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Triangulate Your Professional Pathway

Triangulate Your Professional Pathway

trangulation

Triangulating a World Language PhD curriculum with Graduate Minors, Certificates, or Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations and robust Networking Opportunities is essential for becoming competitive in today’s job market, both within and beyond the professoriate. While PhD training provides deep linguistic, cultural, and research expertise, pairing that foundation with field-specific academic programming helps students experience applied, industry-relevant skills. Equally important is engaging with professionals through career working groups, discipline-specific organizations, and relevant conferences, where emerging scholars can learn about current industry needs, identify career pathways, and build relationships that often lead to job opportunities. By deliberately integrating academic training, professional upskilling, and authentic networking, World Language PhD students position themselves not only to find meaningful roles within and beyond academia, but also to stand out as versatile, knowledgeable, and connected candidates. 

Triangulate Your Pathway for Careers Adjacent to and Beyond the Professoriate

PhD in Hispanic Linguistics

Adding a GIS in Second Language Studies has the potential to be applied to a wide range of career fields closely related to PhD students studying Hispanic Linguistics expertise and experience.

Program requirements: 
10 credits from a minimum of three approved courses, with at least two from graduate programs outside of the student's home program. 

Professional organizations:  
ACTFL: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages: Fitting for those looking to branch out to a career in Edtech (with a world languages focus) or language program administration. This is a large organization with many smaller interest groups in areas like Heritage Languages, Spanish, Language Learning for Specific Purposes (LSP), and Dual Language Immersion. Student membership: $29/year. 

IALLT: International Association for Language Learning Technology: For those interested in working in non-profit organizations that support language teaching/learning, in a language resource center, or in EdTech. The focus of this organization is using technology for language teaching. Student membership: $25/year. 

NAFSA: Association of International Educators: Ideal for those interested in going into study abroad or global education either at a university or private study abroad companies like EF tours. Student membership: $99/year. 

Potential Careers: 
Instructional Designer (K-12 or Higher Ed), Language Program Director/Consultant, Heritage Language Program Specialist, Curriculum Designer (HS or Higher Ed), Curriculum Specialist (Textbook Publishing), Curriculum Designer (corporate or Edtech), Study Abroad/Global Education Specialist  

For many of the job titles in the tech industry, additional technical expertise is required (i.e. coding in specific languages and frameworks). The Cognitive & Brain Sciences GIS affords this expertise. Students need to carefully choose courses that have the most practical application for the job market (i.e. avoid pure theory courses). This pathway is best for those majoring in areas such as Psycholinguistics, Syntax & Semantics, and Phonetics & Phonology. 

Program requirements: 
11 credits comprised of an Introductory course (3 credits) + Proseminar (2 credits) + two elective courses (6 credits). No application fee. 

Professional organizations:  
ILTA: International Language Testing Association 
Ideal for those interested in going into language assessment in Edtech (e.g., developing tests for ACTFL or the Duolingo English Test) or alt-ac (e.g., placement exams for a language program). This organization has special interest groups in more specific areas such as Automated Language Assessment and Integrated Assessment. Student membership: $20/year.  
UXPA: User Experience Professionals Association
For those who want to move into the tech industry, and more specifically User Experience (UX). Their Special Interest Group (SIG), UX Advocates for Latin America, provides an opportunity for UX professionals from Latin America to get involved in further developing the UX profession in this market. Student membership: $35/year. 
ACL: Association for Computational Linguistics 
Great for those interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry, and specifically in Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing. Student membership: $50/year.  

Potential Careers:  
Computational Linguist/Language Engineer, Data Scientist, UX Designer/ Researcher, Speech Scientist, Forensic Linguist, Analytical Linguist (FBI), Language Testing Assessment (Psychometrician) 

The Graduate Minor in Teaching in Virtual Environments creates a space for students to learn the theories, technologies and methods needed to provide a quality education and experience online effectively and successfully in college, university and adult education environments. Understand the social, economic, educational and political dimensions of how the Internet, and its tools, influence how we teach and how students and professionals learn. 

Program requirements:  
12 credits total: Required courses ESWDE 7701 Foundations of Distance Teaching and Learning (3 credit hours) + ESWDE 7277 Moving Online from the Traditional Classroom (3 credit hours) + ESWDE 7289 Practicum in Online Teaching (3 credit hours) + elective course (3 credits).  

