Orientation for Freshman Students
Information for students starting in Spring Semester (classes starting in January)
Welcome to the Bobcat Family!
We are very excited for you to start your college career at Montana State University! Orientation/Class Registration is your introduction to academic and non-academic life at Montana State University.
During Orientation, students will:
- Learn how to successfully transition to life at MSU
- Engage with University services and resources
- Connect with MSU staff, faculty, and Academic Advisors
- Learn how to use MSU's course planning and class registration systems
- Register for courses for your first semester at MSU
*Planning to start at MSU in Fall Semester (August) 2026? Learn more about our Summer and Fall Freshman Orientation program.
**Are you an International Student OR a Veteran, active duty military member, National Guard member, or Reservist? Click here to learn more about our Orientation programs for International and Veteran students. Dependents using a parent's or spouse's VA benefits will register for and participate in the Freshman Orientation outlined on this page.
Program Overview
We hope to see you join us at Montana State University for the Spring 2026 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 how you receive your Spring 2026 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 program and a half-day in-person session. Both components are mandatory.
Online Orientation & Class Registration
Online Orientation, which is hosted in the platform CatsConnect, walks you through meeting all prerequisite requirements for enrolling in courses at MSU. During Online Orientation, students will progress through a series of online Orientation modules to submit required documentation, learn about MSU resources and services, explore MSU technology, and begin the course registration process.
Students can log in and complete online Orientation at their own pace. The online Orientation will take several hours in total.
Class Registration is part of online Orientation. While working through online Orientation, students will complete an online survey to share information with Academic Advisors, such as schedule needs, incoming credit, academic strengths and interests, and more. Academic Advisors will use this information to provide students with a course schedule that sets students up for success and fulfills major degree requirements.
Students are not eligible to be registered for classes until they have registered for Orientation and completed their online Orientation modules.
In-Person Orientation
Prior to the start of the Spring 2026 semester, the Office of Admissions will host a required in-person session on January 12th from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Strand Union Building (SUB). During in-person Orientation, students will attend information sessions, meet other incoming Bobcats, and have the opportunity to meet with their academic advisors and modify class schedules if needed.
Starting classes in the Fall semester (August 2026)? See Fall Orientation details here.
Timeline and Schedule Information
Timeline for Spring 2026 Orientation
- November 3, 2025: Orientation registration opens.
- November 24, 2025: Online Orientation opens. Students registered for Orientation will receive access on November 24; students who register for Orientation after November 24 will receive access to online Orientation two business days after registering.
- December 5, 2025: Priority deadline to complete online Orientation. Students who have completed the online Orientation pathway and submitted all required documentation by this date will receive their course schedule the week of December 15.
- January 2, 2026: If students have completed online pathway (including placement, holds, questionnaire) by January 2, they will be pre-registered for courses by their Academic Advisor and receive a course schedule by January 8.
- January 9, 2026: FINAL deadline for completing online Orientation.
- January 12, 2026: In-person Orientation, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Strand Union Building.
- Students who have NOT received a course schedule by January 12 are required to stay for academic advising and course registration starting at 1:00 PM.
- Students wishing to speak with their academic advisor about the schedule they have already received and possible modify that schedule are welcome to stay for academic advising starting at 1:00 PM.
Detailed schedule information, parking information, and other event details will be provided to students after they have registered for Orientation.
Additional Resources and Frequently Asked Questions
Registering for Orientation
Students wishing to register for Orientation can log into their MyMSU account and navigate to their Admissions Checklist. If registration for Orientation is open and you are eligible to register, you will see a link to register in the Orientation/Class Registration item.
Already registered?
Students already registered for Orientation are encouraged to access their Orientation confirmation page for the most detailed and up-to-date information on their Orientation program. As long as you are registered for Orientation, your Confirmation page is linked in the first line of the Orientation/Class Registration item in your MyMSU Admissions Checklist.
Want to get a headstart or some clarity on the enrollment process? Check out our Enrollment Roadmap.
Frequently Asked Questions
As long as you are registered for Orientation AND your registration has been processed by our office (which usually takes about two business days after you submit your Orientation registration), detailed instructions to access and complete your online Orientation are availabe on your Orientation confirmation page, which is linked in the Orientation/Class Registration item in your MyMSU Admissions Checklist.
If you registered for Orientation more than two business days ago and you don't see your Orientation path in CatsConnect under the Paths section, please email our team at orientation@montana.edu.
Please view our webpage about Placement for detailed information.
Incoming freshman students will receive their course schedule ahead of the in-person Orientation based on information provided in the online Orientation. You'll have the opportunity to meet with your academic advisor to discuss or change your schedule at the in-person Orientation session on January 12.
Please contact the Orientation Office at orientation@montana.edu. Please also
note that we can only make some accommodations based on need, not preference. The
Orientation office can work with you regarding your one-day program, but you are responsible
for establishing accommodations for your semester. If you have not already been in
contact with the Office of Disability Services in preparation for your start on campus, we encourage you to contact disabilityservices@montana.edu or 406-994-2824.
Our office may approve fee waiver requests based on financial need and/or students' individual circumstances. Please reach out to orientation@montana.edu if you would like to discuss an Orientation fee waiver.
Additional Resources
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 orientation@montana.edu, or call us Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm MT at 1-888-MSU-CATS.