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)
BIL 120 Tree of Life: Introduction to Biodiversity STEM Fall 3/3
BIL 150 General Biology STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 4/4
BIL 151 General Biology Laboratory STEM Fall, Summer 1/1
BIL 153 Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory I STEM Fall 1/1
BIL 160 Evolution and Biodiversity STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 4/4
BIL 161 Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory STEM Spring, Summer 1/1
BIL 163 Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory II STEM Spring 1/1
BIL 175 da Vinci Seminar in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 190 Studies in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/5
BIL 194 Studies in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/5
BIL 195 Studies in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/5
BIL 213 HIV and Emerging Diseases: Sex, Science, and Society STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 220 Evolution and Disease STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 222 Plant Diversity STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 223 Plants and People STEM Fall Odd Years 3/3
BIL 226 General Botany STEM Fall Even Years 3/3
BIL 227 General Botany Laboratory STEM By Announcement Only 1/1
BIL 228 Medical Botany STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 230 Introduction to Marine Biology STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 231 Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory STEM Fall 1/1
BIL 244 Hormones and Behavior STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 250 Genetics STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 4/4
BIL 255 Cellular and Molecular Biology STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 256 Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory STEM Spring 2/2
BIL 258 Core Laboratory Techniques STEM By Announcement Only 2/2
BIL 261 High Altitude Biology and Medicine STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 268 Neurobiology STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 284 Special Laboratory Topics in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/4
BIL 285 Special Topics in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/6
BIL 305 Biomedical Technology STEM Spring 3/3
BIL 315 Marine Biota and Biogeochemical Cycles STEM Fall 3/3
BIL 316 Global Primary Production STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 320 Evolutionary Biology STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 321 Invertebrate Zoology STEM Spring 4/4
BIL 322 Biology of Fungi STEM Spring 3/3
BIL 324 The Biology of Fishes STEM Spring 3/3
BIL 326 Diving Physiology & Biomedicine STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 328 Biology of Birds STEM By Announcement Only 4/4
BIL 329 Marine Vertebrate Zoology STEM Spring 3/3
BIL 330 Ecology STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 331 Ecology Laboratory STEM Fall, Spring 2/2
BIL 333 Conservation Biology STEM Spring 3/3
BIL 334 Biogeography and Conservation STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
BIL 336 Hurricanes and Ecology STEM By Announcement Only 2/2
BIL 337 Coastal Ecology STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 340 Herpetology STEM By Announcement Only 4/4
BIL 343 Animal Communication STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 348 Climate Change and Public Health STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 350 Survey of Marine Mammals STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
BIL 351 Molecular Genetics Laboratory STEM Fall, Spring 2/2