet today's standards and specifications.
All students must complete a welding capstone, designing a project from concept on through completion. Plus, there's an option to take an elective on-the-job internship, which can help with finding future employment.
Finally, you'll gain the skill to properly set up, complete, and pass a welding bend test to AWS (American Welding Society) D1.1 standards. With your diploma and this credential, you'll have the skills needed to enter today's welding workforce.
Apply now for admission to Minnesota State College Southeast
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Total Credits Required for this Major: 34
Cost
| Approximate Tuition/Fees: | $8,052 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Tool Cost: | $450 |
| Books/Supplies: | $480 |
| Estimated Total: | $8,982 |
Career Opportunities
Production manufacturing welder
Structural design welder
Custom fabrication
Specialized welding machine operator
Cutter, pipe fitter
Construction welding
Heavy equipment welder
And much more!
Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, and much more in this career field.
Outcomes
Program graduates will be able to:
Demonstrate safety in the weld shop.
Read weld shop blueprints.
Identify the correct weld procedures.
Demonstrate the proper use of machines and equipment.
Properly inspect welds.
Pass a certification test D1.1 AWS.
Demonstrate workplace reliability and attendance.
Highlights
Safety first! Learn correct use of personal safety equipment and apparel and how to protect against injury
Get hands-on experience in the welding lab from day one
Learn a wide range of welding processes needed by today's employers
Rigorous classroom standards will prepare you for employer expectations
Instructors
Casey Mann
Casey Mann is a 1982 graduate of Winona Technical College (now Minnesota State College Southeast). Prior to becoming an instructor at MSC Southeast in 2003, he had 27 years of experience in family-owned shops, large scale fabrication shops, and road crews. Casey has project management experience on multi-million dollar projects that have been shipped throughout the world.