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    * Master of Arts Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies

  Master of Arts Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies

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      The School of Psychology offers an interdisciplinary graduate program leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies (PCS).

      Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies focuses on developing advanced knowledge surrounding the therapeutic, spiritual, and ritual uses of psychedelics cross-culturally and throughout human history. Its goal is the advancement of research and competency in the areas of human consciousness, psychology, comparative mysticism, and formal training in psychedelic-assisted therapies for clinicians and spiritual care providers.

      Learn more about this program

      For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

      To be eligible, candidates must:

        * Have an honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), or higher degree in any related discipline, with an admission minimum average of 70% (B);
        * Demonstrate a high academic achievement as shown by official academic transcript, academic reference forms, and other supporting documentation;
        * Possess two strong academic or professional letters of reference.

      Additional admission requirements:

        * Have a previous graduate-level course in cultural diversity or multicultural counseling, and coursework in research/professional ethics.

      Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2025-2026 calendars for the previous requirements.

      Master’s with Research Paper

      Student must complete the following requirements:

      Course List
        Code                             Title                                                                                         Units  
        Compulsory Courses                                                                                                           
        PSY 6137                         Psychedelic Psychotherapies Mental Health                                                     3 Units
        SRS 5108                         Foundations of Psychedelic Studies                                                            3 Units
        SRS 5109                         Psychedelic Experience: Contemplation, Preparation, and Integration                           3 Units
        SRS 5110                         Sacred Plant Medicines and Shamanic Practices                                                 3 Units
        3 course units from:             3 Units                                                                                     
          PSY 6002                       Practicum in Applied Research                                                                        
          PSY 6013                       Practicum in Clinical Uses of Psychedelics                                                           
        3 course units from:             3 Units                                                                                     
          PSY 6148                       Fieldwork in Indigenous and Cultural Healing Practices                                               
          SRS 6980                       Directed Studies I                                                                                   
        Optional Courses                                                                                                             
        6 optional course units from: 1  6 Units                                                                                     
          ANT 6112                       Medical Anthropology                                                                                 
          BIO 5130                       Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology                                                                    
          CMM 5302                       Comprehensive Pharmacology I                                                                         
          CMM 5303                       Comprehensive Pharmacology II                                                                        
          NSC 6101                       Consciousness: An Interdisciplinary Perspective from Neuroscience, Philosophy and Psychology         
          PSY 6134                       Mental Health Interview and Psychometrics                                                            
          PSY 6138                       Neuroscience of Psychedelics                                                                         
          PSY 6139                       Ethics in Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness                                                       
          PSY 6191                       Seminars in Psychology 2                                                                             
          PSY 6951                       Seminar in Neuropharmacology and Behavior 2                                                          
          SRS 5927                       Shamanic Traditions                                                                                  
          SRS 6906                       Religion and Psychology                                                                              
          PSY 5107                       Qualitative Methods in Psychology                                                                    
        Research Paper                                                                                                               
        MRP 6999                         Major Research Paper                                                                                 
        

        Note(s)

        1

        Three optional course units may be replaced from a secondary discipline approved by the School of Psychology.

        2

        As the topic for these courses vary, they must be relevant to the degree and validated by Graduate committee.

        Master's with Coursework

        Student must complete the following requirements:

        Course List
          Code                        Title                                                                                         Units  
          Compulsory Courses                                                                                                      
          PSY 6137                    Psychedelic Psychotherapies Mental Health                                                     3 Units
          SRS 5108                    Foundations of Psychedelic Studies                                                            3 Units
          SRS 5109                    Psychedelic Experience: Contemplation, Preparation, and Integration                           3 Units
          SRS 5110                    Sacred Plant Medicines and Shamanic Practices                                                 3 Units
          3 course units from:        3 Units                                                                                     
            PSY 6002                  Practicum in Applied Research                                                                        
            PSY 6013                  Practicum in Clinical Uses of Psychedelics                                                           
          3 course units from:        3 Units                                                                                     
            PSY 6148                  Fieldwork in Indigenous and Cultural Healing Practices                                               
            SRS 6980                  Directed Studies I                                                                                   
          Optional Courses                                                                                                        
          9 optional course units: 1  9 Units                                                                                     
            ANT 6112                  Medical Anthropology                                                                                 
            BIO 5130                  Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology                                                                    
            CMM 5302                  Comprehensive Pharmacology I                                                                         
            CMM 5303                  Comprehensive Pharmacology II                                                                        
            NSC 6101                  Consciousness: An Interdisciplinary Perspective from Neuroscience, Philosophy and Psychology         
            PSY 6134                  Mental Health Interview and Psychometrics                                                            
            PSY 6191                  Seminars in Psychology 2                                                                             
            PSY 6951                  Seminar in Neuropharmacology and Behavior 2                                                          
            SRS 5927                  Shamanic Traditions                                                                                  
            SRS 6906                  Religion and Psychology                                                                              
            PSY 5107                  Qualitative Methods in Psychology                                                                    
          

          Note(s)

          1

          Three optional course units may be replaced from a secondary discipline approved by the School of Psychology.

          2

          As the topic for these courses vary, they must be relevant to the degree and validated by Graduate committee.

          Minimum Requirements

          Students must maintain a minimum average of B during their master’s program. Those who receive a grade lower than B in two courses or more will be required to withdraw.

          Research at the University of Ottawa

          Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.

          Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:

            * Creating a sustainable environment
            * Advancing just societies
            * Shaping the digital world
            * Enabling lifelong health and wellness

          From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.

          Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences

          The Faculty of Social Sciences represents a place of excellence in knowledge creation, research and training. Driven by both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, research at the Faculty is rich, innovative and varied, contributing to the depth of understanding and breadth of discussions on a variety of issues nationally and internationally. This research, whether it be fundamental, theoretical, applied or action-oriented, is generated by our renowned expertise, ultimately culminating in applications designed to influence individual communities and the betterment of society.

          We have identified five research themes which collectively represent a large proportion of the research undertaken at the Faculty of Social Sciences:

            * International Studies
            * Francophonie
            * Public Policy
            * Health, Well-Being
            * Justice, Society

          Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Social Sciences

          Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Citizenship and Minorities (CIRCEM), Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS), Centre for Public Management and Policy, Centre for Research on Educational and Community Service (CRECS), Centre on Governance (COG), Human Rights Research and Education Centre (affiliation), Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies and Institute for Science, Society and Policy.

          For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb.

          IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.

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