Fundemental Engineering
Course Description
The FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam is the first step in the process of becoming a licensed professional engineer (PE). It is a computer-based exam administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers. You can learn more about FE exam through the following links.
This course compares to the reference of : FE Exam Review Courses & PrepFE
This comprehensive course covers essential principles and practices across a wide range of engineering disciplines. It is designed for students and professionals who seek to deepen their understanding of engineering fundamentals, advanced mathematical techniques, and modern technological systems. The curriculum includes key topics such as Mathematics, Probability & Statistics, Circuit Analysis, Power Systems, and Software Engineering, providing a solid foundation for various engineering fields, including Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Systems. Students will gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills through detailed explanations, problem-solving exercises, and real-world applications.
Curriculum
This Chapter simplifies key mathematical concepts essential for engineering and technical applications. It covers:
- Algebra and Trigonometry: Solving equations and understanding trigonometric identities.
- Complex Numbers: Basic operations and their use in engineering.
- Discrete Mathematics: Basics of sets, logic, and relations.
- Analytic Geometry: Concepts like straight lines and quadratic surfaces.
- Calculus: Covering derivatives, integrals, and multivariable functions.
- Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs): Solving ODEs for real-world problems.
- Linear Algebra: Introduction to matrices and linear equations.
- Vector Analysis: Operations and engineering applications.
This Chapter simplifies the key concepts of Engineering Probability and Statistics, including:
- Measures of Central Tendencies and Dispersions: Mean, median, mode, variance, and standard deviation.
- Probability Distributions: Overview of normal, binomial, and conditional probabilities.
- Expected Value: Understanding weighted averages.
- Laws of Probability: Fundamental laws and set operations.
- Combinatorics: Permutations and combinations.
- Propagation of Error: Managing uncertainties in calculations.
- Linear Regression and Goodness of Fit: Analyzing data trends and model accuracy.
- Hypothesis Testing and Confidence Intervals: Making inferences from sample data.
- Statistical Quality Control: Ensuring product and process quality.
This Chapter simplifies the essential topics of Ethics and Professional Practice. Key areas include:
- Codes of Ethics: Reviews ethical principles for engineers, focusing on integrity and professionalism as outlined by the NCEES.
- Intellectual Property: Explains the basics of copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets in engineering.
- Safety: Highlights workplace safety practices to protect engineers and the public.
This Chapter simplifies the key concepts of Engineering Economics, covering essential financial principles needed to make informed decisions. Topics include:
- Time Value of Money: Explains how the value of money changes over time, covering basics like present value and future value.
- Cost Estimation: Breaks down how to estimate costs for projects, including capital, operating, and maintenance costs.
- Risk Identification: Teaches how to spot and assess risks that could impact project success.
- Economic Analysis: Reviews methods like cost-benefit analysis and break-even analysis to evaluate project options.
This Chapter simplifies the key concepts of Electrical Material Properties, including:
- Semiconductor Materials: Covers tunneling, diffusion/drift current, energy bands, doping, and p-n junction theory, essential for understanding diodes and transistors.
- Electrical Properties: Reviews conductivity, resistivity, permittivity, magnetic permeability, and noise, and how they affect electrical circuits.
- Thermal Properties: Explains thermal conductivity and thermal expansion, important for heat management in electronic systems.
This Chapter simplifies the key concepts of Circuit Analysis, covering both DC and AC steady state, including:
- Kirchhoff's Laws (KCL and KVL): Understanding current and voltage relationships in circuits.
- Series and Parallel Equivalent Circuits: Techniques for simplifying circuit analysis.
- Thevenin and Norton Theorems: Methods to reduce complex circuits to simpler equivalents.
- Node and Loop Analysis: Systematic approaches for circuit analysis using nodal and mesh techniques.
- Waveform Analysis: Key characteristics like RMS values, averages, frequency, phase, and wavelength.
- Phasors and Impedance: Representation of AC signals with phasors and calculating impedance.
This Chapter covers essential topics in Linear Systems, Including:
- Frequency/Transient Response: Analyzing how systems respond to different frequencies and how they behave over time during transients.
- Resonance: Understanding the conditions under which systems oscillate at maximum amplitude and its impact on engineering systems.
- Laplace Transforms: Using Laplace transforms to simplify the analysis of linear time-invariant systems, particularly for solving differential equations.
- Transfer Functions: Deriving transfer functions to describe the input-output relationship of systems, including the analysis of RC and RL transients.
This Chapter breaks down key Signal Processing concepts, covering essential topics for effective understanding in engineering, including:
- Sampling: Understanding aliasing and the Nyquist theorem (refer to page 225 for details).
- Analog Filters: Explains filter circuits used to process continuous signals (pages 225-377).
- Digital Filters: Introduction to difference equations and Z-transforms (pages 225-377) for digital signal processing.
- Analog-to-Digital Conversion: Grasping essentials of analog-to-digital conversion.
- Convolution, Pulse-Amplitude Modulation (PAM), and Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM): Key signal processing concepts.
This Chapter reviews key Electronics topics essential for effective understanding in engineering, including:
- Discrete Devices: Models, biasing, and performance of diodes, transistors, and thyristors (solid-state electronics).
- Amplifiers: Analysis of single-stage/common emitter amplifiers and differential amplifiers (pages 382-383).
- Operational Amplifiers: Overview of ideal and non-ideal operational amplifiers and their applications.
- Instrumentation: Focus on measurements, data acquisition, and transducers (page 220).
