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California College Launches Nation's First Psychedelic Studies Degree For Undergraduates

Starting in 2025, students at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco will be able to pursue a unique academic path: a bachelor's degree in psychedelics studies. This marks the first time an accredited institution in the United States has offered an undergraduate degree focused on hallucinogenic drugs. As The San Francisco Standard reported, the program aims to prepare students for careers in psychedelic therapy, integrating psychology, anthropology and neuroscience to explore psychedelics’ role in therapy and society.

Nick Walker, a psychology professor at CIIS who helped design the curriculum, described the program as the result of years of development. "We have incorporated psychology, cultural anthropology, neuroscience, a lot of different angles," Walker explained. One module explores the history of hallucinogens, including colonialism’s impact on psychedelics tourism, reflecting the program’s interdisciplinary approach. CIIS aims to give students a broader, more nuanced understanding of psychedelics beyond recreation.