Program Overview

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)

Program Overview

The Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Embedded Technical Diploma program at Madison Area Technical College prepares students for valuable work in welding manufacturing or metal fabrication. Students develop an understanding of interpreting engineering drawings or blueprints, fundamental skills setting up and operating Gas Metal Arc Welding equipment, and math functions used in a welding manufacturing environment.

Program Details

• Program Number:
• Degree: Technical Diploma
• Area of Study: Construction, Manufacturing and Maintenance
• Delivery Method: 100% In Person
• Estimated Time to Complete: 7 Credits | Finish diploma in 1 semester
• Estimated Program Cost: $1,365.56

Curriculum and Experience

• Safety for Industry: 1 credit
• Interpreting Engineering Drawings: 2 credits
• Welding Occupational Development: 1 credit
• Basic Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG): 2 credits
• Math for Metal Fabrication: 1 credit

Admission

• To Apply: Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities.
• Application Dates:
  • Fall 2025: Application open, Application completion deadline is November 15, 2025
  • Spring 2026: Application open, Application completion deadline is April 15, 2026
• Admission Requirements:
  • 1. Admission Application: The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
  • 2. Education Completion: Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
    • High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED completion
    • College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale

Career Outcomes

Earning your Embedded Technical Diploma in Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work as:

• Maintenance Welder
• Qualified Welder
• Structural Welder
• Welder/Fabricator
• Production Welder
• Ironworker Apprentice
• Steamfitter Apprentice

Graduate Summary

• Number of Program Graduates: 37 (2022), 43 (2023), 47 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Sent: 37 (2022), 43 (2023), 47 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Returned: 9 (2022), 26 (2023), 26 (2024)
• Percent of Surveys Returned: 24.3% (2022), 60.5% (2023), 55.3% (2024)
• Available for Employment: 1 (2022), 20 (2023), 17 (2024)
• Percent Available for Employment: 11.1% (2022), 76.9% (2023), 65.4% (2024)

Graduate Employers

• Employer(s): Burke Truck & Equipment, DRM Industries, Food Process Systems, Graber Manufacturing, North American Mechanical Inc, Plastic Ingenuity Inc, Space Saver Company, Trachte Building Systems Inc, United Alloy
• Job Title: Welder/Fabricator, Welder, Tig Welder/Fabricator, Welder, Pipe Shop Welding Assistant, Fabricator, Welder
• City: Burke, Barboo, Lodi, Waunakee, Windsor, Cross Plains, Fort Atkinson, Sun Prairie, Janesville
• State: WI

Related Programs

• Welding
• Welding Fundamentals
• Metal Fabrication