SANS Partners with University of South Carolina Aiken
Preeminent Leader in Cybersecurity to Offer Coveted Undergraduate Certificate within Existing Degree Program
Aiken, SC (01/19/2021) — Students at the University of South Carolina Aiken (UofSC Aiken) can now pursue a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity that includes expert content, courses, and premier certifications from the SANS Technology Institute (SANS.edu). SANS.edu is the world leader in providing practical cybersecurity academic programs for industry and government professionals. UofSC Aiken and SANS.edu formalized a partnership in December through a memorandum of understanding. It incorporates SANS.edu's Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity (ACS) as an option within the Cybersecurity bachelor's degree offered by UofSC Aiken.
"This partnership with SANS.edu is a game-changer for our students and our program. We are so excited to be the SANS Technology Institute's first four-year partner institution! In addition to the content expertise our students will gain, SANS.edu will also help our students find jobs in cybersecurity upon graduation, which is incredible," stated Dr. Chad Leverette, Dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering at UofSC Aiken.
Eligible students in the cybersecurity degree program may elect to pursue the SANS.edu Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity, which will substitute four university courses with four advanced immersion SANS.edu cybersecurity courses and the associated Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC). New students who already hold GIAC certifications may apply for college credit while pursuing a cybersecurity degree at UofSC Aiken.
"We believe this agreement represents a powerful partnership that will deliver a national model for four-year undergraduate degree programs in cybersecurity. The combination of the reputation of SANS and their respected GIAC certifications with the deep development that comes from a bachelor's degree built on a strong liberal arts core will set UofSC Aiken graduates apart," said Dr. Sandra Jordan, Chancellor of UofSC Aiken.
UofSC Aiken's Cybersecurity degree is now also offered online through UofSC Palmetto College, opening up the degree to students anywhere in the world.
Regional industry, government, and national laboratory personnel consulted on developing this Cybersecurity degree, newly offered in 2018, and sponsor capstone projects for UofSC Aiken seniors. Additionally, the university offers a bachelor's degree in Applied Computer Science that provides opportunities for students to become proficient in various programming languages (e.g., Java, Python), mobile apps and technology, network and database design, and web development.
An online information session is being offered on February 2 at noon. To register and for additional information about the program, visit www.sans.edu/usca.
"This is another example of how UofSC Aiken is bringing together key partnerships to create a cybersecurity ecosystem in Aiken County and throughout South Carolina," says Dr. Daren Timmons, Provost of UofSC Aiken.
The partnership with the SANS Technology Institute is only one of several significant activities that provide additional opportunities to students and make this degree offering at UofSC Aiken genuinely unique in South Carolina and throughout the southeast:
- The U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) was recently relocated to Fort Gordon and is working on a partnership with UofSC Aiken.
- A $50 million Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) research building will be built on UofSC Aiken's campus and will focus on cybersecurity and other cutting-edge STEM technologies.
- The South Carolina National Guard has as their number one priority to build a $30 million DreamPort cybersecurity center on UofSC Aiken's campus.
This unique and powerful partnership between UofSC Aiken and SANS.edu will add to this momentum. It will leverage the SANS Technology Institute's world-class cybersecurity undergraduate certificate with UofSC Aiken's Cybersecurity degree. Graduates will enter the workforce ready to perform at high levels without requiring months of additional costly advanced training.
UofSC Aiken Students who achieve SANS.edu's Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity can expect favorable employment opportunities with personal assistance from SANS.edu's Career Center:
- 91% of students who completed the SANS curriculum gained employment in cybersecurity within six months.
- The median starting salary of students who complete the SANS curriculum is $70-90K.
- 99% of students surveyed said their SANS education positively impacted their professional growth.
- UofSC Aiken students who select the SANS curriculum will earn 3 GIAC cybersecurity certifications that employers recognize and respect.
Students currently enrolled in the degree program may select the SANS.edu certificate option beginning this February.
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Students at the University of South Carolina Aiken (UofSC Aiken) can now pursue a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity that includes expert content, courses, and premier certifications from the SANS Technology Institute (SANS.edu).
