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: Summer 2026 Term

Subject Course No. Course Title Area of Knowledge Designation Typically Offered Credits (Min/Max)
MTH 513 Partial Differential Equations I STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 514 Partial Differential Equations II STEM Spring 3/3
MTH 515 Ordinary Differential Equations STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 516 Dynamics and Bifurcations STEM Spring 3/3
MTH 520 Numerical Linear Algebra STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 521 Numerical Methods in Differential Equations STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
MTH 524 Introduction to Probability STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 525 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics STEM Spring 3/3
MTH 527 Theory of Computing STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
MTH 531 Topology I STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 532 Topology II STEM Spring 3/3
MTH 533 Introduction to Real Analysis I STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 534 Introduction to Real Analysis II STEM Spring 3/3
MTH 542 Statistical Analysis STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 547 Introduction to Mathematical Finance STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
MTH 551 Introduction to Differential Geometry STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 561 Abstract Algebra I STEM Fall 3/3
MTH 562 Abstract Algebra II STEM Spring 3/3
MTH 591 Topics in Mathematics STEM By Announcement Only 1/3
MTH 592 Topics in Mathematics STEM By Announcement Only 1/3
MTH 593 Topics in Mathematics STEM By Announcement Only 1/3
MUS 100T Transfer Credit Elective Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 1/10
MVP VOS Secondary Voice Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 1/1
MVP 100T Transfer Credit Elective Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 1/10
MVP 147 Men's Chorale Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 1/1
MVP 180 Symphonic Choir Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 1/1
MVP 188 Stagecraft and Acting for Opera Arts and Humanities Fall 1/1
MVP 500T Transfer Credit Elective Arts and Humanities 1/10
NUR 536 U.S. Health Care Crisis: Politics and Policies People and Society Spring 3/3
PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
PHI 103 Introduction to Philosophy through Markets and Morals Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 103 Introduction to Philosophy through Markets and Morals People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 104 Introduction to Philosophy and the Nature of Scientific Knowledge Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 104 Introduction to Philosophy and the Nature of Scientific Knowledge People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 105 Introduction to Philosophy through the Brain and Behavioral Sciences Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 105 Introduction to Philosophy through the Brain and Behavioral Sciences People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 105 Introduction to Philosophy through the Brain and Behavioral Sciences STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 106 Introduction to Philosophy and Health Sciences Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 106 Introduction to Philosophy and Health Sciences People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 107 Introduction to Philosophy and Law Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 107 Introduction to Philosophy and Law People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 108 Sexual Ethics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 108 Sexual Ethics People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 109 The Superhuman Mind: An Introduction to Philosophy of Mind Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
PHI 110 Critical Thinking Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 111 Introduction to Philosophy Through Video Games Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 115 Social and Ethical Issues in Computing People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 115 Social and Ethical Issues in Computing Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 130 Contemporary Moral Issues Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
PHI 130 Contemporary Moral Issues People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3