SANS Technology Institute

Programme overview

This undergraduate certificate consists of 12 credits delivered 100% online and designed to establish core cybersecurity knowledge and skills. The sequence of three courses is intended to be completed in about 9–12 months while working or studying elsewhere. The program includes preparation for the GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) certification and is designated by the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense; it also supports DoD 8140 workforce readiness.

What you'll study

• CSF 2395: Applied Mathematics for Information Security Professionals — 3 credits.
• CSF 2373: Introductory Python — 3 credits.
• CSF 2275: Foundations: Computers, Technology, & Security — 6 credits.

Courses use recorded video lessons from active cybersecurity practitioners and include hands-on labs and GIAC certification alignment.

Entry requirements

Applicants must be 18 or older and have previously earned at least 12 college credits. No prior technical experience is required. Applications are accepted monthly; students can apply by the 15th of any month and generally receive a decision within 30 days.

Career prospects

Though designed as a bridge to further cybersecurity study, graduates gain foundational skills relevant to entry-level IT and security roles such as help desk technician, network administrator, and system administrator. Completion also positions students to progress into SANS.edu's upper-division Applied Cybersecurity Certificate or bachelor’s degree pathways.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

SANS.edu offers academic pricing on SANS courses and GIAC certifications. For students lacking the 12 prior credits, SANS.edu notes options to earn transferable general education credits affordably through providers such as Sophia Learning or StraighterLine, or by pursuing CLEP exams, submitting qualifying AP scores, or applying Joint Services Transcript (JST) military training credits.