Essential Information
New York State schools offer woodworking programs that focus on areas ranging from carpentry and construction to furniture building and sculpture. Individuals may choose from programs leading to certificate, associate's or bachelor's degrees. While cabinetmaking and carpentry programs use wood as a main material, construction, visual art, and design programs use wood and a variety of other materials, including those used in building edifices. Students will complete building and design projects; some programs include the opportunity to complete an internship.
Find below more detailed information about the programs in woodworking available in New York, the schools that offer them, and a comparison table with institutions' tuition costs.
Buffalo State SUNY
The Design Department at this Buffalo university offers both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in wood/furniture design. All students start off in the B.S. program. After completing foundational courses in drawing, 2- and 3-D design, contemporary art, fibers, art history, ceramics and jewelry making, students can stay in the B.S. program or apply to the BFA program by submitting a portfolio for review. Common courses for both programs include those in wood design, computer 3-D modeling and technical processes in wood. Students also complete studio hours working on wood projects. BFA students take additional electives and complete an extra studio project or a woodworking internship. Students majoring in another area can minor in wood/furniture design.
Mohawk Valley Community College
The certificate program in carpentry and masonry is offered at the Rome and Utica campuses of this community college. Designed for students interested in the construction trade, the program offers carpentry and woodworking classes that teach students about construction materials, wood framing techniques, wall building, tool use, roof design, door installation, sound insulation and safety procedures. Included in the curriculum is a course in basic woodworking, which provides students with instruction about woodworking tools, including planers, saws and lathes. This course also offers some information about furniture design and construction. Students in the certificate program have the opportunity to work in a fully equipped woodshop.
Morrisville State College
Students can choose from two concentrations in the associate degree program in wood products technology at this Morrisville school. Those interested in opening cabinet shops may select the furniture production and business concentration, while those interested in construction or wood product building may prefer the finish carpentry option. Students begin the program by taking courses in computer-aided design (CAD), building materials and estimations, wood engineering, lumber grading, furniture design, lumber manufacturing and light framing. Later coursework covers wood seasoning and preservation, plumbing, laminates, secondary wood processing, glues and wood finishes. The program is run by five faculty members.
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
This college, located in Delhi, offers certificate and associate degree programs related to carpentry, cabinetmaking and construction technology. Two associate degree programs in carpentry prepare workers for entry-level employment in the construction industry. Course topics include construction plans and specifications, finish carpentry, OSHA construction, light framing, woodworking, residential remodeling and cabinet construction. There is also a yearlong cabinetmaking certificate program that covers design, joinery, residential millwork, woodworking, cabinet construction, woodcarving and computer-aided design. Finally, the college offers an associate degree program in construction technology that focuses on general training in building, planning and estimating. Courses in the program that are related to woodworking include wood frame construction and construction materials.
The New School
The product design program at this school in New York City has a 4,000-square-foot woodshop area with woodworking tools, vacuums and other related machinery. Although the bachelor's degree program in product design does not focus specifically on woodworking, students are encouraged to use multiple materials for their projects, including wood. Coursework provides instruction in models and prototypes, materials and processes, design, drawing and applied CAD technologies. Students complete a product design internship, which could include furniture design or carpentry.
School Comparison: At a Glance
| School Name | School Type & Setting | Woodworking Classes & Programs Offered | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees 2018-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo State SUNY | 4-year, public school; large city | Minor in Wood/Furniture Design, Bachelor of Science in Wood/Furniture Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Wood/Furniture Design | $8,210 in-state; $17,990 out-of-state* |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | 2-year, public college; small city | Carpentry and Masonry Certificate | $5,266 in-state; $9,636 out-of-state* |
| Morrisville State College | 4-year, public school; distant rural | Associate of Applied Science in Wood Products Technology | $8,670 in-state; $18,720 out-of-state* |
| SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | 4-year, public school; remote area | Cabinetmaking Certificate, Associate of Occupational Studies in Carpentry, Associate of Applied Science in Carpentry, Associate of Applied Science in Construction Technology | $8,360 in-state; $12,330 out-of-state* |
| The New School | 4-year, private college; large city | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design | $49,064* |
Source: *NCES College Navigator