Welcome to the Bobcat Family!

We are very excited for you to join us for the start and/or continuation of your college career! Orientation/Class Registration is your introduction to academic and non-academic life at Montana State University.

During Orientation, students will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn how to successfully transition to life at MSU
  • Engage with University services and resources
  • Connect with MSU staff, faculty, and Academic Advisors
  • Engage with MSU course planning and class registration systems
  • Register for semester courses
 
Visit the Transfer Student Guide for more information on transferring to MSU.
 

Program Overview

Get a general overview of the Orientation/Class Registration program. 

Fall Session Information

Explore Fall semester details and general program information.

Summer Session Information 

Explore Summer semester details and general program information.


 

Spring Session Information 

Explore Spring semester details and general program information.

Specialized Orientation Sessions

Discover information about Veteran, College of Nursing and non-degree seeking student programs.

Orientation Registration Information

Ready to sign up? Learn how to register for an Orientation/Class Registration session.

 

Program Overview 

Transfer and Non-Traditional students are required to complete Orientation/Class Registration to register for their first semester courses.

The Transfer and Non-Traditional Orientation/Class Registration program consists of an online Orientation, which is required for all students, and an in-person Orientation, which is optional depending on your intended start of term.  

For incoming Summer and Fall Transfer and Non-Traditional students, in-person Orientation is optional. For incoming Spring Transfer and Non-Traditional students, in-person Orientation is required.

The Orientation/Class Registration program requires a non-refundable Program Fee that directly covers programmatic costs such as Orientation maintenance, mailings, etc.

Online Orientation

Online Orientation/Class Registration is required for all incoming Transfer and Non-Traditional students and is designed to give you an overview of what is needed to start classes at MSU.  The program is hosted through our CatsConnect platform and will review your admissions requirements, including any transfer credits or placement tests to be evaluated. The program will also give you an overview of various MSU technology platforms and teach you how to contact your Academic Advisor and register for classes.

In-person Orientation

An in-person Orientation session is hosted for incoming Transfer and Non-Traditional students prior to the start of term. During the in-person session, you will have the opportunity to meet with your academic college, attend various information sessions, and connect with other students.

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Start Term of Spring 2025

Check back here for details about Spring 2025 registration.

We hope to see you join us at Montana State University for the Spring 2025 semester!  Orientation is required for all new students and is when you receive your Spring 2025 class schedule. Signing up for Orientation is viewed as a student's intent to enroll.

MSU’s Spring Transfer and Non-Traditional Orientation/Class Registration program consists of an online Orientation component and a half-day in-person program. Both components are mandatory.

 

Online Orientation

Opens November 2025

Hosted online via CatsConnect.

Required In-person Orientation

January 13, 2025

Hosted on MSU campus.

Online Orientation 

The online portion of Orientation must be completed prior to attending the half-day in-person program.

During online Orientation, students will learn about MSU resources and services, explore MSU technology, receive instruction on how to remotely connect with their Academic Advisor, and will register for Spring 2025 classes. 

Students are not eligible to register for classes until they have registered for Orientation, completed the online pathway, and met with an Academic Advisor.

  • The online Orientation pathway for incoming Transfer and/or Veteran students will open at the end of November (including advising and class registration) and must be completed before the start of the spring semester.
  • The online Orientation pathway for incoming Freshmen, International, and/or Non-Traditional students will open at the beginning of January (including advising and class registration) and must be completed before the start of the semester. 

Students are not eligible to meet with an Academic Advisor and register for Spring 2025 classes until the dates outlined above.

Required In-person Orientation 

Prior to the start of the Spring 2025 semester, a required in-person session will be held from 8:00am – 12:00pm noon in the Strand Union Building (SUB). During in-person Orientation, students will attend information sessions and meet other incoming Bobcats. Once you have registered for Orientation, you will receive further details regarding check-in, parking, etc.

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Specialized Orientations

Veteran Orientation

Incoming Transfer students who are active duty or former active duty veterans, national guard or reserve members, and dependents of veterans that are using VA Educational Benefits can register for a specialized Veteran Orientation through your Undergraduate Admissions Checklist on MyInfo.  

The Veteran Orientation/Class Registration program will consist of an online Orientation component and a full-day in-person program prior to the start of term. Both components are mandatory. Once you have registered for Orientation, you will receive further details regarding check-in, parking, etc.

Contact the Veteran Support Center at (406) 994-3661 or [email protected] for more information.

College of Nursing Students

If you have been formally admitted to the College of Nursing program and been officially placed on one of five campuses OR are in the accelerated Nursing program, please DO NOT sign up for Orientation.

If you are a student who has been generally admitted to MSU - Bozeman and have declared a Pre-Nursing major, you are required to register for and complete Orientation.

Contact the College of Nursing at (406) 994-3783 or [email protected] if you have questions about your requirements.

Non-degree Seeking Students

Incoming Non-degree seeking students are not required to complete a formal Orientation/Class Registration session before registering for their semester courses. These students can contact the Academic Advising Center at (406) 994-3532 to discuss their course schedule and register for classes.

Please note that if you decide to pursue a degree at MSU, you will be required to complete a formal Orientation/Class Registration program.

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Start Term of Summer 2025

Orientation Registration will open February 2025.

Transfer students starting in the summer and intending to continue in the fall will need to complete a formal Orientation/Class Registration session during the summer term before registering for their summer and fall course schedules. Please complete the online Orientation before the start of the summer course you intend to take. 

Non-degree seeking transfer students that are only taking classes at MSU for the singular summer term do not need to complete a formal Orientation/Class Registration program to register for their summer courses. These students can contact the Academic Advising Center at (406) 994-3532 to discuss their summer course schedule and register for classes. Please note that if you decide to continue taking classes at MSU during the fall semester, you will be required to complete a formal Orientation/Class Registration program.

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Start Term of Fall 2025

Orientation Registration for Fall 2025 will open in February 2025.

We hope to see you join us at Montana State University for the Fall 2025 semester! If you are ready to reserve your spot, make sure you register for Orientation/Class Registration! 

Orientation is required for all new students and is when you register for Fall 2025 classes.  Signing up for Orientation is viewed as a student's intent to enroll. 

 

Online Orientation

Monday, May 1 - Wednesday, July 10

Priority Deadline.

Hosted online via CatsConnect.

Optional In-person Orientation

Sunday August 17 - Tuesday, August 19

Prior to start of Fall 2025 term.

Hosted on MSU campus.

Online Orientation 

Transfer and Non-Traditional Student Orientation/Class Registration will be conducted online and is open for registration starting February 2025 and will kick off on May 2025. 

Online Orientation will cover several items that students must take care of before meeting with their Academic Advisor.  Priority deadline to complete Online Orientation is Wednesday, July 10.

  • Orientation will include items, such as:
    • Course placement
    • Sending final transcripts
    • Submitting immunization records
  • Online Orientation is self-paced and does not require students to login at specific times. 
  • As you progress through online Orientation, you will schedule a remote appointment with your Academic Advisor to discuss course registration. Students cannot register for classes until they complete online Orientation modules, which starts on May 1, 2025.

Optional In-person Orientation 

An optional in-person Orientation will be hosted on campus for incoming Transfer and Non-Traditional students from August 17 - 19, 2025. You will have the opportunity to meet your academic college, attend various information sessions, and connect with other students while at the in-person Orientation program. Once you have registered for Orientation, you will receive further details regarding the optional in-person session.

 

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Questions? We're here to help.

Please see our Orientation/Class Registration Frequently Asked Questions for additional questions.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us! You can email our staff at [email protected], or call us Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm MST at 1-888-MSU-CATS.