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Bachelor's Program in Applied Cybersecurity
Earn the degree that prepares you to win a high-paying cybersecurity job.
Bachelor of Professional Studies in Applied Cybersecurity (BACS)
An Affordable Degree. A Powerful Advantage.
SANS Technology Institute, the best college in cybersecurity, and Montgomery College, Maryland's largest and most technically advanced community college, have partnered to create an affordable, high-quality pathway to a cybersecurity career: the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Applied Cybersecurity (BACS).
A groundbreaking cybersecurity bachelor's program, BACS enables talented students to establish strong academic foundations, develop high-level professional skills, and earn 8 industry-recognized Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC) — giving them a powerful advantage in the cybersecurity job market.
A 100% online option is available for all SANS.edu courses.
Join Us for A Free Online Information Session
Wednesday, December 16, 2 pm (ET).
Register here.
Be Job-Ready from Day One
Many employers require a 4-year degree to qualify for entry-level cybersecurity jobs. The SANS.edu BACS provides both the certified hands-on skills employers want and the bachelor's degree their human resources policies demand.
Graduate with the Right Certifications
Cybersecurity employers send more than 40,000 of their employees to pursue SANS training and GIAC certifications each year, confirming the value they see in the up-to-date, real-world training SANS provides and in the skills validation of GIAC certifications.
By completing those same SANS courses at SANS.edu, you'll gain the cutting-edge skills employers are seeking. You'll earn 8 GIAC cybersecurity certifications relied on by U.S. law enforcement, intelligence services, and military organizations, large corporations, and contractors to validate the skills of their full-time cybersecurity staff.
How It Works
Our curriculum is designed to make BACS graduates among the most job-ready candidates in cybersecurity. You'll begin your studies at Montgomery College and finish at the SANS Technology Institute, from which you'll earn your Bachelor of Professional Studies in Applied Cybersecurity.
Step 1. Begin your studies at Montgomery College.
Most students begin by earning an A.A.S. in Cybersecurity from Montgomery College.
- Foundational IT and computer science courses
- Foundational courses in oral and written communications
- Completion of all Maryland general education requirements in English, math, science, arts, and humanities
Step 2. Complete your studies at SANS Technology Institute.
Continue your studies and earn your bachelor's degree from SANS.edu.
- Immersive cybersecurity courses with hands-on lab work taught by industry leaders
- 8 industry-recognized GIAC cybersecurity certifications earned as you complete the program
- Professional development curriculum to gain cybersecurity-focused written and presentation skills
- Internship with the Internet Storm Center, a large-scale cybersecurity monitoring program
- Advanced cybersecurity coursework - and corresponding certification examinations - in areas of greatest industry need. Options include:
- Security monitoring and detection
- Security operations
- Network vulnerability testing
- Web application testing
- System and network forensics
- Industrial control systems security
Get Expert Support for Your Career
We will help you get hired. The SANS.edu Career Center connects you to professional advice and resources to help you each step of the way in your career search. We help you polish your resume and interview skills while connecting you to our exclusive cybersecurity network across the world.
Who Should Apply
Montgomery College Students and Alumni
You've earned your A.A.S., now get your bachelor's.
- SANS.edu and Montgomery College have established a pathway that enables graduates of Montgomery College's A.A.S. program in Cybersecurity with a GPA of 3.0 or greater to directly transfer into the SANS.edu BACS program. Current Montgomery College students can apply for provisional admission to the BACS program.
- Not earning an associate degree at Montgomery College? Learn how you can transfer.
High School Graduates
You want a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity. Earn one affordably.
- High school graduates can gain provisional admission into the SANS.edu BACS program. You'll complete your general education and foundational IT courses at Montgomery College before diving into SANS.edu courses.
High School Students
Get a head start on a college degree, if you prove you can excel.
- High school students who demonstrate a strong aptitude for careers in cybersecurity can complete some of their BACS courses at Montgomery College while still in high school through Montgomery's dual enrollment program. This will enable you to graduate from high school with college credit, potentially save money on tuition, and accelerate your completion of the BACS program.
Already have a bachelor's or master's — or an associate degree from another school?
The SANS.edu undergraduate certificate program in Applied Cybersecurity may be a good option for you if you would like to transition into a cybersecurity career. No prior cybersecurity experience is required.
Funding Option for High-Potential Students with Financial Need
The SANS Technology Institute's income share agreement (ISA) was designed to make our undergraduate programs more accessible to U.S. applicants with financial need who demonstrate high potential to succeed.
How It Works
- If you are offered and accept one of our ISA programs, most or all of your tuition payments will be deferred until after you've completed your program and are employed.
- Once you land a job and are earning at least $40,000 annually, you'll start making monthly payments of 8% of your income.
- You will never pay more than the payment cap and if you don't earn the monthly equivalent of at least $40,000 annually, your ISA will be forgiven after 4 years, even if you paid nothing at all.
- For any month you're not earning income, your ISA payments are deferred. There's no interest.
Interested in Being Considered for the ISA?
- Schedule a call with an admissions specialist to discuss this option further.
- Apply to the undergraduate program that interests you to be considered for the ISA.
Questions?
We're happy to help. Email the SANS.edu Admissions team at info@sans.edu or call (301) 241-7665.
About the SANS Technology Institute
Founded in 2005, the SANS Technology Institute (SANS.edu) is the independent, regionally-accredited, VA-approved subsidiary of SANS, the world's largest and most trusted provider of cybersecurity training, certification, and research. Offering graduate and undergraduate programs at the cutting edge of cybersecurity, SANS.edu is strengthening the cyber workforce through a career-focused curriculum built on proven SANS courses and industry-recognized GIAC certifications.
The SANS Technology Institute is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 - 267.284.5000), an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