Professional organizations: 
ACTFL: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages 
Ideal for those interested in alt-ac or Edtech careers in curriculum development or instructional design. Students should consider joining the Distance Learning SIG. Student membership: $29/year. 
ATD: Association for Talent Development 
Great for those interested in going into corporate talent and development jobs. Student membership: $129/year. 
AECT: Association for Educational Communications & Technology 
Ideal for those who aren’t sure if they want to go into Higher Ed or industry, as this organization supports professionals in both sectors. Student membership: $125/year.  

Potential Careers:  
Instructional designer (Edtech, corporate), content specialist (Edtech/publishing), Training Coordinator (industry), Learning Technology Specialist, LMS Administrator, E-Learning Specialist 

The PhD with a Certificate in Qualitative Inquiry in Education pathway is most suitable for students specializing in Sociolinguistics and Applied Linguistics. It is valuable for those focusing on Quantitative methods in their research and want to market themselves as a mixed-methods researcher, but may still be valuable for students already aligned with qualitative research.  

Program requirements:  
12 credit hours made up of an Introductory class (3 credits) + two embedded courses (6 credits) + a capstone class (3 credits). 

Professional organizations: 
ACTFL: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages 
Ideal for those interested in alt-ac or Edtech careers in curriculum development or instructional design. Student membership: $29/year. 

QRCA: Qualitative Research Consultants Organization 
Great for those interested in moving into consulting. Student membership: $35/year. 

AERA: American Educational Resource Association 
Ideal for those interested in moving into consulting, curriculum design, and research/policy analysis positions in the private (e.g. textbook publishers) or public (e.g. university systems, government) sectors. Student membership: $75/year.  

Potential Careers:  
Curriculum Developer, Instructional Designer, Localization Specialist, Qualitative Research Consultant, Research Analyst, Language Program Coordinator (K-12 or Higher Ed) 

A PhD combined with the Graduate Minor in Nonprofit Management or Graduate Certificate in Public Management is suitable for a Sociolinguistics specialist, but could also work for any of the Hispanic Linguistics specializations offered. Additional community service experience would be a plus for students interested in this pathway. The Office of Student Life: Leadership and Community Engagement at OSU is an excellent resource for those students looking for community service experience.

Program requirements:  
Graduate Minor in Nonprofit Management: 10 credit hours made up of 7 credits of foundations courses + 3 credits of an elective course. No application fee. 
Graduate Certificate in Public Management: 13 credit hours made up 10 credits of core courses + 3 credits of elective course(s). $60 application fee. 

Professional organizations: 
Net Impact
Good for those interested in working at a non-profit or in community outreach (at a university or corporate). Membership through local chapter (cost varies).  
APPAM: Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management 
Great for those interested in a career in public policy (government) or consulting (i.e. Policy Analyst). Student membership: $25/year. 
ICMA: International City/County Management Association 
For those interested in moving into a public administrative role (i.e. government). Student membership: $40/year. 

Potential Careers:  
Community Outreach Coordinator (Non-profit or corporate), Language Access Coordinator, Donor Relations Manager, Policy Advocate (non-profit), Program development coordinator (non-profit), Grants Writer/Manager (non-profit), Policy Analyst (consultant) 

*Although these are two separate programs, they are combined into one triangulation, since they both lead to similar career outcomes. 

The PhD combined with a Certificate in Practice of Data Analytics requires technical expertise in coding languages and programs. This certificate introduces students to technologies and practical applications of data analysis, and primarily attracts PhD students seeking a career change. There is a cost involved, so It could be of interest for students to apply for a Career Accelerator Grant to use toward the cost of completing this certificate. 

Program requirements:  
Four courses ($675 each if you register in advance, $100 off for OSU employees and alumni) including Introductory Statistics for Data Analysis, Data Mining, Applied Machine Learning, and Neural Networks & Deep Learning OR Visual Analytics. All online courses. 

Professional organizations:  
UXPA: User Experience Professionals Association) 
Great for those shifting their career to User Experience (UX) research or design. Their Special Interest Group (SIG), UX Advocates for Latin America, provides an opportunity for UX professionals from Latin America to get involved in further developing the UX profession in this market. Student membership: $35/year. 

Women in Data 
Organization that aims to increase diversity in data careers. Best for those interested in careers in data science and data analytics (industry). Community membership through local chapter is free. Pro membership is $120/year and gives access to industry networking events, webinars, career resources and education pathways. 

INFORMS: Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences   
Ideal for those interested in a career in data analytics (industry). Student membership: $44/year.  

