My son is in high school and loves woodworking. Seeing him grow up helping my dad in his wood shop and now seeing what he is doing by himself in the high school’s shop, he definitely has some skills. His shop teacher has told us that there is a demand for quality workers and management personnel that is higher than the number of qualified people to fill these positions. Does anybody know of some quality colleges that offer majors in the woodworking industry. Might any of these schools be hands-on or are they primarily textbook and theory. We would like to start checking into some of these schools if we can learn where they are. Thanks for your help.
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast -
Our favorite articles and videos -
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
where are you? no info on your profile
dan
There are programs all over the country. If he's thinking going into "industry" you might want to check out your community college or technical school. If he's more into fine woodworking and custom work he might want to check out the numerous schools that offer fine woodworking programs.
Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Kansas http://www.pittstate.edu
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has majors for woodworking - School for American Craftsmen. Check them out. This is a very good school. They are also well known for their engineering programs. If you didn't know, they are located in Rochester, NY.
Hope this helps.
-Frank
(RIT) I had a few machines I worked on in there...VERY STRANGE AND... VERY! brilliant folks in that place..I fit in because I was strange.. If you can afford RIT for you son and he has classes he wants.. NO BETTER SCHOOL.. And then if a degree is not necessary for what he wants,, There are MANY woodworking schools you can find in here! I for one would take the woodworking classes offered in here.. IF I HAD THE MONEY and was a BIT younger!EDIT: I'd bet the classes taken are NOT EASY! Make you Learn and have fun AT THE SAME TIME! IF he wants just the Woodworking school and NOT college.. I'd INSIST! INSIST!INSIST! He has to take some sort of business classes ALSO if he wants to make a living at it!
Edited 3/9/2008 12:56 pm by WillGeorge
College of the Redwoods in Northern Calif. has a woodworking program.
Depending on what he want to do, many art/design colleges offer a functional art program, this may be intertwined with a sculpture program. This may not be the route your son wants to take, but it is a path that has many interesting people and unique projects.
Brent
I have been a machinist for over 30+ years like a woodworker but in metal, I have made parts for the GPS, B2 Bomber and Aegis radar systems to name a few..
I would not want my son to be a machinist or woodworker..
I would want he in sales od Medical Goods or Stock & Bonds
I have 30 years in the trade and I bet I dont make as much as some VPs assistant
Edited 3/8/2008 11:38 pm ET by rarebear
There are probably a hundred occupations I could do to make more money. But if I hated the work and had a fistful of $$ I think I'd find life rather unfulfilling. If my son has an aptitude for something and seeks a career in that I think it is my responsibility is to support him as best as I can.
there are many opportunities out there for our kids, and for your son to know what he wants to do and you having the gumption to back him up in HIS chosen direction, is commendable. I am in my first year of working for myself in the woodworking trade, custom furniture, cabinetry, built-ins,etc. I work for a man who makes a lot of money but is constantly not happy with his business. I on the other hand do not make a lot of money, but keep ahead of the bills and really, really enjoy what I do almost every task of every day.
I'm just getting ready to retire at 60 and also worked as a machinist on many of the same projects as you. Ended up working as a moldmaker and tool designer in the end. I managed to "fall into" programming CNC machines and found an aptitude for programming that has served me well.
Dabbled in but never graduated college.
I was lucky to find a woman who believed in the value of hard work. She was better educated than me but in then end we both ended up in the same profession. She with paper and me with experience.
Yes, $$ are a good thing to have, but happiness is much more valuable. Follow your heart, do a good job and don't compromise. These are values my father taught me and I hope every father teaches their children.
Just sayin'...
Not knowing where you are, you might check out Sierra Community College in Rocklin, near Sacramento
http://www.sierra.cc.ca.us/Programs/cte/files/construction_technology.html
Two of the well-known schools are College of the Redwoods in California and Inside Passage in BC.
Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Rio Grande College in Rio Grande Ohio has a program. I believe it's where Lonnie Bird taught a few years back. You can go across the street and visit the Bob Evans farm while you're at it.....mmm pancakes!
Have you looked into the Industrial Arts program at Berea College in Berea, Ky? Berea's a small town in Southeastern Ky (around 10000 people, roughly an hour's drive from Lexington, Ky) but they have a number craftsmen living there in addition to the college.
Beyond what I've said, I can't elaborate on the college or its program. I know the program exists because I grew up in that part of the country. I also have relatives involved in non-woodworking crafts and they go to Berea for shows from time to time.
Good luck with your search.
Phil
Palomar College in San Marcos, CA has an exceptional program. As does Cerritos College in Orange County.
Here is a few from Lie Nielsen's website https://www.lie-nielsen.com/nodes/4221/home-education-interesting-links
Consider talking with the Human Resource manager at some of the companies he might consider a career with. Visit them and get tours of operations? Internships? Summer jobs? What skills/education do they look for? etc.
My father insisted I finish engineering school before becoming a carpenter.I followed his advice,got seduced into getting a well paid job as an engineer,and spent the next 30 years stealing time in the basement,acquiring tools,making mistakes,and one day discovered volume two of fine woodworking.From that day forward I never took a business trip without a woodworking book or magazine.I went to every trade showWhen time permitted I took weekend courses taught by the GIANTS.,every lecture,and avoided tvshows that used staples for assembly.It paid off! Fortunately at 52 I retired and pursued furniture making full time.Go to my wifes website (carolynprue.com)to see some of the over 200 pieces I have made
The Appalachian Center for Craft, https://www.tntech.edu/fine-arts/craftcenter/, is part of Tennessee Tech and offers a BA In woodworking and design.
The OP's son has 3 children and his PHD by now.
“[Deleted]”
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled