Great Falls College MSU

Certificate of Applied Science Degree

Program Director: Joel Sims
Faculty: Doug Zander, Monte Cobb, Tyler Redding

Program Website

Program Application (Spring 2018 Application available October 2nd & Fall 2018 Application available February 15th)

Gainful Employment Programs Information -- Tier 1 Certificate of Technical Studies

Gainful Employment Programs Information -- CAS Degree

Note: The Welding program is a limited enrollment program. Interested students must apply for entry into the program. An application packet is available here on the GFC MSU catalog website, the Welding program website or Admissions. To be accepted into this program, students must have a qualifying placement assessment score or have completed M 065 within the last 3 years.

This program follows the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum.

Graduates are prepared to:

The mission of the Great Falls College MSU Welding and Fabrication Tier 1 CTS program is to provide regional competent, skilled, and credentialed work force for the welding industry.

• The Welding and Fabrication program prepares students to set up, operate, and use critical thinking skills to trouble shoot a variety of welding equipment.
• The program prepares students to gain the craftsmanship skills, computational skills and problem solving techniques essential to the welding industry.
• Throughout the program, students will develop skills in Oxy fuel cutting (OFC), Plasma arc cutting (PAC, and Carbon arc cutting (CAC-A) processes.
• Skills to industry standards will also be developed in Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW).
• In addition to building craftsmanship skills, students will gain understanding of print reading and welding symbols.
• Students will also work on interpersonal and effective communications skills to be prepared to enter the work place.
• Students will also gain technical literacy skills as they apply to the welding industry.

Graduates are prepared to:

• Meet safety requirements.
• Produce welds in all positions that meet industry standards using the following process(es):
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Will be exposed to:
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Make cuts that meet industry standards in the following process(es):
  • Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC)
  • Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)
  • Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-C)
• Understand the use of measuring instruments and their purpose.
• Understand power sources and current types.
• Interpret welding blueprints and weld symbols.
• Utilize basic welding metallurgy.
• Utilize oral and written communication skills in the workplace, including terminology in the welding industry.