Carpentry
A.A.S. - Occupational Degree
Provides graduates with the essential skills required of an entry level employee in the carpentry industry. Program curriculum is aligned with National Center for Construction Education Research standardized national skills standards for the construction trades.
Program Purpose
Graduates will demonstrate basic knowledge in carpentry that will prepare them to obtain an entry level position within the field and critical thinking skills in AWC’s General Education focus areas.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and explain safe use of power tools that are widely used in the construction industry, i.e. drills, saws, grinders, and sanders (NCCER module 00103-09 – Introduction to Hand Tools, subject to revision).
- Describe equipment, theory, techniques, and related construction standards.
- Demonstrate ability to use plans and specifications to determine quantities required to prepare a contract bid.
- Demonstrate the use and care of foundations and framing instruments and tools.
- Demonstrate an understanding of interior and exterior wall systems including blocking, bracing, and erection for each type of system.
- Design footing, stem wall, column, and deck form systems.
- Demonstrate the principals of efficient written and oral communications.
Program Map
Recommended Program Map / Program Requirements
This program map has been updated for new students starting in Fall 2025 (or after). Students following previous catalogs can find corresponding program maps in Self-Service/Student Planning. For official requirements, refer to the AWC Catalog.
The recommended plan below meets all program requirements. If the classes listed as recommended don’t align with your schedule or interests, alternative options are available. Visit Academic Planning to get started on your personalized Academic Plan or schedule an appointment with your Faculty Advisor or the Advisement Services Office.
First Semester: Fall
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM 105 | Blueprint Reading for Construction | 3 | Major Requirement |
| CTM 123 | Building Construction Methods 1 | 3 | Major Requirement |
| TEC 100 | Core Curriculum Introductory Craft Skills | 5 | Major Requirement |
| ENG 101 or ENG 107 |
Freshman Composition I/GE | 3 | GE-Written Communication |
| POS 130 | State & Local Politics/GE (recommended) or another course from Institutions in the Americas |
3 | GE-Institutions in the Americas |
| 17 |
Second Semester: Spring
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM 110 | Construction Estimating | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| CTM 124 | Building Construction Methods 2 | 3 | Major Requirement |
| ACR 101 | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 1 | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| SPC 110 | Introduction to Speech Communication (recommended) or another course from Written & Oral Communication |
3 | GE-Written & Oral Communication |
| MAT 105 | Mathematics for Applied Sciences (or higher) | 3 | GE-Quantitative Reasoning |
| 15 |
Third Semester: Fall
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECT 105 | Basic Electricity | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| DFT 100 | AutoCAD 1 - Drafting | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| CTM 224 | Concrete and Concrete Form Systems | 3 | Major Requirement |
| ENT 100 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology/GE (recommended) or another course from Social & Behavioral Sciences |
3 | GE-Social & Behavioral Sciences |
| 15 |
Fourth Semester: Spring
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM 230 | Construction Management Field Operations | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| WLD 106 | Techniques in Shielded Metal Arc Welding | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| TEC 165 | Employee and Occupational Safety | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy/GE (recommended) or another course from Arts & Humanities |
3 | GE-Arts & Humanities |
| ENV 101 | Environmental Science/GE (recommended) or another course from Natural Sciences |
4 | GE-Natural Sciences |
| 16 |