Welding
Our mission is to provide comprehensive welding education that blends theoretical knowledge with practical skills, preparing students for successful careers in the welding industry. We are committed to fostering a supportive learning environment, promoting industry best practices, and ensuring our graduates have the expertise and credentials necessary to excel in a dynamic, evolving field.
What It's All About
Welding is not just a career - it's an art form that shapes the world around us. From towering skyscrapers to intricate sculptures, skilled welders bring visions to life, combining creativity with precision. With growing demand across various industries, welding offers not only a stable and rewarding career but also the chance to leave a lasting mark on our society. Embrace the spark and join the NMU Welding community that builds the future, one weld at a time.
Job Outlook
AWS Welder Shortage Statement: The American Welding Society (AWS) estimates there will be a shortage of nearly 400,000 welding operators in the industry by 2024
Programs
Welding Technology
Associate of Applied Science
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Welding Technology is designed to prepare graduates for a career as a welder/fabricator in the construction and manufacturing industries.The program includes hands-on instruction and application of welding and fabrication safety, thermal cutting and welding processes including Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC) Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW ) processes on both plate and pipe. Students gain hands-on experience with sheet metal, structural, and piping fabrication. Students will also receive instruction on welding inspection methods and procedures.
Students have the opportunity to earn an OSHA 30-hour general industry certification, and welding qualifications on carbon and stainless steel plate and pipe.
Students completing this degree must achieve a minimum grade of "C" for each required course in the technical core to meet graduation requirements.
Program Outline
Welding
Certificate
The welding certificate program develops welders for the manufacturing industry. It also prepares students for positions in fabrication facilities such as ore processing plants, paper mills, wood processing plants and marine vessels.
Program Outline
Welding
Minor
Choosing a minor in welding can be a valuable addition to a major degree program, providing practical skills and expanding career opportunities in various industries. With a minor in welding, students gain hands-on experience in joining metals through various welding processes, such as arc welding, gas welding, and TIG welding. This specialized knowledge not only opens doors to careers in manufacturing, construction, and fabrication but also equips students with a versatile skill set that can be applied in fields like automotive, aerospace, and even art.
Program Outline
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What welding and cutting processes will you learn at NMU?
Welding Processes:
- SMAW Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- GTAW Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- GMAW Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Short Circuit and Spray Transfer
- FCAW Flux Core Arc Welding
- FCAW-G Flux Core Arc Welding- Gas Shielded
Thermal Severing
- OFC Oxygen Fuel Cutting and Gouging Manual and Mechanized
- PAC Plasma Arc Cutting and Gouging Manual and Mechanized
- A-CAC Air- Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging Manual
What does a career in welding look like?
In this profession you can expect to weld components in flat, vertical or overhead position, operate safety equipment and use safe work habits. Professionals lay out, position, align and secure parts and configurations prior to assembly using straightedges, combination squares, calipers, and rulers. They examine work pieces for defects and measure work pieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications and must be able to recognize, set up and operate hand and power tools common to the welding trade, such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
The employment outlook for graduates of the welding program is very good. Graduates can expect to find year-round employment in production work, manufacturing and repair and maintenance, as well as in the construction industry. Welding skills also lend themselves to entrepreneurship and some welders go into business for themselves.
What kind of projects will you complete as a part of NMU Welding?
Students complete various weld practicals throughout their coursework as we believe diligent practice and accurate repetition are significant factors in developing welding skills.
Students in the welding program complete many common weld joints such as lap, tee, and outside corner joints in preparation for more advanced welding practicals like out-of-position fillet welds on structural shapes and a variety of position of-groove welds with all processes on a variety of materials.
In the advanced coursework, students apply the skills they have developed to build components from fabrication drawings accurately. Students complete small- and large-scale fabrication projects, including two pressure-tested vessels and two pressure-tested pipe spools, among other fabrication projects, and welded connections. These projects are inspected by American Welding Society certified welding inspector faculty members.
In addition, students have the opportunity to take weld qualification tests on steel and stainless steel plate and pipe materials.
Program Links
- Check if you already have college credit here!
- Student Application for Articulated CTE Credit
The Technology and Occupational Sciences office is at Northern Michigan University's Jacobetti Complex, Room 105.
Phone: 906-227-2190
Email: tos@nmu.edu
Contact Information
Welding Faculty & Staff
Kirk Guckenberg | Assistant Professor
Phone: 906-227-1532
Email: kguckenb@nmu.edu
Yvonne LeMire | Instructor
Phone: 906-227-1536
Email: ylemire@nmu.edu