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)
REL 321 Jesus and the Gospels Arts and Humanities Spring Even Years 3/3
REL 322 The Apostle Paul: Letters, Controversies, and Philosophy Arts and Humanities Spring Odd Years 3/3
REL 324 The Bible and Modern Film Arts and Humanities Summer 3/3
REL 324 The Bible and Modern Film People and Society Summer 3/3
REL 325 Jesus in Myth and History Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 325 Jesus in Myth and History People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 326 The Bible in History Arts and Humanities Fall Odd Years 3/3
REL 330 Caribbean Religion Arts and Humanities Fall 3/3
REL 330 Caribbean Religion People and Society Fall 3/3
REL 331 Religions of Asia Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 332 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 334 The American Jewish Experience: Hollywood and Popular Culture Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 335 American Religion in Modern Film Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 335 American Religion in Modern Film People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 338 Latin American and U.S. Latino/a Religion Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 338 Latin American and U.S. Latino/a Religion People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 339 Transfer Credits Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 1/4
REL 341 Modern Religious Thought I Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 342 Modern Religious Thought II Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 343 Saints and Sinners: Introduction to Catholicism Arts and Humanities Fall Odd Years 3/3
REL 343 Saints and Sinners: Introduction to Catholicism People and Society Fall Odd Years 3/3
REL 345 Religion and Gender Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 345 Religion and Gender People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 347 Experiencing Religion: Conversion Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 348 Reformation Europe Arts and Humanities By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 348 Reformation Europe People and Society By Announcement Only 3/3
REL 349 All Roads Lead to Rome: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Religion and Rome Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 349 All Roads Lead to Rome: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Religion and Rome People and Society Spring 3/3
REL 350 Current Issues in Religion Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 351 Death and Dying Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 351 Death and Dying People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 352 Religion and Science Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 352 Religion and Science People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 353 Religion and American Politics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 353 Religion and American Politics People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 354 Religion and the Problem of Evil Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
REL 356 Myth and Religion Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 357 Gender, Power, Gods Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 357 Gender, Power, Gods People and Society Spring 3/3
REL 358 The Color of God: Race and Religion Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 358 The Color of God: Race and Religion People and Society Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
REL 359 Transfer Credits Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring, Summer 1/4
REL 360 Religion and Bioethics Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 360 Religion and Bioethics People and Society Spring 3/3
REL 361 Religion and Youth in Contemporary America Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 361 Religion and Youth in Contemporary America People and Society Spring 3/3
REL 362 The Sanctity of Life: Selected Themes From the Ancient World to the Present Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 362 The Sanctity of Life: Selected Themes From the Ancient World to the Present People and Society Spring 3/3
REL 363 Religion and Science Fiction: Dystopia, Faith, and the Future Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3
REL 364 Spiritual Healing in the Americas from Controversy to Cure Arts and Humanities Spring 3/3