Paleontology Option
The paleontology option focuses on understanding fossils within their geologic context, while Montana's geology provides the opportunity for hands-on fieldwork. The paleontology option in the Department of Earth Sciences is designed for those students who have a strong interest in either invertebrate or vertebrate fossils (evolution, biology of ancient organisms, the environment in which the organism lived, and the changes the fossil has undergone since death). Students who study paleontology find employment with colleges and universities (e.g., teaching paleontology, earth sciences, comparative anatomy), natural history museums (e.g. fossil preparation, collection, curation, exhibit design, education), as scientific illustrators, writers, paleontology consultants for energy resource companies, and resource specialists for local, state, and federal land-management agencies or parks. Because students who study this option are trained in core geology courses, employment may be found in areas outside paleontology that require geologic expertise. Graduate training beyond the bachelor's degree is recommended for those seeking careers in the paleontology (normally a master's degree) or in teaching and/or research (typically a doctorate).This option combines training in geology and paleontology. The paleontology option builds on courses that form the core of the traditional geology option, while providing strong background in paleontology through four required courses (in addition to the paleontology field course) and three elective courses. All of the paleontology courses offered through the department provide upper division credits. These courses prepare the student for a variety of jobs and/or graduate school. Internships and summer field research experience are available to some students.
| Freshman Year | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| BIOB 170IN - Principles of Biological Diversity (Fall or Spring ) | 4 | ||
| CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I & CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab | 4 | ||
| ERTH 101IN - Earth System Sciences | 4 | ||
| M 161Q - Survey of Calculus or M 171Q - Calculus I | 4 | ||
| University Core and Electives Fall or Spring | 3 | ||
| CHMY 143 - College Chemistry II & CHMY 144 - College Chemistry II Lab | 4 | ||
| GEO 211 - Earth History and Evolution | 3 | ||
| STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics (or Sophomore Year) or M 172 - Calculus II | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 19 | 10 | |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| GEO 302 - Mineralogy and Optical Mineral | 4 | ||
| GEO 309 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy | 4 | ||
| GPHY 284 - Intro to GIS Science & Cartog (Fall or Spring of Sophomore Year) | 3 | ||
| PHSX 205 - College Physics I | 4 | ||
| University Core and Electives Fall or Spring | 9 | ||
| PHSX 207 - College Physics II | 4 | ||
| GEO 419 - Field Paleontology (Summer between either Sophomore and Junior Year or Junior and Senior Year) | 2 | ||
| Year Total: | 24 | 4 | 2 |
| Junior Year | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| ERTH 303 - Weather and Climate | 3 | ||
| GEO 330 - Paleontology Lab Techniques (Fall Odd Years)Junior or Senior Year | 2 | ||
| GEO 417 - Taphonomy: Fossil Preservation (Fall Even Years)Junior or Senior Year | 3 | ||
| GPHY 384 - Adv GIS and Spatial Analysis (Fall or Spring ) | 3 | ||
| STAT 337 - Intermediate Statistics with Introduction to Statistical Computing (Fall or Spring or Sophomore Year) or STAT 332 - Statistics for Scientists and Engineers | 3 | ||
| GEO 310 - Invertebrate Paleontology (Spring Even Years)Junior or Senior Year | 3 | ||
| GEO 315 - Structural Geology | 4 | ||
| GEO 411 - Vertebrate Paleontology (Spring Odd Years)Junior or Senior Year | 3 | ||
| GEO 428 - Field Methods | 3 | ||
| GEO 429R - Field Geology (Summer between Junior and Senior Year) | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 14 | 13 | 3 |
| Senior Year | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| University Core and Electives (Fall and Spring)Junior and Senior Year | 9 | ||
| UD Electives See Course List Below | 19 | ||
| GEO 443 - Principles of Sedimentary Petrology | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 28 | 3 | |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 | ||
Upper Division Electives
| CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING FOR A MINIMUM OF 7 CREDITS | ||
| BIOO 310 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (Fall) | 4 |
| ERTH 307 | Principles of Geomorphology (Fall) | 4 |
| ERTH 484 | Climates of the Past, Present and Future (Spring ) | 3 |
| ERTH 494 | Seminar (Fall or Spring ) | 1 |
| GEO 401 | Phylogenetics | 3 |
| GEO 433 | Tectonics (Fall) | 3 |
| GEO 439 | Geophysics (On Demand) | 3 |
| GEO 471 | Geochronology and Thermochronology (Spring Odd Years) | 3 |
| GEO 490R | Undergraduate Research (Fall or Spring ) | 1-6 |
| GEO 491 | Special Topics (Fall or Spring ) | 1-4 |
| GEO 498 | Internship (Fall or Spring ) | 2-12 |
| GEO 492 | Independent Study (Fall or Spring ) | 1-3 |
| GPHY 411 | Biogeography (Spring ) | 3 |
Note:
There are two Math options students can choose from:
- Math Option 1: M 161Q - STAT 216Q - STAT 337 (recommended for undergraduate students)
- Math Option 2: M 171 - M 172 - STAT 332 (recommended for graduate path)
Only GEO 491 courses that cover a specific paleontology topic are applicable.
A C- minimum is required in all curriculum courses to graduate by Regents' policy. This includes electives in the curriculum.
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above.