Paleobiology Minor (GEOL)
Program Director: John Merck, Ph.D.
The minor in Paleobiology will provide students with a broad understanding of the application of the methods of biology and geology to the study of the history of life, and develop students’ appreciation of how issues in the study of paleobiology connect with larger trends in those sciences. It is intended for all students with an interest in the study of the history of life, be it professional or avocational.
Depending on optional course(s) taken, a total of 21 – 24 credits are required (see prerequisites). All courses presented for the minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Courses | ||
| BSCI160 & BSCI161 | Principles of Ecology and Evolution and Principles of Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| One of the following: | 4 | |
| Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Life History or Organismal Biology | ||
| One of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Historical Geology | ||
| Dinosaurs: A Natural History | ||
| Dinosaurs, Early Humans, Ancestors, and Evolution; The Fossil Record of Vanished Worlds of the Prehistoric Past | ||
| Principles of Biology III - Organismal Biology | ||
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Upper-Level Paleobiology | ||
| One of the following: | 4 | |
| Principles of Paleontology | ||
| Biology of Extinct Animals and Biology of Extinct Animals Laboratory | ||
| Electives | ||
| Two courses (one from Biology and one from Geology) selected from the following: | 6-8 | |
| Principles of Paleontology (if not taken to satisfy the requirement above) | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Principles of Ecology | ||
| The Biology of Conservation and Extinction | ||
| Biology of Extinct Animals and Biology of Extinct Animals Laboratory (if not taken to satisfy the requirement above) | ||
| Principles of Evolution | ||
| Biology Department Research 1 | ||
| Sedimentation and Stratigraphy | ||
| Vertebrate Paleobiology | ||
| Principles of Biogeochemistry | ||
| Global Climate Change: Past and Present | ||
| Special Problems in Geology | ||
Or another appropriate biology or geology course approved in advance by the Entomology or Geology advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 21-24 | |
- 1
The Paleobiology Minor requires 3 cumulative credits of BSCI399 to count as elective. Research topic must be approved by GEOL or ENTM advisor.
Prerequisites
Required Courses
The following required courses have prerequisites (as indicated in the course description):
- BSCI207 Principles of Biology III - Organismal Biology
- BSCI222 Principles of Genetics
- GEOL102 Historical Geology
- BSCI333 Principles of Paleontology or GEOL331 (cross-listed)
- BSCI392 Biology of Extinct Animals and BSCI393 (lab)
Of these, only BSCI207 and BSCI222 have supporting prerequisites not already required for the minor.
Optional Courses
The following optional courses have prerequisites (as indicated in the course description):
- BSCI333 Principles of Paleontology or GEOL331 (cross-listed)
- BSCI334 Mammalogy
- BSCI361 Principles of Ecology
- BSCI363 The Biology of Conservation and Extinction
- BSCI392 Biology of Extinct Animals and BSCI393 (lab)
- BSCI370 Principles of Evolution
- GEOL342 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
- GEOL431 Vertebrate Paleobiology
- GEOL436 Principles of Biogeochemistry
- GEOL437 Global Climate Change: Past and Present
Of these, only BSCI334, BSCI361, GEOL342, GEOL436, and GEOL437 have supporting prerequisites not already required for the minor.
Advising is not mandatory for the Paleobiology Minor, however interested students are urged to consult with the Geology or Entomology Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to declaring the minor to discuss academic planning and logistics. Contact information is available at the Geology web page http://www.geol.umd.edu and the Entomology web page http://entomology.umd.edu.