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: Fall 2026 Term

Subject Course No. Course Title Area of Knowledge Designation Typically Offered Credits (Min/Max)
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
ECS 324 You & Your Microbiome STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 325 Hazards and Disasters: The Nature-Society Interface People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 332 Ecology and Land Use in the Galapagos STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 335 Biodiversity in Peru STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 337 Latin America and the Environment People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 337 Latin America and the Environment STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 342 Decision-Making and the Environment Spring 3/3
ECS 342 Decision-Making and the Environment People and Society Spring 3/3
ECS 345 Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment People and Society Spring 3/3
ECS 352 Environmental Ethics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 372 Special Topics in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 373 Topics in Ecosystem Science STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 374 Topics in Environmental Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 375 Topics in Environment and the Humanities Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 377 Topics in Environmental Economics and Development People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 379 Special Topics in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 1/1
ECS 391 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 1/4
ECS 392 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 1/4
ECS 393 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 1/4
ECS 394 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 1/4
ECS 395 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy People and Society By Announcement Only 1/4
ECS 403 Interdisciplinary Approaches People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 403 Interdisciplinary Approaches STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ECS 432 Ecology in the Galapagos STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 433 Conservation in Practice People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 433 Conservation in Practice STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 485 Political Ecology of the Galapagos People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 485 Political Ecology of the Galapagos STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ECS 572 Special Topics in ECS People and Society By Announcement Only 0/3
EGN 123 Computing and Digital Solutions for the future STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
EGN 181 Resilience STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
EGN 381 Climate Challenges: Integrating Science, Health and Engineering STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
ENG 201 World Literary Masterpieces I Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ENG 202 World Literary Masterpieces II Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ENG 205 Jewish Literature Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ENG 209 Creative Writing Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ENG 210 Literary Themes and Topics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ENG 211 English Literature I Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ENG 212 English Literature II Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
ENG 213 American Literature I Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3