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Whether you want to earn a degree, improve your skills, get certified, train for a new career, or explore a new hobby, you can choose from many programs and courses.

Get Started
What type of student are you? New Student Returning Transfer Visiting International College Credit Plus Non-Credit All Student Types

Classes & Programs

Explore your interests and find a program that puts you on the path to a bright future. Tri-C offers both credit and non-credit courses as well as certificate programs in most career fields.

View all

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More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

View A-Z Program List

Workforce Training & Professional Development

Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

Learn more

Community Programming for Adults & Youth

Tri-C offers a variety of affordable and convenient community programs for both adults and youth. These programs are designed to promote individual development.

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Industrial Welding

Welding Program Overviews Introductory Welding - Short-Term Certificate Industrial Welding - Certificate of Proficiency Industrial Welding - Associate of Applied Science Welding Technology - Short-Term Certificate Non-Destructive Testing Course Robotic Welding Course Structural Fabrication Course
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Industrial Welding - Associate of Applied Science

Industrial Welding
Academic School: Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Computer Science

Area of Study: Industrial Welding
Degree/Certificate: Associate of Applied Science
Academic School: Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Computer Science

Program Sequence Program Outcomes
Cost of Attendance Apply to Tri-C

A welding associate degree is different from a welding certificate. It provides a more comprehensive education, including not only practical welding skills but also theoretical knowledge about welding processes, safety procedures, material science and industry standards, often with additional coursework in fabrication and related manufacturing practices. This allows graduates to pursue more advanced welding positions and potentially supervisory roles compared to those with just a certificate. Essentially, an associate degree offers a deeper understanding of the welding field beyond just hands-on techniques. 

Key differences:

  • Depth of knowledge: A welding associate degree covers a wider range of welding techniques, materials and industry regulations, while a certificate usually focuses on specific welding processes for a particular job role. 
  • General education: An associate degree typically includes general education courses in addition to welding-specific training, while a certificate program is primarily focused on practical welding skills. 
  • Career opportunities: An associate degree can open doors to more advanced welding positions like welding inspector, fabrication specialist or supervisory roles within a welding company, whereas a certificate may primarily qualify someone for entry-level welding jobs. 

What's covered? 

  • Welding techniques: Students learn how to weld different types of alloys.
  • Equipment: Students learn how to use various welding equipment and machinery.
  • Blueprints: Students learn how to read blueprints.
  • Codes: Students learn how to understand welding codes.
  • Fabrication: Students learn how to fabricate metal.
  • Shielding gases: Students learn how to use different shielding gases.

What's required? 

  • Students should have mechanical ability and good hand-eye coordination.
  • Students should be comfortable using power tools, such as a grinder.
  • Students should be prepared for the heat and standing for prolonged periods.

How long does it take? 

  • Associate degree programs usually take two years to complete.

Program highlights:

  • Earn multiple national certifications: Stand out in the industry with credentials that open doors.
  • State-of-the-art welding lab: Train in our cutting-edge welding lab on equipment from Lincoln Electric.
  • Fabrication project: Complete a complex fabrication project using the skills you gain.
  • Learn robotic welding: Learn fundamental skills associated with the operation and programming of robotic welding machines.
  • Job placement assistance: Get help finding open positions in the welding industry.

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including but not limited to the accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability or ownership.

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How to reach us

Manufacturing Technology Center
2415 Woodland Ave
Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Gwendolyn Cox, Program Coordinator
gwendolyn.cox@tri-c.edu
216-987-3064

Stephen Smereczynsky, Director of Advanced Manufacturing
stephen.smereczynsky@tri-c.edu
216-987-3040

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