While public institutions have the autonomy to design their general education program to meet their unique needs and mission, that program shall: Incorporate coursework in each of the following core areas, at a minimum: Arts and humanities; Social and behavioral sciences; Biological and physical sciences; Mathematics; and English composition; Conform to the definitions and common standards in this chapter; and Incorporate the general education knowledge and skills required by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Standards for Accreditation. A public institution shall require each: Program leading to an A.A. or A.S. degree to include at least 28, but not more than 36, credit hours of general education courses; Associate’s degree program that does not lead to an A.A. or A.S. degree to include at least 18, but not more than 36, credit hours of general education courses; and Bachelor’s degree program to include at least 38, but not more than 48, credit hours of general education courses. Each course used to satisfy the credit requirements of §B of this regulation shall carry at least 3 credit hours. General education programs within the A.A. or A.S. degree or the bachelor’s degree at public institutions shall require at least: Two courses in arts and humanities; Two courses in social and behavioral sciences; Two science courses, at least one of which shall be a laboratory course; One course in mathematics, having performance expectations demonstrating a level of mathematical maturity beyond the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards in Mathematics (including problem-solving skills, and mathematical concepts and techniques that can be applied in the student’s program of study); and One course in English composition, completed with a grade of C- or better. Institution-Specific Requirements. In addition to the five required areas in §A(1) of this regulation, a public institution may include up to 8 credit hours in coursework outside the five areas. These courses may be integrated into other general education courses or may be presented as separate courses. Examples include, but are not limited to, Health, Diversity, and Computer Literacy. Public institutions may not include the courses in this section in a general education program unless they provide academic content and rigor equivalent to the areas in §A(1) of this regulation. A course in a discipline listed in more than one of the areas of general education may be applied only to one area of general education. A public institution may allow a speech communication or foreign language course to be part of the arts and humanities category. Composition and literature courses may be placed in the arts and humanities area if literature is included as part of the content of the course. Public institutions may not include physical education skills courses as part of the general education requirements. General education courses shall reflect current scholarship in the discipline and provide reference to theoretical frameworks and methods of inquiry appropriate to academic disciplines. Courses that are theoretical may include applications, but all applications courses shall include theoretical components if they are to be included as meeting general education requirements. Each public institution shall designate on the student transcript those courses that have met a general education requirement, including the specific core area or requirement it has fulfilled under this regulation.