In the ‘60s, Timothy Leary’s mantra — “turn on, tune in, and drop out” — became a rallying cry for students. It stood as an invitation to reject convention and embrace a different kind of enlightenment. But now, thanks to the mainstreaming of psychedelics, they can turn on, tune in, and major in psychedelics.
Starting in September 2025, undergraduate students at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) will have the opportunity to major in psychedelic studies, marking the launch of the first bachelor of science degree of its kind in the US.
“We have incorporated psychology, cultural anthropology, neuroscience — a lot of different angles,” Nick Walker, CIIS psychology professor, who played a key role in designing the program, told the San Francisco Standard. “This is the first Bachelor of Science in psychedelic studies. That’s what the diplomas will say.”
The “bachelor completion course” is for students who have fulfilled their general education requirements elsewhere, and will be conducted online. It will not offer any experiences with psychedelics, Walker said, with modules on the history of psychedelics and the relationship between modern-day colonialism and psychedelic tourism.
“If they want to be a psychedelic-assisted therapist, they’re going to have to go to grad school and get licensed,” Walker added. “Whatever our graduates end up doing, we hope they’ll bring with them high levels of understanding, cultural humility, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical integrity.”
READ: The VA Is Funding A Study to Determine If MDMA Can Really Treat PTSD
This year, the University of Ottawa launched a groundbreaking postgraduate program in psychedelics and consciousness studies, welcoming its first-ever cohort of students into this academic year. “Our goal is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to explore and harness the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in a culturally sensitive and scientifically informed manner,” said Dr. Monnica Williams, program co-director and professor in the psychology department, in a statement.
“The program is unique in Integrating spiritual guidance within the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy framework,” said Dr. Anne Vallely, co-director and professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies. “While such transpersonal experiences can lead to life-changing insights, they can also trigger existential challenges that go beyond what traditional clinical training can tackle.”
She said the program addresses this by integrating psychological and spiritual training. “Students learn about the human quest for transcendence and the mythic structures of consciousness alongside the psychology of mental health, neuroscience, and the dynamics of therapeutic encounters.”
In January, the University of Exeter will launch the UK’s first academically certified program in psychedelic studies. It’s an online postgraduate course called “Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine, and Culture.” The course will be led by renowned experts, including Professor Celia Morgan, Dr. Andy Letcher, and Dr. Leor Roseman.
“With exponential growth in the number of trials, studies, and research into psychedelics, there is growing acceptance that widespread psychedelic therapeutic access could soon be a reality,” an introduction to the course reads. “This program has been developed not only for therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists who are interested in branching out into the psychedelic sphere, but also for those with a growing interest in psychedelic research and want to continue their studies in this space.”
Academia is getting trippy. And it seems like the counterculture-to-coursework pipeline will reshape how we study consciousness, history, and healing.
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