What degree, certificate, and training programs are offered?
What are the students like?
What are the requirements for admission?
How do I apply?
What are the application deadlines?
How will I know if I’ve been accepted?
What are the costs of attending?
What about financial aid?
Are there scholarships?
How will I know what courses to take?
Can I live on campus?
What’s it like in Springfield, MO?
May I transfer coursework?
What if I’m an international student?
What if I need to postpone matriculation?

What degree, certificate, and training programs are offered?
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology en route to Psy.D. (Dual Program)
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP)
Certification in Post-Graduate Marriage and Family Therapy
Certification for American Academy of Pain Management
Certification in Integrated Health Care: Practice, Consultation and Management
Re-specialization in Clinical Psychology
Elective Clusters in: Corrections/Forensics, Child Therapy, Integrated Health Care, Marriage and Family Therapy, Neuropsychology, Pain Management, and Psychology of Religion
Practica Training Program
APPIC-approved Internship Program
Postdoctoral Residency Program
APA-approved Continuing Education Program

For details about these programs check out our academics section here.

What are the students like?
Approximately 220 students are enrolled in programs at Forest Institute. About 180 of those students are engaged in academic studies and clinical training on-campus, and 40 are completing their internship off-site. Most are full-time students working toward a doctoral degree, many of whom earn the Master’s degree en-route. Students range in age from the early 20’s to late 60’s; come from 13 states; and represent six countries other than the United States. Diversity of students is represented through cultural and individual differences in the areas of race/ethnicity, gender, ADA eligibility, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. About 70 percent of students are women.

What are the requirements for admission?

A complete listing of admission requirements can be found here.

How do I apply?
Applying is easy:

1. Submit your application and fee – you can do this here or complete the application found in the admissions packet and mail your fee or call us with your credit card information.
2. Request transcripts be forwarded from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
3. Request GRE scores be forwarded to our Institutional Code #8525.
4. Request three Professional Recommendation Forms to be submitted using the forms provided.
5. Submit a Personal Essay.
6. Submit a current resume/vita
7. Complete a personal interview and tour on-campus with our faculty and staff.

What are the application deadlines?
Forest Institute accepts applications for the Fall (Sept.), Winter (Jan.) and Summer (July) terms. The following deadlines apply to the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic calendars.


August 1st priority consideration: Winter Term (January 2009)
November 1st late consideration for potential remaining seats: Winter Term (January 2009)
November 15th priority consideration: Summer (July 2009)
January 15th late consideration: Summer (July 2009)
January 15th priority consideration: Fall Term (September 2009)
April 15th late consideration for potential remaining seats: Fall Term (September 2009)

How will I know if I’ve been accepted?
The Admissions Committee usually notifies candidates of their acceptance status within two weeks following the personal interview process. Candidates are then given two weeks in which to submit their “Letter of Intent” to enroll in the program along with the non-refundable Matriculation Fee, or decline the offer of acceptance. At the end of the two-week period, the offer of acceptance will be rescinded if no response is received from the candidate.

What are the costs of attending?
Tuition is $565 per credit hour. The Tuition and Fee Schedule gives an itemized breakdown of student fees, and the Financial Aid Worksheet gives an example of the distribution of tuition, fees, books, cost of living expenses, etc. for the length of both the master’s and doctoral programs.

What about financial aid?
A complete listing of our financial aid information can be found here.

Are there scholarships?
Scholarships are available, and are awarded to students based on both academic achievement and financial need. These programs are described in greater detail here.

How will I know what courses to take?
A representative from Student Services begins working with students at the time they are accepted into the program to determine their prior educational and training experiences; career objectives; possibility for transfer credit; and to construct an Individual Education Plan. This plan is a long-range guide for students in sequencing academic and practicum experiences, establishing manageable course loads, meeting guidelines for Financial Aid, and preparing for activities such as the dissertation project, internship application process and comprehensive examination sequences. Students generally follow a recommended Curriculum Sequence that follows a four-year pattern or a five-year pattern, with adjustments for individual needs.

Can I live on campus?
Of course! On-campus one- and two-bedroom housing units, completed in 2000, are available to individual students and their families. Fully-equipped and within walking distance of the school, rental prices for the units are comparable to similar housing in the Springfield area. The units are equipped with spacious living areas, kitchens, laundry facilities and balconies. A fitness circuit and playgroup equipment are available on the grounds, and a city park, municipal golf course, and hiking/biking trail lie adjacent to the campus. Students, or perspective students, wishing more information on housing are encouraged to call Hunter Property Management at 417-725-8074.

What’s it like in Springfield, MO?
A complete listing of information about Springfield, Mo can be found here.

May I transfer coursework?
Yes, Forest does accept transfer credit that meets certain criteria set forth in the catalog. Up to 18 credit hours may be transferred toward a Master’s degree or up to 36 hours toward the doctorate. Candidates begin the process by completing an Application for Transfer Credit and submitting the required documentation. The Dean of Students will then review the request and make a determination based on substantial equivalence of course content and philosophical emphasis. The fee assessed for transferring coursework covers basic administrative expenses in processing requests and may be found in the Tuition and Fee Schedule.

What if I’m an international student?
Forest welcomes international students and has expert staff available who are well trained in dealing with immigration issues. In fact, around 5% of graduates each year are from countries other than the U.S. Programs at Forest do require a high degree of English proficiency, which is verified through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The equivalency of degrees issued by colleges and universities outside the U.S. is also determined to ensure compliance with admissions standards. For more specific information on International Students at Forest click here.

What if I need to postpone matriculation?
Candidates who have accepted an offer of enrollment from Forest, but wish to postpone matriculation, may submit a written request to the Director of Admissions. Such an extension may only be granted for up to one year, and may not carry-over into another academic year. In situations where a candidate wishes to begin enrollment in an academic year other than that which was offered, reapplication may be required, including payment of the application and matriculation fees.