Getting Started
Course and Degree Offerings
- What online courses are being offered next semester?
- Can I earn a degree from Montana State University online?
- If I am not interested in earning a degree, may I still take online courses?
- I am applying for an online degree program. May I take classes in my program before I am admitted?
Cost and Time
- How much does an online course cost?
- How much does an online course cost if I already have a bachelor's degree?
- Do I have to pay for student health insurance?
- When do online courses start?
- How much time is involved in taking an online course?
Student Services: Apply, Register, Add, Drop
- How do I apply?
- How can I learn more about financial aid?
- How do I register?
- How do I obtain my textbooks?
- How do I add, drop, or withdraw from an online course?
- How do I withdraw from the university?
Grades, Credit, Transferring, Transcripts, and Accreditation
- Who accredits Montana State University?
- Are Montana State University online courses bona fide college courses?
- How do I obtain my grades at the end of the semester?
- How do I obtain an official copy of my Montana State University transcript?
- How do I transfer credit to Montana State University from another institution?
- How do I transfer the credit for online courses I took at Montana State University to another university?
Online Courses: Technical Questions
- Where can I find my online course?
- What is my username and password for my online course?
- How do I change the password for my online course?
- How do I know if my computer is set up for an online course?
- Help! I have a question about Desire2Learn!
- I want to ask a technical support person a question.
How does an online course work?
Online courses use a personal computer and a modem to connect participants from across the country and around the world via the Internet.
Generally speaking, in an online course, you can expect to:
- connect via the internet with a personal password
- participate in a course with set start and end dates (Many classes have been developed with a structure similar to traditional on-campus courses with due dates tied to assignments, readings, and other course-related activities)
- proceed through course requirements together with your class, but be able to access the course at a time of day that is convenient to you
- make a time commitment that is about the same as for an on-campus course
When do online courses start?
Online courses at MSU have specific start and finish dates, like face-to-face courses. This type of course allows students to learn together as a group. Students benefit from intellectual exchange with their networked comrades, much as students in a face-to-face environment gain from working as a group.
Courses run on a semester basis in the fall, spring, and summer. Many fall and spring courses begin in September or January respectively. Others may begin later. Summer courses begin at varying times in May, June, July, or August.
What online courses are being offered next semester?
See the online courses page.
Can I earn a degree from Montana State University online?
Yes. See our list of online programs.
If I am not interested in earning a degree, may I still take online courses?
Yes, but some courses are open only to students accepted into a particular program.
See the Online Degrees and Certificates page.
I am applying for an online degree program. May I take classes in my program before I am admitted?
That depends on the program. Contact the program you are interested in for more information.
See our Online Degrees and Certificates page.
How much does an online course cost?
It varies. Check with the program you are interested in. See the Online Degrees and Certificates page. for a start.
How much does an online course cost if I already have a bachelor's degree?
Students who have a bachelor’s degree will need to pay the current MSU graduate tuition when enrolling in either undergraduate or graduate courses, in addition to any program fees assigned to the course offering. For questions contact our office toll free at (866) 540-5660 or (406) 994-6683.
Do I have to pay for student health insurance?
Health insurance is mandatory whenever you are enrolled for 7 or more academic credits. If you have your own insurance, you may waive participation in the student policy.
Students must waive each semester that they are registered for 7 or more credits. All online students may waive through MyInfo, MSU's online student information system, after they register. How?
If you are taking courses through the Office of the Registar, you may also request a waiver when you register.
If you experience difficulty while requesting a waiver or if you have questions, please call the student health insurance office at (406) 994-3199.
Students with fewer than 7 credits may be eligible for coverage depending on their enrollment circumstances. For more information, call (406) 994-3199.
For information about the student Blue Cross Blue Shield policy, including current rates, please visit the BCBS Student Health Insurance Plan Web site.
How much time is involved in taking an online course?
Expect to spend as much time on an online course as you would in a similar face-to-face course. Budget approximately 3-4 hours per credit hour per week in a 15-week course, or even more time if you are not familiar with computers. (Example: for a 3-credit hour course, set aside 9-12 hours for it per week.) In a course shorter than 15 weeks, expect to spend more time per credit hour per week.
How do I apply?
Apply if you are planning to:
- Earn a graduate or undergraduate online degree from Montana State University
- Take online courses other than those offered by Extended University
If you wish to take courses, but do not plan on earning a degree, apply to become a non-degree student. Unless you are planning to earn a degree, you do not need to apply to the University to take Extended University courses (including those offered by the National Teachers Enhancement Network).
Forms:How can I learn more about financial aid?
Please see:
How do I register?
See the list of all online courses.
If the course is offered through Extended University, click on the linked course title and read the course description. If you meet the pre-requisites, follow the link to “Register Online,” where you will be asked for your information and method of payment. We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover or personal check. Students who have previously enrolled at Montana State University may choose to pay using their MSU MyInfo accounts. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation e-mail, then another e-mail before the course begins containing course startup information.
