EXPANSION COMES AS INTEREST IN PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCH GROWS ACROSS MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY.
The University of Ottawa is expanding its Master of Arts in Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies with a new French-language stream, a move that will broaden access to one of Canada’s most unusual academic programs.
The interdisciplinary degree — launched in 2024 — examines the therapeutic, cultural and spiritual uses of psychedelic substances and altered states of consciousness. It brings together scholars from psychology, religious studies and other disciplines to study psychedelics across cultures and throughout history.
Beginning in fall 2026, students will be able to complete the program in either English or French.
Jeremy Richard, an assistant professor in the School of Psychology and a clinical psychologist, said the expansion reflects the university’s bilingual mandate and growing interest in psychedelic science.
“The program is kind of a first of its kind to offer a training program in psychedelic science… within a formal academic institution in Canada,” Richard said.
Expanding access to in a bilingual university
The program originally launched as an English-only pilot while faculty tested demand and refined the curriculum. Now, after several years of operation, the school is preparing to offer courses in French.
“With the success of the English-language program, they decided to expand their faculty…and expand the program in French,” Richard said.
The change could make the program more accessible to Francophone students. According to Richard, an ongoing challenge was finding scholars with expertise in psychedelic research who can teach in both languages.
“There’s quite a limited percentage of people with knowledge and expertise in psychedelic research that are both Anglophone and Francophone,” he said.
While the new French stream will largely mirror the English curriculum, it will incorporate more francophone scholarship and research from France and Quebec, where several psychedelic research groups are active.
A growing field of research
Interest in psychedelic science has surged globally over the past decade as researchers examine substances such as psilocybin, LSD, ketamine and MDMA for potential mental health treatments. Studies suggest these compounds may help address conditions such as depression, PTSD and anxiety, while promoting emotional resilience and insight.
The U of O’s program aims to train students to work within this emerging field through research, clinical work and/or spiritual care.
Program co-director, Dr. Monnica Williams, and a professor at the School of Psychology, said the degree was designed to combine academic research with practical training.
“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,” Williams said in a news release when the program launched.
The one-year master’s program draws on multiple disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, anthropology and religious studies, reflecting the complex ways psychedelics have been used historically — from Indigenous ritual practices to modern clinical therapy.
A “decolonial” approach to psychedelic studies.
The program acknowledges the historical roots of psychedelic substances within Indigenous cultures.
Courses explore topics such as sacred plant medicines and traditional healing practices, while encouraging students to critically examine the Western scientific frameworks now shaping psychedelic medicine.
Richard said that approach is embedded across the curriculum.
“If we’re presenting the research that’s being done with psychedelic therapies … we contextualize that within the domain where psychedelics first emerged in societies, through various Indigenous and shamanic practices,” he said.
Program co-director, Dr. Anne Vallely, a professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, said the program distinguishes itself by incorporating spiritual perspectives alongside scientific study.
“The program is unique in integrating spiritual guidance within the psychedelic-assisted therapy framework,” Vallely said
Financial and accessibility concerns
Despite the growing interest in the program, affordability remains a challenge. Last year, The Charlatan reported the tuition for a full-time student in the program is $30,000, while part-time students pay $3,250 per class. There was no reported variation in cost for international students.
Professional master’s programs can be expensive, raising questions about who is able to pursue careers in psychedelic research or therapy.
“These programs can be quite expensive, so it’s always the question of which students can afford this and which students can’t,” Richard said.
The program is currently exploring funding options such as research grants and scholarships to help support students interested in conducting psychedelic-related projects.
Looking ahead
Richard believes the program’s bilingual expansion and hybrid delivery model could help attract students from across Canada and internationally.
“Offering it in French and English will allow us to get a wider population of students,” he said.
Richard also expects the field of psychedelic studies to continue expanding over the next decade, with more universities potentially launching similar programs as research and clinical interest grows.
For now, the University of Ottawa is one of the few universities in Canada offering a formal graduate degree dedicated specifically to psychedelic science — and one of the only programs attempting to do so in both official languages.
