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)
PHI 131 Ethical Debates Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 131 Ethical Debates People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 135 Love 101 Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 135 Love 101 People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 210 Symbolic Logic Arts and Humanities Fall, Summer 3/3
PHI 215 Logic and Law Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
PHI 215 Logic and Law People and Society Spring 3/3
PHI 236 Feminist Philosophy Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 236 Feminist Philosophy People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 237 Philosophy of Sport Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 238 Environmental Ethics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 238 Environmental Ethics People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 240 Language, Power and Politics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 240 Language, Power and Politics People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 241 History and Philosophy of Science Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 242 Self-Knowledge Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 244 Philosophy of Emotions Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 245 Philosophical Psychology Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 245 Philosophical Psychology People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 246 Introduction to Cognitive Studies Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 246 Introduction to Cognitive Studies People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 246 Introduction to Cognitive Studies STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 247 Perception Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 248 Phenomenology Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 271 Ancient Philosophy Arts and Humanities Fall 3/3
PHI 272 Modern Philosophy Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
PHI 295 Special Topics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 1/4
PHI 296 Special Topics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 1/4
PHI 301 RTH VIEWS & PROB Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 304 Atheism and the Meaning of Life Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 330 Ethics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 331 Social and Political Philosophy Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 331 Social and Political Philosophy People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 332 Philosophy of Law Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
PHI 332 Philosophy of Law People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
PHI 333 Philosophical foundations of criminal law Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 333 Philosophical foundations of criminal law People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 334 Biomedical Ethics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 334 Biomedical Ethics People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
PHI 335 Professional Ethics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 335 Professional Ethics People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 336 Human Rights. Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 336 Human Rights. People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 337 Environmental Ethics Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 337 Environmental Ethics People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 338 Philosophy and Feminism Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 338 Philosophy and Feminism People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PHI 339 Philosophy of Love Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
PHI 339 Philosophy of Love People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
PHI 340 Theory of Knowledge Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3