Take a New Direction with MSC's Welding Program

Looking at a new direction of a better career? Check out the Maricopa Skill Center Welding program!

Welding is the process of joining together (metal pieces or parts) by heating the surfaces to the point of melting using a blowtorch, electric arc, or other means, and uniting them by pressing, hammering, etc. Students in the Welding program can learn various types of processes to prepare them for work in this industry.

Program details: 

Welding is a clock hour program; times for completion vary from 4 to 17.5 months depending on the number and type of processes certificates a student chooses. Day and night classes are available. Students are in class at least five hours a day, Monday-Friday.

What the students learn: 

MSC allows students a unique hands-on approach to learn the skills they will need to use in the welding industry. The program goes hand-in-hand by standards and practices outlined by the American Welding Society. Students have the opportunity to learn four welding processes.

TIG Welder

TIG welding process is where students learn to weld products made of alloys such as aluminum and stainless steel.

ARC Welder

ARC welding process is used to fit and tack metal on construction equipment, pipe systems, automobiles, ships, buildings and bridges.

FLUX-CORE Welder

Flux-Core welding is a process to fit and tack assemblies including construction equipment, pipe systems, ships, buildings, and bridges, using heavier materials.

MIG Welder

MIG welding will teach students how to weld any application using thinner and lighter materials in its construction.

Certificates:

Certificates can be earned in any combination of four processes in welding. Students can earn one certificate or can do a combination of two, three or four. There is also an opportunity if a student chooses to do a three combination of welding processes where they can elect to do an introduction into pipe welding. MSC only offers the intro to pipe welding when the student takes a three-process combination.

After graduation: 

Students can look forward to jobs in large or small shops, manufacturing facilities, marine and watercraft industries and construction sites.

Find out more! Call 602.238.4350. Visit the website.

Public tours are available 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Take a New Direction with MSC's Customer Service Program

Looking for a new direction with your career? Check out the Maricopa Skill Center Customer Service program!  

Students can earn a certificate as a Customer Service Representative. The program will provide training to better handle all types of customers and ensure the student can preform quality service in the business environment.  

Program details: 

Students are in class five hours a day Monday-Friday. It is approximately a six month long course which costs approximately $3,345.00.

What the students learn:

Students learn how to develop their skills as a customer service professional. Students work to improve their communication and listening skills. The course teaches how to respond to the customers needs, as well as grow technical and interpersonal skills to provide constant quality services.

After graduation:

The students can look forward to careers as a customer service representative, account manager, client service representatives or a call service representative. Salaries range from $9.70 to $21.36.

Other Certificate Options:

MSC is also home to a Retail Representative certificate and a Travel and Tourism certificate. The retail certificate will allow students to learn about the retail operations like merchandising, marketing, planning, organization and warehousing.

The certificate takes about seven and half months to complete with an estimated cost of $4,285.00.

The travel and tourism certificate provides students with computer reservation training, along with cruises and travel sales.

The program takes about 10 months with an estimated cost of $5,810.00.

Find out more! 

Talk with a student service specials in enroll in an MSC program. 

Call 602.238.4350. Visit the website.

Public tours are available 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Take a New Direction with MSC's Meat Cutting Program

Looking for a new direction with your career? Check out the Maricopa Skill Center Meat Cutting program!  

Students can earn a certificate as an Apprentice Meat Cutter. The school has an open to the community Butcher Shop & Deli, which students are trained to work in.

Program details: 

Students are in class five hours a day Monday-Friday. It is approximately an eight month long course which costs approximately $4,412.00. Students must be 17.5-years-old to enroll and 18-years-old to work in the industry.

What the students learn:

Students learn how to process meat, pork and poultry while in the class and students are typically cutting their second day of class.

Students learn how to safely use and maintain hand tools and power equipment utilized in the meat cutting industry. Also, students learn how to identify, cut wrap, weigh and display all retail cuts for a meat case.

MSC’s Butcher Shop & Deli on campus provides students with an opportunity to gain hands on experience.

Butcher Shop & Deli:

The Butcher Shop & Deli is open to the community. The Shop is open during business hours Monday-Friday. Students fill the meat counter on Mondays.

The Butcher Shop will also process game. Students get hands on experience learning about processing game. No game is sold in the shop.

For more information, call 602-238-4374.

After graduation:

The students can look forward to careers as a retail meat cutter, retail meat wrapper, wholesale meat cutter or a meat and deli counterperson. Salaries range from $11.96 to $21.39.

Next program start dates: 

May 5^th (Must be enrolled and have taken assessment by March 24^th)

June 2^nd (Must be enrolled and have taken assessment by April 21^st)

Other Certificate Option:

MSC is also home to a Meat Department Helper certificate. The certificate will allow students to assist meat cutters by preparing the meats to be cut; trimming and packaging cuts for retail; stocking, rotating and maintaining meat cases.