Potential Careers:  
Language Data Scientist, Bilingual UX/UI Designer, Data Analyst, Research Analyst 

Completing a PhD combined with the Quantitative Research Methods GIS helps strengthen quantitative data analysis skills and focuses more heavily on research, complementing already gained skills through work on individual research projects.. It serves as a viable option for those that desire a stronger foundation in data analysis but don’t want to/can’t pay for the Certificate in Practice of Data Analytics.  

Program requirements:  
12 credits including Capstone seminar (3 credits) + 9 credits from at least two departments outside of the student’s home department. Completion of a Research Paper is also required. No application fee. 

Professional organizations:  
UXPA: User Experience Professionals Association
Ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in User Experience (UX) research or design (industry). Their Special Interest Group (SIG), UX Advocates for Latin America, provides an opportunity for UX professionals from Latin America to get involved in further developing the UX profession in this market. Student membership: $35/year. 
AEA: American Evaluation Association
Ideal for those interested in program evaluation (government, non-profit, consultant) and assessment strategy (Edtech, university). Student membership: $84/year. 

Potential Careers: 
Language Data Scientist, Research Analyst, Data Analyst, UX/Human Factors Researcher, UX/Product Designer (Bilingual/Spanish), Program Evaluator, Assessment Specialist/Strategist 

Incorporating the Graduate Minor in Computer Science is beneficial for those wishing to pivot to a career in technology or who have completed prior coursework in in the field. The Cognitive and Brain Sciences GIS offers similar benefits and the opportunity to take CS-focused courses. 

Program requirements: 
10 graduate credits in CSE, including at most 1 credit of CSE 425x. Individual course plans are decided on with the CS Grad Minor Graduate Coordinator. Example tracks are available in the flyer. Students must be in their second year of the PhD program to be eligible. Some classes may require pre-requisite courses in Computer Science or Mathematics.  

Professional organizations: 
UXPA: User Experience Professionals Association 
For those who want to move into the tech industry, and more specifically User Experience (UX). Their Special Interest Group (SIG), UX Advocates for Latin America, provides an opportunity for UX professionals from Latin America to get involved in further developing the UX profession in this market. Student membership: $35/year. 
ACL: Association for Computational Linguistics
Great for those interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry, and specifically in Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing. Student membership: $50/year. 

Potential Careers: 
Computational Linguist, NLP Engineer, Language Engineer, UX Designer/Researcher, Localization Specialist 

PhD in Literatures & Cultures

Matching the PhD with the Graduate Certificate in Curatorial Practice trains graduate students in the theory and practice of curatorial work and exhibitions in art museums, galleries, and other contemporary art exhibition spaces. It focuses both on historical and conceptual research and practical hands-on experience working in exhibition making. Together, they create a profile that is academically rigorous, culturally specialized, and professionally adaptable across education, the arts, cultural institutions, and government or private sector industries.

Program requirements: 
14-16 graduate credits in History of Art, 4 classes. No application fee. 

Professional organizations:  
Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC)  
Specifically for those who want to work as curator, but offers many resources and an important conference. Student membership: $30/y. 
Visual Resources Association (VRA)
Great for bridging the academic and the professional, for those interested in the archiving and research of visual materials. Student membership: $50/y. 
Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)
Great for professional development for those wishing to work with art archives and related fields. Student membership: $55/y. 

Potential Careers: 
Cultural Programs Coordinator (local government/cultural institutions/NGOs), Curatorial Assistant, Cultural Resources Specialist (local government/private sector). 

Combining the PhD with the Graduate Minor in Cinema/Video Production enhances research, pedagogy, and career opportunities by allowing scholars to analyze cultural, social, and political processes through both literature and moving image art-making. Scholars gain the ability to analyze visual and textual media across historical periods and contexts, while the Minor allows for creative and expressive possibilities of single-camera electronic cinematography, providing them with an understanding of the aesthetic issues involved with cinema/video production, with emphasis on the practice of moving image art-making through creative projects.

Program requirements: 
4+ courses and a minimum of 15 graduate credit hours through the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts. No application fee. 

Professional organizations:  
Filmmakers Alliance
Nonprofit offering ongoing support to (aspiring) filmmakers through consultation, networking, creative support, etc. Student membership: $35/y. 
Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI)
Global network promoting the participation of women in film/television; has many local chapters. Student membership: $20/y. Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)
For those who want to work in post-production, offering online courses. Student membership: $15/year

Potential Careers:
Production Assistant, Media Archivist, Instructional or Commercial Media Producer. 

