If getting to campus to handle the administrative aspects of being a student is difficult for you, no worries. Exploration, enrollment, academic advising, registration, tuition payment, ordering textbooks, visiting the library, and doing the coursework can all be accomplished online. Online students have access to the Writing Center, Career Services, and other student services. UMOnline staff are available for inquiries about online courses and support throughout the process.
Whether you are planning to enroll in a fully online program, meet all your general education requirements online, or taking a single online course, you'll want to start by exploring course and program options through The University of Montana.
UMOnline offers a wide range of online courses and adds more each semester. To see the selection of upcoming UMOnline courses, visit the course schedule.
You'll need to enroll at UM for online courses just as you would for any courses. To apply for admission as an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student, complete the online application and follow the procedures outlined at Admissions Services. If you are applying as a graduate student, apply online through the Graduate School.
Students who are taking online classes exclusively qualify for discounted fees. If you plan to take online courses only, be sure to check Online Courses Only on your admission application.
Make an appointment with an academic advisor. If you have not declared a major, start with the Undergraduate Advising Center. You can connect initially by telephone or email. Once you establish a relationship with your advisor he/she may suggest other ways for you to communicate remotely. It is recommended that you consult with an advisor prior to registering for the first time and once a semester thereafter. Your advisor will help you get the most for your tuition dollar by keeping you on track with general education requirements and helping to guide you to selection of a major.
Current University of Montana students: Enter the Course Request Number (CRN) through normal registration in CyberBear. For instructions on how to register, view this video.
Non-University of Montana students: You must first enroll at The University of Montana, then you will register as above.
You may be required to submit an Immunization Form before you can register. Your student status determines whether or not you have an immunization requirement. If your status is Distance-Only, you do not have an immunization requirement and may only register for fully online courses. If you wish to register for any courses which include a face-to-face component, you are not eligible for the Distance-Only status and must submit an Immunization Form. You may change your status by submitting the Distance Learning Change of Status form. More information is available on the Curry Health Center web site.
About two weeks prior to the start date of the course, you will receive a letter confirming your registration. The letter will provide important information about using your NetID, getting your password, accessing your course, and using your Grizmail account.
You'll need to pay a visit to the UM-M or UM-COT Bookstore. You can search for textbooks by title and author, or by term and course. Textbooks can be ordered online and can be shipped to you.
The University of Montana presents online classes through Blackboard, a web-based learning system that provides a means to access course materials, interact with your instructor, have discussions with your classmates, submit assignments, take tests, and check your grades. Blackboard courses are password protected and can only be accessed by the instructor and other students enrolled in the course.
Just as in face-to-face courses, assignments and tests in online classes have due dates. Unlike face-to-face courses, students can access their online courses from any computer that has an Internet connection at any time of day, any day of the week. Most courses are asynchronous, meaning you can adjust your study time to fit your own schedule. Course material remains available for review throughout the semester.
Access plug-ins and downloads for Blackboard.
Your Blackboard course will be available the first week of the term or as specified in CyberBear. Instructions for getting your NetID and logging on to Blackboard can be found here (link to Net ID tip sheet) and will also be sent to you in a letter about two weeks prior to the start of the course.
New Students
Take the time to complete the Blackboard 101 Tutorial (Username: bb-01 Password: umonline) if you have not already done so. You should then login to your class prior to the first day of class, attend to any technical concerns, read the syllabus, and familiarize yourself with the layout of the course.
Returning Students
If you remember your NetID and password, you can login to Blackboard and begin your class the first day of the semester. If you need a prompt on your NetID and password, log on to CyberBear using your UM student ID number. Click on the Personal Information page, and choose NetID from the menu.