If the course is offered through the Office of the Registrar, you must be accepted into MSU as either a degree or non-degree student before registering. Once you are accepted, you will receive information about how and when to register. Please note that many courses have particular prerequisites. You may need to talk to an academic advisor before proceeding. In most cases, you will register online with the MSU MyInfo system.
How do I obtain my textbooks?
Most textbooks you can order through your favorite brick-and-mortar or online bookstore. Your course may also use electronic texts that you can read, download, or print from your computer. In certain cases, MSU online programs may mail you a packet of materials for your course via surface mail.
How do I add, drop, or withdraw from an online course?
If You Registered through MyInfo
- Read carefully the Add Drop Regulations and Procedures from the MSU catalog
- Adds and drops must meet certain deadlines. You can add and drop courses with MyInfo until shortly after the course begins. To see the exact dates, check the "Registration/Advising Information" link on the Schedule of Classes page.
- If it is too late to add or drop with MyInfo, download the Add-Drop Request Form (PDF). If the final day to add or drop has passed, use the Extraordinary Drop Form (PDF)
(Both require Adobe Acrobat Reader) - Fax the form to the appropriate officials with a request for a signature. Your program liaison may be able to help you with this process.
If You Registered through Extended University
Note: If you have been admitted to MSU and drop all courses (even if you are taking only one or only Extended University courses), you must withdraw from the university. How do I do that?
How do I withdraw from the university?
If you have been admitted to MSU and drop all courses (even if you are taking only one or only Extended University courses), you must withdraw from the university. Learn more.
There is a withdrawal deadline every semester. To find it, check the "Registration/Advising Information" link on the Schedule of Classes page.
To process a withdrawal from the university, call the Dean of Students Office at (406) 994-2826.
You do not need to withdraw from the university if you have not been admitted to MSU and are taking only Extended University courses. (If you are not certain whether or not you have been admitted to the university, consult your program liaison.)
Who accredits Montana State University?
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Are Montana State University online courses bona fide college courses?
Yes. The online courses are as rigorous and demanding as face-to-face courses. The credit you earn from an online course is the same you would earn in the equivalent face-to-face course.
How do I obtain my grades at the end of the semester?
Visit MyInfo
- Click on "Enter Secure Area"
- Enter User ID - Social Security # (enter without dashes)
- Enter PIN #; 6-Digit Birth Date (mmddyy) unless changed
- Click on "Student Services"
- Click on "Student Records"
- Click on "Final Grades" or "Academic Transcript"
If you need assistance, please contact the Office of the Registrar and Enrollment Services at (406) 994-6650.
How do I obtain an official copy of my Montana State University transcript?
Go to the Office of the Registrar Official Transcript Requests page.
How do I transfer credit to Montana State University from another institution?
Prospective undergraduate students can check the Transfer Equivalencies Page to see which courses they have taken at other universities will transfer. The Office of Enrollment Services will officially evaluate your credit once you have been admitted, your transcripts are received, and you are enrolled at MSU. Learn more.
Prospective graduate students can learn more by going to the College of Graduate Studies' Transferring Credits page.
How do I transfer the credit for online courses I took at Montana State University to another university?
Check with the other university. Be sure to include a copy of the MSU course description with your request.
Where can I find my online course?
If your course is offered via Desire2Learn, go to:
What is my username and password for my online course?
If your course is using Desire2Learn, go to the Support for Desire2Learn Password Help Page
If your course is not offered through Desire2Learn, please contact your instructor or program liaison for information regarding the location of your course on the internet.
If you need further assistance, please contact the Help Desk at (406) 994-1777 or helpdesk@montana.edu.
How do I change the password for my online course?
If your course is using Desire2Learn, you can reset your password using the MSU Password Help Page. You can learn more about your Desire2Learn password on the Support for Desire2Learn Password Help Page.
If your course is not using Desire2Learn, please contact your instructor or program liaison for information about how to change your password.
If you need further assistance, please contact the Help Desk at (406) 994-1777 or helpdesk@montana.edu.
How do I know if my computer is set up for an online course?
At a minimum, most web-based courses require:
- Computer running Windows 2000 or newer or Mac OS X or higher
- CD-ROM drive
- Internet access
Some courses may have additional system requirements. Please read program and course descriptions carefully.
Most Web-based courses at Montana State University are delivered via Desire2Learn, courseware for building interactive learning communities on the Web.
Resources and support for Desire2Learn are available on our Teaching and Learning with Technology Page.
You will receive more information about your courseware tool after you register.
Help! I have a question about Desire2Learn!
Go to the Support for Desire2Learn page.I want to ask a technical support person a question.
Call the Help Desk at 406-994-1777 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Time (GMT -7). Help Desk consultants can assist Montana State University students with Desire2Learn, word processing, spreadsheet, and (Mac and Windows) operating system issues.
In addition, your program may have its own technical support person available for telephone consultation.
