Great Falls College MSU

School type: Public Technical School

Great Falls College Montana State University is a public two-year college in Great Falls. Its limited-enrollment Welding Technology and Fabrication pathway is taught onsite and is structured as stackable credentials: a first-semester Tier 1 Certificate of Technical Studies, a 30-credit Certificate of Applied Science, a third-semester Tier 3 certificate and a 62-credit Associate of Applied Science. The sequence combines welding theory with extensive practical instruction in MIG, TIG, Stick and Flux-Core processes, structural and pipe welding, cutting, blueprint reading, metallurgy, fabrication, repair, CNC plasma work and qualification testing. Current official course descriptions include preparation for AWS-code qualification tests, and the AAS culminates in an AWS D1.1 unlimited-thickness qualification weld.

School-wide Programs

This is the school-wide program catalog. Confirmed locations are listed for each program; programs are not necessarily offered at every campus.

Descriptions, credentials, costs, and schedules are school-level program listings. Confirm current campus schedules, costs, and included fees with the school. Duration is shown in its listed units; credits and training hours are not calendar completion times.

Welding Technology & Fabrication CAS

Credential: CAS
Program cost: $6,625
Processes: MIG, TIG, Stick, Flux-Core, Pipe, Structural, Fabrication
GI Bill: Eligible
Program Length: 30 credit hours
AWS Prep: Available

Price basis, residency, included fees, source and verification date are not recorded.

Schedule: Onsite; two-semester fall/spring sequence

This 30-credit, two-semester Certificate of Applied Science is the first year of Great Falls College's… Read full description

This 30-credit, two-semester Certificate of Applied Science is the first year of Great Falls College's limited-enrollment welding sequence. Students complete welding theory and practical labs, blueprint reading, fabrication, metallurgy and qualification-test preparation. Official course descriptions document MIG and Flux-Core welding in multiple positions, Stick and TIG welding on plate, introductory open-root pipe work in all four major processes, structural fabrication, and oxy-fuel, plasma and carbon-arc cutting. The sequence includes practice toward a limited-thickness qualification test to an AWS welding code.

Confirmed at

Main Campus — Great Falls, MT

Availability sources

Main Campus — availability source

Welding & Fabrication Tier 1

Credential: Certificate of Technical Studies
Program cost: Not listed
Processes: MIG, Flux-Core, Fabrication
GI Bill: Eligible
Program Length: 16 credit hours
AWS Prep: Not listed

Schedule: Onsite; first fall semester

This first-semester, 16-credit Certificate of Technical Studies is the initial stackable award in Great Falls… Read full description

This first-semester, 16-credit Certificate of Technical Studies is the initial stackable award in Great Falls College's welding pathway. Students study technical math, welding fundamentals and theory, blueprint reading and basic fabrication while practicing MIG and Flux-Core welding in multiple positions, joint fit-up, plasma and carbon-arc cutting, safety and equipment setup.

Confirmed at

Main Campus — Great Falls, MT

Availability sources

Main Campus — availability source

Welding and Fabrication Tier 3

Credential: Certificate of Technical Studies
Program cost: Not listed
Processes: MIG, TIG, Stick, Flux-Core, Pipe, Structural, Fabrication
GI Bill: Eligible
Program Length: 16 credit hours
AWS Prep: Available

Schedule: Onsite; third fall semester after CAS

This 16-credit Certificate of Technical Studies is earned after the CAS and third semester of the AAS pathway.… Read full description

This 16-credit Certificate of Technical Studies is earned after the CAS and third semester of the AAS pathway. It adds all-position open-root pipe welding with Stick, MIG, Flux-Core and TIG on carbon and stainless steel, CNC plasma-table work, repair and maintenance welding, advanced welding-code qualification practice and either an internship or introductory business course.

Confirmed at

Main Campus — Great Falls, MT

Availability sources

Main Campus — availability source

Welding Technology and Fabrication AAS

Credential: AAS
Program cost: $10,874
Processes: MIG, TIG, Stick, Flux-Core, Pipe, Structural, Fabrication
GI Bill: Eligible
Program Length: 62 credit hours
AWS Prep: Available

Price basis, residency, included fees, source and verification date are not recorded.

Schedule: Onsite; four-semester sequence; 2026-27 second-year classes generally 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

The 62-credit Associate of Applied Science completes Great Falls College's four-semester welding sequence. In… Read full description

The 62-credit Associate of Applied Science completes Great Falls College's four-semester welding sequence. In addition to the CAS and Tier 3 skills, students practice advanced TIG and Stick combinations on pipe, MIG and TIG on aluminum, repair welding, CNC plasma work, advanced blueprints, weld testing and a major fabrication capstone. The official outcomes require producing an unlimited-thickness qualification weld to AWS D1.1 and planning, cutting, fitting, welding and assembling projects to specified tolerances.

Confirmed at

Main Campus — Great Falls, MT

Availability sources

Main Campus — availability source

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