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


Learn more:

Orientation Registration Info

Learn how to register for an Orientation/Class Registration session.

Sessions & General Info

Explore session options and general program information.

Specialized Orientation Sessions

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


 

 

 

General Information

Start Term of Spring 2024

Orientation Registration opens on November 1st

We hope to see you join us at Montana State University for the Spring 2024 semester! If you are ready to reserve your spot in our incoming class, make sure you register for Orientation/Class Registration! Orientation is required for all new students and is when you receive your Spring 2024 class schedule. Signing up for Orientation is viewed as a student's intent to enroll.

MSU’s Spring Freshman Orientation/Class Registration program will consist of an online Orientation component and a half-day in-person program. Both components are mandatory.

Online: The online portion of Orientation must be completed prior to attending the half-day in-person program. During online Orientation, students will progress through an online pathway in our CatsConnect platform. 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 2024 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 on Monday, November 27, 2023 (including advising and class registration) and must be completed by Friday, January 12.
  • The online Orientation pathway for incoming freshmen, international, and/or non-traditional students will open on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 (including advising and class registration) and must be completed by Friday, January 12.

Students are not eligible to meet with an Academic Advisor and register for Spring 2024 classes until the dates outlined above

In-Person: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 8:00am – 12:00pm noon in the Strand Union Building (SUB). During in-person Orientation, students will progress through information sessions and meet other incoming Bobcats. Once you have registered for Orientation, you will receive further details regarding check-in, parking, etc.

Start Term of Fall 2024

Orientation Registration opens on February 15th

We hope to see you join us at Montana State University for the Fall 2024 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 2024 classes. Signing up for Orientation is viewed as a student's intent to enroll.

Transfer and Non-Traditional Student Orientation/Class Registration will be conducted online and will kick off on May 1. The priority deadline to complete online Orientation (including advising and class registration) is June 28.  

  • Orientation will be hosted online and will cover several items that students must take care of before meeting with their Academic Advisor. Orientation will include items such as math and writing placement, sending final transcripts, submitting immunization records, etc. Students can complete online Orientation starting May 1.
  • 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 starting May 1. 

 

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

Start Term of Summer 2024

Orientation Registration opens on February 15th

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 register for an available Orientation/Class Registration session that occurs 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.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Orientation Office at (406) 994-2827, toll-free at (888) MSU-CATS or via email at [email protected].

 

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

Back to Top

 

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

College of Nursing Students

College of Nursing students who are attending classes on another campus should participate in Orientation on that campus. Please 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.

 

Back to Top

 


Questions? We're here to help.

If you have 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 MT at 1-888-MSU-CATS.