Three graduates from NHTI’s two-year Civil Engineering Technology program have passed the prestigious Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil exam within a year of graduation. This is a milestone typically reached by bachelor’s degree students in their third or fourth year of study.
Sean Dwyer, Lane Madeja, and Hoang Nguyen were initially intimidated by this intense six-hour exam, but each passed within nine months of graduating from NHTI with an associate degree. The FE exam is an important step in the process of becoming a professional engineer.
“I felt I had everything I needed from NHTI. All I needed to do was practice for the test,” said Dwyer.
Dwyer, Madeja, and Nguyen are now pursuing bachelor’s degrees at UNH.
Dwyer explained how NHTI softened the steep transition from high school coursework to college level engineering curriculum. “My classes at UNH would have been too intense right off the bat,” he said.
“NHTI is smaller, so it’s easy to get help,” said Madeja. “I could not have gotten into UNH right out of high school, but NHTI sets you up for success.”
To wrap up their bachelor’s degrees, these students will primarily complete courses that are typical for freshmen and sophomores, along with an intense senior capstone project.
“The NHTI engineering curriculum is equivalent to a junior or senior year at UNH,” said Madeja.
The students agreed that NHTI offered the unique opportunity to become familiar with an engineering career within just a few months of study.
“I didn’t 100% know what my major would be, and did not want to spend all that money trying to figure it out,” said Madeja.
All three students will receive their bachelor’s degrees at a significantly reduced cost because their NHTI credits transferred directly into UNH’s engineering curriculum.
Together, Dwyer, Madeja, and Nguyen credit both NHTI and UNH for preparing them for successful careers in the broad, high-demand field of engineering.
To learn more about NHTI’s Civil Engineering Technology program, visit nhti.edu.
Photo: Hoang Nguyen, Sean Dwyer and Lane Madeja studied Civil Engineering Technology together at NHTI.
About NHTI-Concord’s Community College
NHTI-Concord’s Community College is committed to cultivating potential in every learner. Through more than 70 academic programs, we equip students with the skills and knowledge that power New Hampshire’s future. We deliver a comprehensive college experience—including on-campus housing, competitive athletic programs, and vibrant student clubs and organizations—that allow 4,600 students annually to advance in their careers and embrace lifelong learning. We are a proud member of the Community College System of New Hampshire, and have maintained accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education since 1969.