A group of students in San Francisco will soon become the world’s first to embark on an undergraduate degree path centred around psychedelic research.
On Aug. 28, the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) will kick off the inaugural fall semester of its Bachelor of Science in Psychedelic Studies program.
In the United States, schools like the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Southwestern College and Naropa University are known to offer certificates or a minor for studies on the subject, but this California school is now breaking new ground.
Outside of the U.S., institutions such as the University of Ottawa in Canada, the University of Exeter in the UK and the University of Amsterdam have master’s degrees, post-grad certificates or elective courses, but no accredited undergrad programs.
“This is currently the only Bachelor of Science program in psychedelic studies, to exist,” CIIS psychology professor, Nick Walker, explained in an informative video last fall. “We’re engaging with research, with scientific approaches, with cutting-edge neuroscience, and also with the spiritual and traditional Indigenous ethnobotany aspects.”
Sign of the times
This milestone comes at a time when the stigma surrounding psychedelic substances has been dissipating and people are becoming more aware of the expanding pool of research highlighting their therapeutic value. The industry is also expected to grow immensely.
“With psychedelics increasingly used in therapy, this new degree reflects a booming market that’s projected to reach US$4.6 billion by 2030,” psychedelic advocate and retreat organizer, Jill Sitnick, wrote on LinkedIn.
The 3-semester program will focus on the ethical and legal considerations of psychedelics as one of its key topics.
“I’m so proud to be part of something this meaningful,” CIIS Chief of Staff, Rhonda Reliford, commented on social media. “CIIS has always been more than just a university — it’s a place where consciousness, curiosity, and cutting-edge research converge.”
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Psychedelics is not a new specialty for the institute
Since 2016, the school’s Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research has served as a hub for students interested in topics like psychedelic-assisted therapy, mycology, traditional Indigenous plant medicine and ketamine treatment.
This centre currently offers a Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research. Tuition costs US$8,300.
The institute has made it clear that hands-on usage of psychedelics is not part of any education that it offers. Entheogenic plants and fungi have been decriminalized in San Francisco since 2022, but are yet to be fully-legalized.
“We hope that the graduates of our program will go on to become leaders in a variety of psychedelics-related fields and endeavours,” Walker said in October, “and that in whatever they end up doing, they’ll bring with them the high levels of understanding, cultural humility, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical integrity that our program will aim to foster.”
The school is known for community activism and will be sponsoring an upcoming “Psychedelic Culture” event hosted by the Charcruna Institute at the San Fran Brava Theater next month.
rowan@mugglehead.com
