Psychedelics are entering the classroom, with groundbreaking degree programs poised to redefine how we study consciousness, culture, and healing.
n 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.
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