Carpentry Technology
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About Carpentry Technology
The Carpentry Technology program provides carpentry students with a positive and professional experience. By using the most up-to-date equipment and the newest technology, program faculty strive to always run parallel with the present-day building industry. Students receive two years of excellent training that sufficiently prepares them for the residential and light commercial construction workforce.
What you’ll learn
- Write clear, concise, legible, and accurate technical reports and be skilled in oral communication related to the construction industry.
- Demonstrate the basic manipulative skills of the trade that are necessary in laying out work, planning, erecting, and framing.
- Interpret and prepare plans, drawings, codes and specifications, lines, symbols, and abbreviations on working drawings or blueprints.
- Analyze specifications and contract drawings as well as make accurate quantity take-offs and labor estimations to develop an estimated construction cost for a building project.
- Demonstrate the ability to lay out and erect a platform or western frame structure.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge and skill in masonry and in the concrete construction trade.
- Describe various types of materials and methods available to the construction trade.
- Describe business organization, financing, labor relations, selling, pricing, customer service, management, and other business principles.
- Describe the complexity of the building construction industry, the interrelationships of the various trades, and methods of communication and coordination among all trades and professions within the industry.
- Encourage the practice of staying current with any new technology or codes related to the building industry.
Sample Job Titles
Assembler, Bridge Carpenter, Bridge Repair Crew Person, Cabinet Maker, Carpenter, Concrete Carpenter, Construction Worker, Form Carpenter, Framer, Rough Carpenter
Essential Skills Needed
This program requires a variety of foundational skills for students to thrive. Click the button below to view the full list of essential skills you’ll need before enrolling.
Quick facts
Location
Leonard Building, Main Campus
Type of program
Associate Degree
Job/Salary Outlook
See industry data
Length of program
2 years, 73 credits
Cost of program
$4,500/semester tuition
$3,105 – $3,623/semester housing
$1,915 – $2,417/semester meal plan
Tool List (PDF)
Program details
Courses
MODEL SCHEDULE FOR CARPENTRY TECHNOLOGY
Semester 1
- CARP 106 Hand Tools and Power Tools (3 credits)
- CARP 111 Building Materials (3 credits)
- CARP 116 Site Work and Foundations I (3 credits)
- CARP 182 Construction Drawings & Blueprint Reading (3 credits)
- ENG 106 English Composition I (3 credits)
- MATH 126 Technical Math I (or Higher Level Math) (3 credits)
Semester 2
- CARP 157 Floor, Wall, and Ceiling Framing (3 credits)
- CARP 161 Stair Construction (2 credits)
- CARP 166 Roof Framing and Materials (3 credits)
- CARP 178 Exterior and Interior Finish (4 credits)
- MATH 132 Geometry (or Higher Level Math) (3 credits)
- CIS 111 Intro to Computer Application (3 credits)
Semester 3
- CARP 208 Floor Construction (3 credits)
- CARP 209 Wall Construction (3 credits)
- CARP 218 Roof Construction (3 credits)
- CARP 219 Thermal Insulation (1 credit)
- CARP 222 Exterior Finish and Trim (2 credits)
- English Elective (recommend Eng 216 or Eng 221) (3 credits)
- General Education Elective (3 credits)
Semester 4
- CARP 227 Drywall Installation and Finish (2 credits)
- CARP 257 Stair Trim (2 credits)
- CARP 267 Interior Finish and Trim (3 credits)
- CARP 272 Site Work and Foundations II (2 credits)
- CARP 276 Residential Remodeling (3 credits)
- Science Elective (3 credits)
- Humanities Elective (3 credits)
Additional General Education Requirements
- Health/PE Elective (1 credit)
- Elective General Studies Elective (3 credits)
Total Credits 73
Faculty
Occupational Advisory Committee
The Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) serves as a vital link between the Program of study and industry, ensuring that the program remains aligned with current workforce needs, technological advancements, and best practices in the field. Composed of employers, educators, and other community members, the committee provides guidance, feedback, and recommendations to enhance the curriculum, instructional methods, and student learning experiences.
Purpose and Responsibilities:
- Curriculum & Industry Alignment
- Workforce Readiness
- Student & Faculty Support
- Internship & Employment Connections
- Accreditation & Program Evaluation
- Facilities & Equipment Recommendations
By fostering a strong relationship between academia and industry, the OAC helps ensure that Thaddeus Stevens College programs maintain the highest standards in CTE (career and technical education).
- Heidi Brady, Wohlsen Constructions
- Lorie Grucelski, TK Building & Design
- Jacob Komorowski, Komorowski Construction
- Bill Lastinger, Benchmark Construction Company
- Matt Oswald, Benchmark Construction Company Inc
- Sean Riccardelli, CCS Building Group
- Stephanie Titus, Keystruct Construction
The outcomes speak for themselves
Students receive two years of excellent training that sufficiently prepares them for the residential and light commercial construction workforce. The numbers below are three-year averages across program cohorts.
89%
in-field placement:
jobs in field or
pursuing con’t education
$47.5K
median first-year salary
You can also view Institutional Performance Data here.
People of TSCT
Success stories
Our graduates work with the industry’s best
Soar Agreement
This program enables students to apply certain credits earned in high school to the credits needed for a degree or certificate through Thaddeus Stevens College. The Carpentry Technology degree qualifies for this program – see our SOAR program page for details!