University Of Ottawa To Offer Psychedelic Studies Master’s Program Beginning In Fall 2022
Last reviewed and updated: June 19, 2026.
Key Takeaways
| U of Ottawa program | Launched fall 2022 as planned; one of few formally accredited psychedelic studies graduate credentials in North America |
| Other leading programs | Johns Hopkins (clinical research flagship), NYU Langone, UCSF (Robin Carhart-Harris group), Naropa University, CIIS |
| OR/CO facilitator licensing | Both states require formal training programs and state licensure to work as a psilocybin facilitator; dozens of approved programs now exist |
| Is a graduate degree required? | Not for facilitators or harm reduction workers — most valuable for academic researchers and policy careers |
Canada is taking an important step in psychedelic studies later this year.
In the fall of 2022, the University of Ottawa will launch a Master’s program in psychedelics and consciousness studies, offering a variety of courses. These include psychedelic psychotherapy and mental health, spirituality, and shamanic traditions.
The university first launched the microprogram in Psychedelics and Spirituality Studies in 2020. Following its success, the University of Ottawa will now expand the program into more psychedelic studies.
RELATED: What Is Integrative Mental Health? A Guide Into The Rapidly Emerging Therapy
Microprogram In Psychedelics And Spirituality Studies
Taught by Dr. Anne Vallely and Dr. Monnica Williams, this microprogram encompasses several disciplines. These include topics like religious studies, psychology, anthropology, and health. The goal of the psychedelic studies program is to examine the spiritual, ritual, and therapeutic uses of psychedelics.
Furthermore, the program will study non-ordinary states of consciousness across a variety of cultures and throughout history.
The microprogram launched in the Religious Studies Department during the pandemic. This was after recent studies and research conducted by the Johns Hopkins University showed that psychedelic drugs have incredible potential in treating chronic health issues. This prompted Dr. Valley and Dr. Williams — experts in the knowledge of death, dying and grief, as well as mental health disparities — to create a psychedelic studies course.
To enroll in the microprogram, candidates must have a four-year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent diploma. After completion, students will receive nine credits towards the Master’s program in psychedelic studies.
RELATED: The Collective Unconscious And Psychedelics – How They Relate
The Master’s Program In Psychedelics Studies
The idea for the Master’s program in psychedelic studies was to expand the microprogram and dive deeper into the field of psychedelics and psychotherapy. This is to intertwine both religious studies and spirituality.
Initially, enrollment will only be 20 students, with the goal being to attract mental health clinicians — both doctors and psychotherapists. Additionally, the program will seek active individuals from backgrounds in chaplaincy and theology.
Founders say that training will help educate students to work with psychedelics in an “informed, ethical, and safe way, specifically across race and ethnicity and other dimensions of stigma.”
The program will stress training from different populations across different cultures.
The connection between the religious studies and the wisdom tradition of the different cultures is important. This helps bring the mysticism of the psychedelic experience closer to understanding. It’s why, during the course, students will contribute a minimum of 100 hours of work with a variety of indigenous communities. This is to help them learn about traditional practices and healing techniques.
In addition, the University of Ottawa is actively communicating with communities and institutions — such as the Brazilian Santo Daime churches. These places are legally capable of using ayahuasca brew for religious purposes. Therefore, these churches are legally exempt under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
RELATED: The Top 10 Psychedelic Science Studies Of 2022
Is The Psychedelic Studies Master’s Program Legal?
Given the murky legal status of psychedelics, some may be wondering about the legal framework of the Master’s program.
Although psychedelic studies includes deep knowledge, students will not be interacting with substances that are illegal.
Under the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, psychedelics are regulated as Schedule III substances. This means that selling, possessing, and producing them is illegal unless given permission for a clinical trial or research. Additionally, the federal Health Minister may approve the use of psychedelics on a case-by-case basis. This is due to Section 56 exemptions — like the Santo Daime churches.
Students will not use any psychedelic substances. However, participants will observe and learn from indigenous communities — whom are exempt from the CDSA. In order for the program to exist, it has to stay within legal grounds.
