Academic Programs

SMI will be a four-year private college emphasizing engineering, science, military leadership, and Christian faith and morality.

Its philosophy is that a high-quality education for many young men is best achieved in an all-male small college environment with a limited number of students (no greater than 1200) and a restricted number of degree offerings. Furthermore, SMI believes that young men who aspire to be community or military leaders should have a firm foundation in Judeo-Christian values, especially as embraced by the Christian faith.

The primary curricula will include the following:

• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Naval Architecture
• Electrical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Physics and Chemistry
• Advanced Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Military Science
• Military History (Classical and Modern)
• Civil War History
• Constitutional Studies (U.S., State, and C.S.A.) (must include a study of the Federalist Papers.)
• English and Literature
• Foreign Languages (French, German, Russian, Japanese, others?)
• Bible Studies and Christian Moral Leadership (Must include character studies of Washington, Lee, Jackson, etc.)

SMI will conduct training equivalent to traditional ROTC programs. It will also offer courses and materials comparable to those of the Staff Officer Courses of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Routine drill, inspections, parades, and combat training maneuvers will be schedule as part of the military training.

SMI will not have commissioning authority for officers in the United States Armed Forces or in the National Guards of the respective States or U.S. territories. Cadets wishing to receive commissions will be directed to State Officer Candidate School (OCS) programs of the National Guards of states that are within driving distance of SMI.

Military ceremonies will routinely be conducted. Special ceremonies will be conducted commemorating the Confederate Memorial Day and New Market Day which commemorates the Charge of the VMI Cadets at the Battle of New Market, Virginia (May 15,1864).

Bible studies and Christian moral leadership training will be part of the regular curriculum. Cadets will be required to attend Chapel services and daily prayer services conducted by the post chaplain. The Corps will be required to attend Christian services on Sunday either at the post chapel or at a church of their choice. Cadets of non-Christian faith will be permitted to exercise their faith, but will be required to take the Christian course work and leadership training that is part of the regular curriculum. Cadets of non-Christian faith will also be required to attend prayer services and special devotional services held for the Corps of Cadets as a whole.​  

 SMI will not offer intercollegiate sports programs. However, intramural sports will be offered, and platoon, company, and battalion level competitive sports teams will be formed. Regimental championship competitions will be scheduled for each major seasonal sport. All cadets will be required to participate in the intramural sports program, when not conducting military training. Teams will be coached by First-Classmen "Player-Coaches" under the direction and guidance of the Physical Education instructors.

Basic horseback riding lessons will be required for all cadets in the tradition of the Southern gentleman-officer. A cadet company will also be designated as a mounted cavalry troop (I Troop) and will conduct regular mounted training and exercises, and participate in parades and ceremonies. Flight instruction will also be offered. This instruction will be conducted through a Cadet Soaring Club. SMI will purchase and maintain a sufficient number of  sailplanes to support the club and cadet flight instruction. The club will seek recognition and membership in the Soaring Society of America (SSA).​