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Bliss
Student
Roseville, California
1
Question
Updated
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What college courses are most relevant to a career in vertebrate paleontology?
Hi, I am a college freshman planning to major in either geology or paleobiology, and I was wondering what classes would be most useful for my future career. For example, is sedimentology more relevant to paleontology than, say, igneous petrology or structural geology? And how much should I focus on taking biology-related courses? I heard that paleontology is a mix of both geology and biology, and I wanted to know how I should split my classes between those two subjects. Thank you!
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1 answer
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
656
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Bliss,
Paleontology is fascinating, but it is just one specialization in geology. Vertebrate paleontology is a further specialization. You are getting ahead of yourself if you put all your proverbial eggs in the paleontology basket as a freshman. Please major in geology and not in some sub-specialty that will limit your job prospects.
Jobs in paleontology are relatively rare. You'll find jobs mostly in academia or in museums. You could be a professor/researcher, a museums director or curator or a lab technician in fossil preparation. Occasionally, paleontologists are consulted in large construction projects where fossils might be present. There is also some limited private activity in paleontology, either as providers of guided digging tours or as diggers who sell their finds.
During your undergraduate studies in geology, you'll take foundations of physics, chemistry, math and biology (or maybe botany and zoology). You'll learn about sediments, igneous and metamorphic rocks, about mineralogy, geological processes, history of the earth, tectonics, geochemistry, isotopes, dating (no, not that kind) and maybe experimental petrology, environmental geology or engineering geology. You'll learn a lot of experimental and analytical techniques too. You'll do labs and field trips. The whole program gives you a broad foundation in geology and opens job prospects in many different fields.
Obviously, you would take any paleontology course that's offered. If you want to take biology as a minor or just as many useful courses as possible, by all means do that. I would think, zoology, botany, evolutionary biology, anatomy, and anthropology would be good choices.
Please consult with your academic advisor to discuss your goals and choice of courses. There will be required courses in geology and other requirements like gen ed and possibly requirements for a minor. There is most likely a recommended sequence of courses too.
If your university has active research in paleontology and/or anthropology, talk to professors and students about their work. Find out if you can join as an undergraduate researcher. Fossil sites need skilled people to locate, excavate and prepare fossils. There are even international opportunities.
This will put you on your desired path towards paleontology. The time to specialize is during your masters and/or PhD studies. You'll need to find an advisor who can take you on as a graduate student.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Paleontology is fascinating, but it is just one specialization in geology. Vertebrate paleontology is a further specialization. You are getting ahead of yourself if you put all your proverbial eggs in the paleontology basket as a freshman. Please major in geology and not in some sub-specialty that will limit your job prospects.
Jobs in paleontology are relatively rare. You'll find jobs mostly in academia or in museums. You could be a professor/researcher, a museums director or curator or a lab technician in fossil preparation. Occasionally, paleontologists are consulted in large construction projects where fossils might be present. There is also some limited private activity in paleontology, either as providers of guided digging tours or as diggers who sell their finds.
During your undergraduate studies in geology, you'll take foundations of physics, chemistry, math and biology (or maybe botany and zoology). You'll learn about sediments, igneous and metamorphic rocks, about mineralogy, geological processes, history of the earth, tectonics, geochemistry, isotopes, dating (no, not that kind) and maybe experimental petrology, environmental geology or engineering geology. You'll learn a lot of experimental and analytical techniques too. You'll do labs and field trips. The whole program gives you a broad foundation in geology and opens job prospects in many different fields.
Obviously, you would take any paleontology course that's offered. If you want to take biology as a minor or just as many useful courses as possible, by all means do that. I would think, zoology, botany, evolutionary biology, anatomy, and anthropology would be good choices.
Please consult with your academic advisor to discuss your goals and choice of courses. There will be required courses in geology and other requirements like gen ed and possibly requirements for a minor. There is most likely a recommended sequence of courses too.
If your university has active research in paleontology and/or anthropology, talk to professors and students about their work. Find out if you can join as an undergraduate researcher. Fossil sites need skilled people to locate, excavate and prepare fossils. There are even international opportunities.
This will put you on your desired path towards paleontology. The time to specialize is during your masters and/or PhD studies. You'll need to find an advisor who can take you on as a graduate student.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Thank you so much for your answer, Karin! This was really helpful :)