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)
ART 391 Graphic Design II Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 392 Multimedia III Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 401 Advanced Painting I Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 402 Advanced Painting II Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 405 Advanced Figure Drawing Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 406 Special Topics in Studio Art for Undergraduate Students Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 407 Special Topics: Renaissance and Baroque Art Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 410 Advanced Digital Photography I Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 411 Experimental Photography Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 417 Advanced Sculpture I Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 418 Advanced Sculpture II Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 451 Intaglio/Relief III Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 452 Lithography III Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 453 Silkscreen III Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 454 Computer Assisted Printmaking: Intaglio and Relief Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 462 Advanced Ceramics Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 468 Figure in Clay III Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 491 Graphic Design III Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 493 Illustration Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 506 Special Topics in Studio Art for Undergraduate Students Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 510 Advanced Digital Photography 2 Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 517 Advanced Sculpture III Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 551 Intaglio/Relief IV Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 552 Lithography IV Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 553 Silkscreen IV Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 554 Computer Assisted Printmaking Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ART 555 Topics in Printmaking Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 1/6
ART 562 Contemporary Ceramic Art Arts and Humanities Fall, Spring 3/3
ASG 150 Designing for All: Accessibility and Technology People and Society Fall, Spring 3/3
ATM 100T Transfer Credit Elective STEM 1/10
ATM 102 Introduction to Weather and Climate STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
ATM 103 Survey of Modern Meteorology STEM Fall 3/3
ATM 200T Transfer Credit Elective STEM 1/10
ATM 243 Weather Forecasting STEM Spring 3/3
ATM 244 Tropical Weather and Forecasting STEM Fall 3/3
ATM 265 Chemistry in the Air: From Air Pollution to Climate Change STEM Spring 3/3
ATM 305 Atmospheric Thermodynamics STEM Fall 3/3
BIL 101 Introductory Biological Science STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
BIL 102 Humans and Biotechnology STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 103 Introduction to Ecology STEM Fall 3/3
BIL 104 Genetics and Society STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
BIL 105 Biology of Plants STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 106 Biology of Animals STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 107 Introduction to Evolution STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 108 Molecular Journey to Being Human STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 109 Human Biology STEM Spring 3/3
BIL 116 Introduction to Cancer Biology STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 117 Introduction to Animal Behavior STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 118 Introduction to Human Ecology STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 119 Drug Addiction and the Brain STEM Fall 3/3