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 2027 Term

Subject Catalog No. Course Title Area of Knowledge Designation Typically Offered Credits (Min/Max)
Biology
BIL
119 Drug Addiction and the Brain STEM Fall 3/3
Biology
BIL
120 Tree of Life: Introduction to Biodiversity STEM Fall 3/3
Biology
BIL
150 General Biology STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 4/4
Biology
BIL
151 General Biology Laboratory
Corequisite: BIL 150.
STEM Fall, Summer 1/1
Biology
BIL
153 Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory I STEM Fall 1/1
Biology
BIL
160 Evolution and Biodiversity
Prerequisite: BIL 150.
STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 4/4
Biology
BIL
161 Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory
Corequisite: BIL 160.
STEM Spring, Summer 1/1
Biology
BIL
163 Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory II
Corequisite: BIL 160 and CHM 112 or CHM 221.
STEM Spring 1/1
Biology
BIL
175 da Vinci Seminar in Biology
Requisite: DaVinci Scholars Program.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
190 Studies in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/5
Biology
BIL
194 Studies in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/5
Biology
BIL
195 Studies in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/5
Biology
BIL
213 HIV and Emerging Diseases: Sex, Science, and Society
Prerequisite: BIL 150 and BIL 151 or BIL 101.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
220 Evolution and Disease
Prerequisite: BIL 150 and BIL 160.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
222 Plant Diversity
Prerequisite: BIL 223 or BIL 226 or Consent of Instructor.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
223 Plants and People
Prerequisite: BIL150 and BIL160 Or Consent of Instructor.
STEM Fall Odd Years 3/3
Biology
BIL
226 General Botany
Prerequisite: BIL150 and BIL160 Or Consent of Instructor.
STEM Fall Even Years 3/3
Biology
BIL
227 General Botany Laboratory
Pre/Corequisite: BIL 223 or BIL 226 Or Consent of Instructor.
STEM By Announcement Only 1/1
Biology
BIL
228 Medical Botany
Prerequisite: BIL150 and BIL151 AND BIL160 and BIL161 for Biology Majors or Minors.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
230 Introduction to Marine Biology STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
231 Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory
Pre/Corequisite: BIL 230.
STEM Fall 1/1
Biology
BIL
244 Hormones and Behavior STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
250 Genetics
BIL 150 and BIL 160 and BIL 151 or BIL 153 and BIL 161 or BIL 163.
STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 4/4
Biology
BIL
255 Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIL 150 and BIL 160 and BIL 151 or BIL 153 and BIL 161 or BIL 163.
STEM Fall, Spring, Summer 3/3
Biology
BIL
256 Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory
Pre/Corequisite: BIL 255 Or BIL 559
STEM Spring 2/2
Biology
BIL
258 Core Laboratory Techniques STEM By Announcement Only 2/2
Biology
BIL
261 High Altitude Biology and Medicine STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
268 Neurobiology
Prerequisite: BIL 150.
STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
284 Special Laboratory Topics in Biology
Prerequisite: BIL 150 and BIL 151 and BIL 160.
STEM By Announcement Only 1/4
Biology
BIL
285 Special Topics in Biology STEM By Announcement Only 1/6
Biology
BIL
305 Biomedical Technology
Pre-requisites: BIL 150 and CHM 121
STEM Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
315 Marine Biota and Biogeochemical Cycles
Prerequisite: MSC 215
STEM Fall 3/3
Biology
BIL
316 Global Primary Production
Prerequisite: BIL 160.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
320 Evolutionary Biology
Prerequisite: BIL 150 and BIL 160.
STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
321 Invertebrate Zoology
Prerequisite: BIL 250 or BIL 255.
STEM Spring 4/4
Biology
BIL
322 Biology of Fungi
Prerequisite: BIL 150 or BIL 160
STEM Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
324 The Biology of Fishes
Prerequisite: BIL 230 or MBE 230
STEM Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
326 Diving Physiology & Biomedicine
BIL 150 and BIL 160 and BIL 151 or BIL 153 and BIL 161 or BIL 163.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
328 Biology of Birds
Prerequisite: At least one BIL course at the 200 - level
STEM By Announcement Only 4/4
Biology
BIL
329 Marine Vertebrate Zoology
Prerequisite: MBE 230.
STEM Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
330 Ecology
Prerequisite: BIL 250. or BIL 255. Calculus strongly recommended.
STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
331 Ecology Laboratory
Pre/Corequisite: BIL 330.
STEM Fall, Spring 2/2
Biology
BIL
333 Conservation Biology
Prerequisite: BIL 150 and BIL 151 and BIL 160 and BIL 161. BIL 330 recommended.
STEM Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
334 Biogeography and Conservation
Pre/Corequisite: BIL 330.
STEM Fall, Spring 3/3
Biology
BIL
336 Hurricanes and Ecology
Prerequisite: BIL 150 and BIL 160.
STEM By Announcement Only 2/2
Biology
BIL
337 Coastal Ecology
Pre/Corequisite: BIL 330.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
340 Herpetology STEM By Announcement Only 4/4
Biology
BIL
343 Animal Communication
Prerequisite: At Least 3 Credits of BIL 200 Level or Higher.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
348 Climate Change and Public Health STEM By Announcement Only 3/3
Biology
BIL
350 Survey of Marine Mammals
Prerequisite: BIL 150 and MSC 230.
STEM By Announcement Only 3/3