- Power Electronics: Discussion on rectifiers, inverters, and converters.
This Chapter helps you solidify your knowledge of electronics:
- Power Theory: Exploring power factor, single-phase and three-phase systems, and voltage regulation.
- Transmission and Distribution: Understanding real and reactive power losses, system efficiency, voltage drop, and delta vs. wye connections.
- Transformers: Detailed coverage of single-phase and three-phase transformers, including reflected impedance and connection methods.
- Motors and Generators: Overview of synchronous, induction, and DC motors and generators, including their operating principles and applications.
This Chapter covers the key concepts in Electromagnetics, including:
- Electrostatics and Magnetostatics: Understanding spatial relationships and vector analysis, covering electric and magnetic fields, voltage, and resistivity.
- Electrodynamics: Exploring Maxwell's equations and wave propagation, fundamental to understanding the behavior of electromagnetic fields.
- Transmission Lines: Focus on high-frequency transmission lines and the analysis of lossless transmission lines, which is essential for power and communication systems.
This Chapter the fundamental topics in Control Systems, including:
- Block Diagrams: Explanation of feedforward and feedback control systems, along with block diagram reduction techniques.
- Bode Plots: Understanding frequency response analysis using Bode plots to evaluate system stability and performance.
- Open-Loop and Closed-Loop Response: Detailed discussion on the differences between open-loop and closed-loop systems, including stability considerations.
- Controller Performance: Focus on critical performance metrics such as steady-state errors, settling time, and overshoot, providing insight into system behavior and tuning.
This Chapter provides a detailed review of fundamental communication concepts relevant for effective understanding in engineering, :
- Modulation and Demodulation Concepts: Overview of amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), and pulse-code modulation (PCM), including how signals are modulated and demodulated for transmission and reception.
- Fourier Transforms/Fourier Series: Understanding how signals are transformed between the time and frequency domains using Fourier transforms and series, crucial for analyzing and synthesizing signals.
- Multiplexing Techniques: Explanation of various multiplexing methods such as time-division multiplexing (TDM), frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), and code-division multiplexing (CDM), which are essential for efficient communication systems.
- Digital Communications: An introduction to digital communication principles, error coding, and how digital signals are processed for reliable data transmission.
In this Chapter we explore the critical concepts of Computer Networks,that includes:
- Routing and Switching: Overview of network routing protocols and switching techniques used to direct data across various networks.
- Network Topologies: Explanation of common topologies such as mesh, ring, and star, highlighting their advantages and applications.
- Network Types: A look at different network types, including Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and the internet, emphasizing their use cases.
- Network Models: An in-depth discussion on the OSI and TCP/IP models, focusing on how data is transmitted across different layers.
- Network Intrusion Detection and Prevention: Introduction to firewalls, endpoint detection, and network intrusion prevention tools for safeguarding networks.
- Security: Detailed focus on network security methodologies, including port scanning, network vulnerability testing, and penetration testing.
This Chapter covers essential concepts of Digital Systems, Including:
- Number Systems: Introduction to binary, decimal, octal, and hexadecimal systems, along with their conversions.
- Boolean Logic: Discussion on Boolean algebra and its application in simplifying logic circuits.
- Logic Gates and Circuits: Exploration of fundamental logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, etc.) and their use in creating complex circuits.
- Logic Minimization: Techniques for minimizing logic expressions using SOP, POS, and Karnaugh maps.
- Flip-Flops and Counters: Overview of different types of flip-flops and their applications in designing counters and memory elements.
- Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs): Explanation of PLDs and gate arrays, with a focus on their role in digital system design.
- State Machine Design: Introduction to the design of state machines and their applications in controlling sequential logic circuits.
- Timing: Analysis of timing diagrams, asynchronous inputs, and how to avoid race conditions and hazards in digital circuits.
This Chapter covers a detailed review of key topics in Computer Systems. The primary focus include:
- Microprocessors: Understanding the architecture and functioning of microprocessors, including concepts like the Harvard architecture and multicore processing.
- Memory Technology and Systems: Overview of different types of memory and storage, including volatile and non-volatile memory, and their roles in computing systems.
- Interfacing: Examination of how microprocessors interact with peripheral devices through various interfacing techniques.
This Chapter covers essesntial topics in Software Engineering. The key areas of the focus include:
- Algorithms: A comprehensive review of common algorithms, such as sorting and searching, along with discussions on complexity analysis and Big-O notation.
- Data Structures: Detailed explanations of different data structures, including lists, trees, vectors, arrays, and their applications in solving engineering problems.
- Software Implementation: A walkthrough of programming concepts, including iteration, recursion, conditionals, control flow, scripting, and software testing techniques.
Objectives
By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand mathematical principles fundamental to engineering, including advanced calculus and probability theory.
- Analyze and solve statistical problems that impact real-world engineering scenarios.
- Demonstrate knowledge of ethics and professional responsibilities in engineering practice.
- Apply engineering economic principles for decision-making and cost-benefit analysis in projects.
- Identify properties of electrical materials and their applications in various technologies.
- Perform circuit analysis and understand the principles of linear and non-linear systems.
- Explore signal processing techniques and their applications in communications and control systems.
- Understand key concepts in electronics and power systems, including components, systems, and analysis techniques.
- Master electromagnetics and control systems for practical applications in communications and robotics.
- Study communications and networking systems for the efficient design of computer networks.
- Apply knowledge of digital and computer systems in designing and optimizing hardware and software solutions.
- Develop software engineering skills through structured programming and system design techniques.