A semiconductor memory device including a channel region and a ferromagnetic gate is provided. The channel region can be formed within a semiconductor nanowire. The ferromagnetic gate is programmed with a selected orientation of magnetization by the electrical current that passes through the channel region in one direction or another. The orientation of the magnetization in the ferromagnetic gate can be detected by changes in the threshold voltage of a field effect transistor employing the ferromagnetic gate as a gate electrode, or can be detected by the resistance of the channel region that changes with the orientation of the magnetization in a two terminal device.