Students must be 17.5-years-old to enroll and 18-years-old to work in the industry. The certificate takes about 4 and half months to complete with an estimated cost of $2,548.00.

Find out more! Call 602.238.4350. Visit the website. 

Public tours are available 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Take a New Direction with MSC's Aesthetician Program

Looking at a new direction of a better career? Check out the Maricopa Skill Center Aesthetician program!

What is an aesthetician? An aesthetician is someone who specializes in skin care.

What do aestheticians do? Facials, waxing and makeup are some of the services aestheticians provide.

Where do aesthetician work? Some prospective jobs in aesthetics are at day spas, medical spas, resorts, salons and private practices. Aestheticians can specialize in skin conditions; for example, acne, aging and rosacea. 

What are the requirements to practice aesthetics? Practitioners have passed a state board and received an aesthetician license. The state board exam consists of a 100 question written test and hands on demonstrations.

Aesthetician Program at MSC: 
Students are in school 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. The first half of the day consists of lecture and textbook work. The second half of the day is hands on experience. Students perform the skills learned on mannequins and fellow students. After 16 weeks students move to a clinic setting. 

What students learn: 
Students first learn sanitation and work station set up. Sanitation is the number one priority for the Arizona Board of Cosmetology and very important for the board exam.
Students then move into the basics of a facial. Steps to a facial, the building blocks and protocols like consultation, exfoliation and extraction are learned. Advanced protocols are learned as the course goes on. Students get to hone in on certain techniques as they progress. For example, facial message techniques are something students continue to work on.
After basics are learned students also move onto learn the machines used in facials. Some machines learned are microdermabrasion, ultrasound and high frequency.
Waxing is the next step for students. About a week is spent on each soft and hard wax. After completing this section students usually have a waxing day once a week to continue building skills.
Back treatments are learned next. Students learn how to do mud and body wraps.
Makeup is the final section learned for students. Day, evening and special occasion makeup is taught.
Throughout the course students learn about ingredients and product education to ensure they know what ingredients can be most beneficial to a client. Also throughout the program, students learn the art of retail for aesthetics. Students learn about how to provide customers with the best products for at home use.
“We help you build the foundation of aesthetics,” said Aesthetics Instructor Shala Dveirin.

The Clinic:
After students have completed the first 16 weeks they move to the clinic setting. The school has a salon open to the public. Students in the clinic setting provide facials, waxing, makeup and back treatments to clients. Instructors supervise and receive feed back from clients to make sure students are providing adequate service.
“We want them to go out confidently into the industry,” Shala said. “Everyone comes out ready for state boards.”

Next program start dates: March 24, May 12
*Enrollment & Fiancial Aid process needs to be started approximately six weeks prior to course starting.

Program details: It is a 630 credit hour program that takes approximately six months to complete. Students spend 25 hours a week in the classroom. Estimated cost: $3,882.00. The program is offered at MSC, 1245 E. Buckeye Road, and the Northwest campus, 2931 W. Bell Road.

Find out more! Call MSC 602.238.4350; Northwest Campus 602.392.5000. Visit the aesthetician website. 
Public tours are available 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Program of the Week: Precision Machining

Precision Machining: CNC Machinist 

Imagine having a big piece of metal that can be transformed into an intricate shape, perhaps a tool, or maybe a piece that will connect to form an operating motor. This can all be done with precision machining, which is where machinists work in teams to convert raw materials into durable goods by using computer numerical control (CNC) machines and various tools.

The tools and parts necessary for Precision Machining at Maricopa Skill Center.

The Precision Machining program offered at Maricopa Skill Center provides its classes at GateWay Community College. Students from the Precision Machining program demonstrate the functions of various CNC machines.

CNC Machines

The CNC Lathe and CNC Mill machines can be operated both manually and by the help of a computer. When a student is operating a machine with the help of a computer, a Secure Digital (SD) card is used to encode and process the information to function. 

Student, Jeff Stewart, carefully controls the crank handle for the vertical milling machine.

• CNC Lathe - The cutting tool remains stationary while the metal piece is being turned. This creates round parts running per programmer's code.
• CNC Mill - Compared to the lathe, the cutting tool is moving while the metal piece remains stationary. This creates square parts running per programmer's code.

Student, Andrei Dejanovich, organizes his drills before starting on a project.

Vertical Milling Machine
The functions of this machine are similar to the CNC Mill except that it is controlled and operated manually. While operating this machine, it is crucial to carefully steer the table feed handwheel while the shape is being processed. 

Surface Grinder
A surface grinder is manually operated and is the finishing process that creates a smooth precise finish on flat surfaces. This gives the metal piece a more refined appearance.

The surface grinder (left) and the precise finish of a metal piece (right).

As you can see, CNC machinists possess skills and knowledge of being able to control and program CNC machines. Since these skills are in great demand, CNC machinists become more educated especially with today's advanced technology.

Projects created by CNC students at Maricopa Skill Center.

Stay tuned for the next program highlight: Welding!