Life as a Midshipman

The Best of Both Worlds

First and foremost, our midshipmen are fully active members of the broader Tri-Campus community. Unlike traditional military academies where you are confined to a base, our students reside in regular university residence halls, eat in the dining halls, join campus clubs, and perform community service alongside their civilian peers.

From playing intramural or varsity sports to participating in unique legacy traditions like the annual NROTC Military Ball, the Naval Academy leadership exchange, and tri-military athletic competitions, you get the full, vibrant college experience.

In fact, midshipmen wear a backpack just like everyone else four days a week — it’s only on leadership laboratory days that the uniform comes out.

NSCI 10101: Introduction to Naval Science

A comprehensive introductory study of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ history, traditions, organization, officer career paths, and the role of the naval service in supporting national policy.

NSCI 10102: Sea Power & Maritime Affairs

U.S. naval and maritime history in the context of world maritime development — the evolution of sea power, enduring U.S. national interests, and the role of naval forces amid geopolitical change.

NSCI 20201: Leadership & Management

Principles of leadership and management, including management theory, communication, counseling, professional responsibility, and the control and direction of personnel.

NSCI 20202: Navigation

Theory and principles of navigation: dead reckoning, piloting, electronic, inertial, and celestial navigation, along with navigational aids and the nautical rules of the road.

NSCI 30301: Naval Ship Systems I

Steam turbine (nuclear and fossil fuel), gas turbine, and internal combustion marine propulsion plants and shipboard auxiliary systems, with applied thermodynamics and an introduction to ships’ stability.

NSCI 30302: Naval Ship Systems II

Theory and operation of naval weapons systems: types of weapons and fire-control systems, capabilities and limitations, target acquisition and tracking, trajectory principles, and naval ordnance basics.

NSCI 40401: Naval Operations

Theory of ship movements and employment, including communications, sonar-radar search, relative motion, and maneuvering board, plus tactical formations, dispositions, seamanship, and signals.

NSCI 40402: Leadership & Ethics

A seminar on practical leadership and management skills specific to the Navy officer, focused on the transition from student to manager, plus naval ethics, naval law, and Navy policies and programs.

NSCI 40413: Fundamentals of Maneuver Warfare

Foundational concepts and history of the USMC as the premier maneuver warfighting organization. Required for First and Second Class Marine Options; alternates yearly with NSCI 40415.

NSCI 40415: Evolution of Warfare

Warfare as an instrument of foreign policy throughout history, examined through great leaders, military organizations, and military theorists. Required for First and Second Class Marine Options; alternates yearly with NSCI 40413.

New Student Indoctrination

Before fresh year, candidates head to Great Lakes, IL for NSI. This 2-to-3 week introductory block standardizes basic swim qualifications, military customs, and drill nationwide.

New Student Indoctrination

Prior to freshman year, Marine Option midshipmen will attend the foundational New Student Indoctrination (NSI) training pipeline at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois.

CORTRAMID

Following freshman (4/C) year, experience a 4-week immersion in Norfolk, VA or San Diego, CA. Spend one week embedded in each community: Surface, Submarines, Aviation, and Marine Corps.

CORTRAMID E / W

Between Freshman and Sophomore year, Marine Options attend Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) East in Virginia or West in California for core community exposure.

2/C Cruise

Between sophomore and junior year, head to sea aboard surface ships or submarines for a firsthand look at enlisted life, work center systems, and fundamental shipboard engineering routine.

2/C Amphibious Cruise

Between sophomore and junior year, Marine Options shift away from traditional fleet tracking to embed directly with active Marine Corps units or join specialized amphibious warfare surface groups.

1/C Officer Cruise

Between junior and senior year, get a taste of the true wardroom. Midshipmen pursue at-sea cruises, aviation units, submarine options, or Foreign Exchange Training matching their designator goals.

Officer Candidate School

Between junior and senior year, Marine Options must attend and successfully complete OCS in Quantico, VA. This rigorous evaluation phase is an absolute, non-waivable requirement for commissioning.