Fundamentals of Engineering Examination and Enhancing Student Performance

Graduating students, in the present global economic environment/job market, face increasing difficulty and scrutiny while trying to secure their first engineering positions in the job market. Among the many entry-level requirements, employers are increasing mindful of a student’s licensure potential. While favorable for the majority of engineering disciplines, civil and environmental engineering graduates are all but required to secure this certification prior to job placement. In an effort to increase student performance on this crucial examination, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Civil Engineering developed a FE style review course for graduating seniors in 2009. The student performance on the FE test (before and after implementation of the FE style review course) are highlighted. This paper will explore the ramification of this continuing effort and offer comparisons of pre/post course treatment. Furthermore, lessons learned and a perspective on student motivations will be highlighted.