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)
ECE 505 Semiconductor Photonic Devices STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECE 785 Capstone in Cyber-Security or Artificial Intelligence STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 211 Principles of Microeconomics People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ECO 211 Principles of Microeconomics STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ECO 212 Principles of Macroeconomics People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ECO 300 Microeconomic Theory and Applications People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 300 Microeconomic Theory and Applications STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 301 Macroeconomic Theory People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 302 Microeconomic Theory People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 302 Microeconomic Theory STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 303 Macroeconomic Theory People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 307 Public Economics People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 345 Environmental Economics People and Society Spring, Summer 3/3
ECO 351 Economics of Development People and Society Spring, Summer 3/3
ECO 371 Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Global Economy People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 371 Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Global Economy Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 379 The Political Economy of Growth People and Society Fall 3/3
ECO 430 Applied Econometrics STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 443 Economic Analysis of Energy and Commodity Markets People and Society Fall 3/3
ECO 444 Game Theory in Economic Applications. STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECO 510 Mathematical Economics and Applications STEM Fall 3/3
ECO 511 Empirical Labor Economics STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECO 512 Topics in Mathematical Economics STEM Spring 3/3
ECO 520 Advanced Econometrics STEM Fall 3/3
ECO 532 History of Economic Thought People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 111 Introduction to the Earth's Ecosystem STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 113 Introduction to Environmental Policy People and Society Fall 3/3
ECS 195 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 196 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 197 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 198 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 199 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 201 Seminar Series in Contemporary Environmental Issues I People and Society Fall 1/1
ECS 201 Seminar Series in Contemporary Environmental Issues I STEM Fall 1/1
ECS 202 Seminar Series in Contemporary Environmental Issues II People and Society Spring 1/1
ECS 202 Seminar Series in Contemporary Environmental Issues II STEM Spring 1/1
ECS 204 Environmental Statistics STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 232 Ecological Principles and Environmental Applications STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 272 Special Topics in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 1/3
ECS 295 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 296 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 297 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 298 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 299 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society 1/5
ECS 301 Tools for Environmental Decision-Making: The Quantitative Perspective STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 302 Perspectives on Environmental Decision Making People and Society Spring 3/3
ECS 309 Microbes and the Environment STEM Fall 3/3
ECS 310 Sustainable Living People and Society Spring 3/3
ECS 310 Sustainable Living STEM Spring 3/3
ECS 323 Population, Sustainability, and the Media People and Society Spring 3/3