Women's Cyber Security Immersion Academy

Women's Immersion Academy

To help fill the skills gap, the SANS Institute created the SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academy, an intensive, accelerated training program that provides SANS world class training and GIAC certifications to quickly and effectively launch careers in cybersecurity. SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academies are 100% scholarship-based and no cost to participants. To learn more, contact us at immersionacademy@sans.org. A United States Cyber Academy program.

Apply for the 2021 Women's Academy Now

Candidates who qualify and wish to apply for the SANS Women's Immersion Academy will follow these steps:
- Complete the online application form
- Upon receiving a skill assessment test, the candidate will complete the assessment within 5 days
- Candidates may receive an invitation to submit supporting documents including a resume and formal transcripts
- Qualified candidates will then be invited to a phone interview
- Applicants accepted into the program will receive a formal "Offer of Admission" which outlines the program scheduled, its targeted dates for course completion as outlined on the website under the program section, and the verbiage in the MOU.
- The candidate must accept the offer as presented, and will then receive confirmation of their application status within four weeks of the application deadline.

Apply Now

2021 Academy Timeline

Applications open: March 1, 2021
Deadline to apply: June 30, 2021
Training begins: August 2021
Graduation: February 2022

All applicants must meet the following requirements:

Senior in college; preferably pursuing a degree in a Computer/IT-related field or technical STEM discipline.
College graduate OR career changers currently not working in the information security field or with prior work experience from the information security field.
Must be a U.S. citizens or a permanent legal resident (Green card holder) currently residing in the U.S.
Graduates currently pursuing or having achieved a Master's or PhD in information security are not eligible to apply.
If you are currently working in the information security field, or with prior work experience from the information security field, including risk & compliance, auditing, security governance, security awareness, information security program/ project management and similar, you are not eligible to apply.

Note: Transitioning military service members, active members of the reserves forces, US Coast Guard members, and military veterans less than 10 years out of the military service cannot apply. Applicants in these categories are encouraged to apply to the VetSuccess Immersion Academy instead.

Required Courses and Certifications

SANS Course	GIAC Certification
SEC401: Security Essentials Boot Camp Style	GSEC - GIAC Security Essentials
SEC504: Hacker Techniques, Exploits & Incident Handling	GCIH - GIAC Certified Incident Handler

Elective Courses and Certifications

SANS Course Electives (Choose one course)	GIAC Certifications
FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis	GCFE - GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner
ICS410: ICS/SCADA Security Essentials	GICSP - Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional
SEC501: Advanced Security Essentials, Enterprise Defender	GCED - GIAC Certified Enterprise Defender
SEC503: Intrusion Detection In-Depth	GCIA - GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst
SEC511: Continuous Monitoring and Security Operations	GMON - GIAC Continuous Monitoring Certification
SEC542: Web App Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking	GWAPT - GIAC Certified Web Application Penetration Tester
SEC560: Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking	GPEN - GIAC Certified Penetration Tester