The launch of the Master’s program in psychedelic studies is an exciting step towards better understanding what psychedelics are. While there remains stigma surrounding the drugs, the program will be another step in showing how they can be an effective treatment method.
Psychedelic Studies in Academia: What’s Happened Since 2022
This article was written in anticipation of the University of Ottawa’s Master’s program launching in fall 2022. That program launched as planned and the University of Ottawa has continued to be among the institutions taking psychedelic studies seriously at the graduate level. Here is how the academic landscape has evolved since then.
The University of Ottawa’s program has been running for several years now. The Master’s in psychedelics and consciousness studies launched successfully and has produced graduates who are entering clinical research, harm reduction work, and psychedelic policy. The program represents one of the few formally accredited graduate credentials in this space in North America, which has made it a destination for students who want academic credentials alongside practical training in psychedelic-adjacent work.
Other major academic institutions have built out formal programs. Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research (launched 2019) has become the de facto U.S. flagship, having published peer-reviewed trials on psilocybin for depression, smoking cessation, alcohol use disorder, and anorexia. NYU Langone’s psychedelic research program is active across multiple conditions. UCSF has a psychedelic research group. The London-based Psychedelic Research Group at Imperial College London, led by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, relocated to UCSF in 2021 — bringing significant clinical and neuroimaging expertise to the U.S. The Naropa University in Colorado offers graduate programs explicitly integrating contemplative traditions with psychedelic healing practices. Across North America, the number of universities with some form of psychedelic research or training infrastructure has grown from a handful in 2019 to dozens by 2025.
Credentials, training, and professional development. Beyond degree programs, a growing number of psychedelic facilitator training programs have emerged — some connected to universities, some independent. In Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority’s psilocybin facilitator licensing requirements have created demand for accredited training programs, and several institutions (including Portland’s CIIS and multiple private training programs) have built curriculum specifically toward facilitator certification. Colorado’s Prop 122 natural medicine framework similarly requires facilitator training. These state-level regulatory frameworks are creating the infrastructure for a profession that did not formally exist in the U.S. three years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the University of Ottawa’s psychedelic studies Master’s program actually launch?
Yes. The University of Ottawa’s Master’s program in psychedelics and consciousness studies launched in fall 2022 as planned. The program has been running since and offers one of the few formally accredited graduate credentials in psychedelic studies in North America. It builds on the University’s earlier microprogram in Psychedelics and Spirituality Studies, which launched in 2020 and provided the foundation for expanding to a full Master’s level program.
What other universities offer psychedelic studies programs?
Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research is the leading U.S. clinical research hub. NYU Langone, UCSF (home to Robin Carhart-Harris’s group since 2021), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham all have active research programs. For training and education, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco has long offered psychedelic-focused programs within its counseling psychology graduate programs. Naropa University in Boulder offers graduate programs integrating contemplative traditions with psychedelic healing. The landscape has expanded substantially since 2019, with dozens of universities now having some formal psychedelic research or training infrastructure.
How do I become a licensed psilocybin facilitator in Oregon or Colorado?
Oregon requires psilocybin facilitators to complete an approved training program (minimum 160 hours) and obtain licensure from the Oregon Health Authority. Approved training programs must meet OHA curriculum standards. Several programs have been approved, including Portland’s CIIS and various private providers. Colorado’s Prop 122 framework (natural medicine health act) similarly requires facilitator training and licensing through the state’s Natural Medicine Advisory Board regulations. In both states, facilitators must be licensed to operate legally within the regulated service center model. Neither state allows home use or private delivery outside licensed facilities.
Is a psychedelic studies degree necessary to work in the psychedelic field?
It depends on the role. Clinical researchers publishing peer-reviewed work will typically need a PhD or MD in a relevant field — a psychedelic studies degree alone is not sufficient for clinical research positions at major academic medical centers. For therapists and facilitators, the Oregon and Colorado licensing frameworks require specific facilitator training but do not require a psychedelic studies graduate degree. Harm reduction workers, policy advocates, and integration coaches generally do not require formal credentials, though lived experience and community trust matter more. The University of Ottawa program and similar offerings are most relevant for people pursuing academic or policy careers, clinical researchers wanting specific psychedelic training, and professionals adding context to existing clinical credentials.
