Minor in Paleobiology

The Minor in Paleobiology is focused on introducing students to the geological record and evolution of life on Earth, from humble single-celled beginnings to early hominid evolution. The fossil record offers a unique window through which to observe the evolutionary relationships of plants and animals and their response to the timing of key events such as mass extinctions, biotic turnover, shifting continental configuration, and climatic perturbations through “deep time”. Students earning this minor will gain a unique perspective of the various environmental and ecological challenges that the world has encountered, both in the past and present. Coverage includes biological aspects such as the evolutionary trajectories of major vertebrate and invertebrate fossil groups, their origins, morphology, paleoecology, and biodiversity trends through time, as well as geological topics in sedimentology, taphonomy, and stratigraphy. The minor is intended to prepare students with discipline-specific knowledge and career-specific skills in critical, analytical, and integrative thinking grounded in the scientific method. Such a degree is applicable to a variety of employment opportunities including (but not limited to) National Park Service officer, Environmental scientist or consultant, Research or consultant paleontologist, Exploration geologist, Museum curators, College/University academic, High School science teacher, Education officer or scientific reporter/writer, Geotourism guide/officer.

Requirements

Students admitted to the Minor in Paleobiology must have successfully completed either GEOL 1100 Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory or GEOL 1200 Environmental Geology with Laboratory with a minimum of a C- grade. Must complete at least 15 credit hours, including the core course requirements in GEOL and ANTHRO, and must complete one lab course.