USCA partners with SANS, the world leader in cyber education for working professionals

Aiken, SC (10/22/2021) — The University of South Carolina Aiken's (USCA) College of Sciences and Engineering welcomed their new partner, SANS, to campus Wednesday, October 20.

Students at USCA can now pursue a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity that includes expert content, courses, and premier certifications from SANS - the world leader in cyber education for working professionals. According to Dr. Chad Leverette, dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering, "If you know cyber, you know SANS."

The day's events included a tour of the network security classroom and a cybersecurity guest lecture by Mr. Mark Baggett, SANS senior instructor and technical advisor to the Department of Defense. The lecture was titled "A Hacker's Guide to the Global Cybersecurity Threat and a Local CSRA Response." A subsequent lunch and cyber discussion concluded with a ceremonial signing of an MOU by Dr. Dan Heimmermann, chancellor, USCA, and Mr. Eric Patterson, SANS.

Guests included:

USCA Chancellor, Dr. Dan Heimmermann

USCA Provost, Dr. Daren Timmons

USCA Cybersecurity Faculty, Dr. Houssain Kettani

USCA Cyber Consultant, Bob Peters

SANS, Eric Patterson

SANS, Mark Baggett

Commandant of the Cyber School, Brigadier General Paul G. Craft

Army Cyber Center of Excellence Chief of Training, Edward D. Buckner

SC National Guard, Major General Van McCarty

SC National Guard, Major General Brad Owens

SRNL Lab Director, Dr. Vahid Majidi

SRNL Cyber Strategy Director, Mr. Jon Dollan

"This partnership with SANS 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 will also help our students find jobs in cybersecurity upon graduation, which is incredible," stated Leverette.

Eligible students in the cybersecurity degree program may elect to pursue the SANS Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity, which will substitute four university courses with four advanced immersion SANS 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 USCA.

USCA's cybersecurity degree is now also offered online through UofSC Palmetto College, opening up the degree to students anywhere in the world.

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