Individualized Cognate Courses


If you have questions regarding cognates or courses eligible to be used in individualized cognates, please log in to Navigate to schedule time to speak with your academic advisor.

Beginning in Fall 2021, UM students can fulfill the Areas of Knowledge general education requirement by creating an individualized cognate. Only courses (UM as well as transfer courses) with an Area of Knowledge course attribute in CaneLink can be used in an individualized cognate. All three courses in an individualized cognate must have the appropriate Area of Knowledge course attribute. Courses used in an individualized cognate cannot be double counted toward any other degree requirement. An individualized cognate must be a minimum of 3 courses (9 credit hours). Individualized cognates use the following academic plan codes: AT_0080 (Arts & Humanities), PS_0070 (People & Society), and ST_0026 (STEM). For information on thematic cognates, use the cognate search engine.

Below is a searchable list of current courses that can be used in an individualized cognate.

NOTE: The course a student takes to fulfill the quantitative skills proficiency requirement cannot be double counted by including it in an individualized cognate. Also courses with a grade of CR (except for test credits that are accepted with a UM equivalency from AP, IB, GCE, Cambridge Pre-U, CAPE, and CLEP programs) cannot be used to fulfill general education or other degree requirements like individualized cognates.

The courses below are currently effective for the: Spring 2026 Term

Subject Course No. Course Title Area of Knowledge Designation Typically Offered Credits (Min/Max)
CLA 370 Self and Other in the Ancient World Arts and Humanities Fall Odd Years 3/3
CLA 370 Self and Other in the Ancient World People and Society Fall Odd Years 3/3
CLA 372 Greek Religion Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
CLA 373 Religions of Rome Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
CLA 401 Special Topics in Classics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
CLA 402 Special Topics in Classics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
CLA 403 Special Topics in Classics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
CLA 422 Aristophanes Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
CLA 505 Seminar in Ancient Studies Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
COM 101 Media Communication in Society People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
COM 250 Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
COS 112 Interpersonal Communication People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 120 Exploring Human Communication People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
COS 210 Writing for Communication Studies People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 212 Interview Skills People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
COS 220 Communication Theory People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 304 Intercollegiate Debate Theory and Practice People and Society Fall, Spring 1/1
COS 311 Advanced Oral Advocacy People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 314 The Power of Dialogue People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 316 Small Group Communication People and Society Fall 3/3
COS 318 Nonverbal Communication People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
COS 324 Health Communication People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 325 Communication in Health Organization People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
COS 328 Sports As Communication People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 330 Conflict Management People and Society Spring 3/3
COS 336 Political Communication People and Society Spring Even Years 3/3
COS 343 Introduction to Intercultural Communication People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
COS 354 Organizing for Action People and Society Fall 3/3
COS 360 Speech Writing People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
COS 377 Argumentation and Critical Thinking People and Society Fall 3/3
COS 418 Organizational Communication People and Society Fall 3/3
COS 472 Persuasion People and Society Fall 3/3
COS 473 Words that Shaped the World People and Society Spring 3/3
COS 474 Presidential Debates People and Society Fall Even Years 3/3
COS 545 Intercultural Communication: International Perspectives People and Society Spring, Summer 3/3
COS 546 Intercultural Communication: Domestic Perspectives People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
CSC 110 Social and Ethical Issues in Computing STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
CSC 113 Data Science for the World STEM Fall, Spring 4/4
CSC 115 Python Programming for Everyone STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
CSC 116 Cybersecurity: An Introduction to Security in Cyberspace STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
CSC 118 Information Technology and Society STEM Fall, Summer 3/3
CSC 119 Computers and Society STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
CSC 120 Computer Programming I STEM Fall, Spring 4/4
CSC 198 Introductory Topics in Computer Science STEM By Announcement Only 1/3
CSC 210 Computing for Scientists STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
CSC 220 Computer Programming II STEM Fall, Spring 4/4
CSC 298 Sophomore Topics in Computer Science STEM Fall, Spring 1/3
CSC 314 Computer Organization and Architecture STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
CSC 314 Computer Organization and Architecture Fall, Spring 3/3
CSC 315 Introduction to Python for Scientists STEM Fall, Spring 3/3