Pairing the PhD with the Graduate Minor in Nonprofit Management or Graduate Certificate in Public Management is useful because it combines deep cultural/humanistic expertise with practical organizational, administrative, and leadership skills. Additional community service experience would be a plus for students interested in this pathway. The Office of Student Life: Leadership and Community Engagement at OSU is an excellent resource for those students looking for community service experience.

Program requirements: 
Graduate Minor in Nonprofit Management: 10 credit hours made up of 7 credits of foundations courses + 3 credits of an elective course. No application fee. 
Graduate Certificate in Public Management: 13 credit hours made up 10 credits of core courses + 3 credits of elective course(s). $60 application fee. 

Professional organizations:  
International City/County Management Association (ICMA) 
Multiple resources and educational opportunities for those wishing to work in coordinating projects on a local level. Student membership: $25/y. 
Net Impact 
International organization (with OSU chapter) that connects people interested in bringing about change through business. Membership through local chapter (Cost varies). 
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
Multiple resources, as well as an annual conference, for those interested in working with public administration in any capacity; has many different sections that focus on social/environmental justice, as well as one for Latin America. Student membership: $80/y. 

Potential Careers: 
Cultural Consultant or Strategist (private sector), Cultural/Art Program Coordinator (local government/NGOs), Community Outreach Coordinator (local government/NGOs), Study Abroad Coordinator (university), Donor Relations Manager, Policy Advocate (non-profit), Program development coordinator (non-profit), Grants Writer/Manager (non-profit), Policy Analyst (consultant) 

Program requirements: 

Professional organizations:  
Geospatial Professional Network (GPN) 
For those who want to work with spatial data in any capacity, with special focus on students/young professionals. Student membership: $20/y. 
International Cartographic Association (ICA)
Accessible through national organizations; seeks to foster the general use of cartography in working with data, across areas (including social/cultural topics). Student membership: $28/y. 
North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) 
Organization with a special focus on the visual (design/artistic) aspect of mapping; has programs, publications, and awards. Student membership: $20/y. 

Potential Careers:
Cultural Resources Specialist (Local Government or Private Sector), GIS Coordinator (Local Government), GIS Analyst (Consultant Firms)

Program requirements: 

Professional organizations:  
Urban Affairs Association (UAA)
Offers professional development opportunities for students/young professionals, not necessarily focusing on ‘pure’ urbanism, but much more on its interdisciplinary applications. Student membership: $42/y. 
Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU)
For those who want to apply their knowledge in a more hands-on, community-based way. They have many projects and development opportunities, mostly focused on building walkable communities—where there is also a place for the cultural. Student membership: $5/y. 

Potential Careers:
Community Engagement Coordinator (Local Government), Community Outreach Specialist/Coordinator (NGOs).

Program requirements: 

Professional organizations:  
International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) 
Connects the academic and the professional, mostly through professional development. In their wide range of preoccupations, cultural aspects in environmental matters are relevant. Student membership: $45/y. 
Institute for Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP)
Global organization, very receptive to students not necessarily majoring in environmental studies; helps to build socially responsible sustainable development through courses and professional development. Student membership: £31/y (UK-based). 

Potential Careers:
Environmental/Outreach Organizer (Local Government/Community Organizations or NGOs), Environmental Program Coordinator (Local Government or NGOs)

Program requirements: 

Professional organizations:  
Net Impact 
International organization (with OSU chapter) that connects people interested in bringing about change through business. Membership through local chapter (unclear about costs). 
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Very broad organization that supports anyone interested in any form of project management, which would include business. Offers all sorts of resources. Student membership: $32/y. 

Potential Careers:
Spanish-speaking Operations Coordinator (Private Sector), International Studies Coordinator (University or Private Sector), Cultural Resources Manager/Specialist (Consultant/Local Government). 

Program requirements: 

Professional organizations:  
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) 
Besides some basic resources and an annual conference, this is mostly a networking resource in the field of criminal justice. Student membership: $60/y. 
International Community Justice Association (ICJA)
Also functions mostly as a networking platform but envisioning a more direct social impact as their focus is on incarceration on a community level. Student membership: $25/y. 

Potential Careers:
Spanish-speaking Legal Assistant, Criminal Justice Liaison or Specialist

Explore Your Pathways Within the Professoriate: Networking In Academia

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