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)
PSY 375 Special Topics People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PSY 390 Intermediate Research Methods and Biobehavioral Statistics People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
PSY 390 Intermediate Research Methods and Biobehavioral Statistics STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
PSY 391 Tests and Measurements People and Society Spring Odd Years 3/3
PSY 391 Tests and Measurements STEM Spring Odd Years 3/3
PSY 425 Psychobiology People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PSY 425 Psychobiology STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
PSY 427 Psychoneuroimmunology People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PSY 427 Psychoneuroimmunology STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
PSY 430 Psychology of Infancy People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
PSY 431 Psychology of Social and Emotional Development People and Society Fall 3/3
PSY 474 Special Topics People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 101 Introduction to Religion Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 102 Problem of God Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 102 Problem of God People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 103 One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 103 One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 104 Atheism: Doubts and Debates Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 105 Asian Religions: Transforming the Self Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 105 Asian Religions: Transforming the Self People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 109 Anthropology of Religion Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 109 Anthropology of Religion People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 111 Introduction to the Bible: Tanakh, Old Testament Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 119 Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents. Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 1/4
REL 121 Introduction to the New Testament Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 131 Religion in America Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 139 Course taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 1/4
REL 151 Religion and Moral Choices Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 151 Religion and Moral Choices People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 151 Religion and Moral Choices Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 159 Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 1/4
REL 161 Religion and Medicine: Health Care as Spiritual Practice Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 181 Asian Religions Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 219 Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalent Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 1/4
REL 231 Jewish Civilization and Intro to Judaism, Jews, and Jewishness from Abraham to Wonder Woman Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 232 A Global History of Christianity Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 232 A Global History of Christianity People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 234 Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus - An Archaeological Odyssey Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 234 Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus - An Archaeological Odyssey People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 235 African American Religion Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 235 African American Religion People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 236 Cults and New Religious Movements in America Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 236 Cults and New Religious Movements in America People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 238 Holy War and Toleration in Western Religious Traditions Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 238 Holy War and Toleration in Western Religious Traditions People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 239 Transfer Credits Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 1/4
REL 240 Pilgrims, Shrines, Crusades and Saint in Spain Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 242 Religion in Revolutionary History Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 244 Sacred Space Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 244 Sacred Space People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3