At wentworth college in Boston they have a couple of welding classes. Welding 101 is 2 nights a week for 15 weeks. Each class is 3.5 hours long. This 101 class is the prerequisite for the other two classes they have.
Course desciption:
"The fundamentals and essentials of shielded metal arc welding and oxyacetylene gas welding are covered. Students weld all the common joint configurations in the flat and horizontal positions. Each student welds and tests a guided bend specimen according to American Welding Society structural code. Welding theory, brazing, and braze welding are also discussed. In oxyacetylene welding, typical weld joints are fusion welded in guage thickness material. Standard practices are followed in the fabrication of a pressure vessel, which is hydrostatically tested in excess of 2000 lbs per square inch. Both hand and machine cutting of ferrous metals are demonstrated."

Sounds like a great class to learn a lot in but it's $1050.00
It appears that they are the only welding instruction class in town. I say that because I've been looking and haven't found anything else, as well, when I called about registration I was told that the class fills up quickly because there are no other welding instruction courses in the area.

For that much money I could buy a welder, a "how to" book, supplies and scrap metal and just practice in the driveway.

Can some of you welders out there give me an experienced opinion?

Thanks for your input,
--jeremy