Paleontology programs emphasize different aspects, such as the environment or biological sciences.
Colleges and universities in the United States offer four different types of paleontology programs for students who wish to study fossils and Earth history: biological science programs with a concentration in paleontology, geological science programs with an emphasis in paleontology, environmental biology programs and of plants with a concentration in paleontology and anthropology programs with a concentration in paleontology. In the UK, Australia, and other parts of the world, offerings are mostly limited to earth science or geology programs as the only pathways to a paleontology degree. In general, paleontology is not offered as a major in itself anywhere in the world, but rather as a secondary course or focus in another branch of study. Offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, these hybrid paleoscience programs teach applicants the skills to discover, analyze, and categorize buried relics and records from bygone eras using various sciences.
Paleontologists analyze fossils to learn more about the history of life on Earth.
Undergraduate and graduate paleontology programs in biological sciences teach students about fossils preserved in the bodies or habitats of various species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Students study the habits of ancient marine and aquatic life, examining how these animals may have used found relics to interact with their ecosystems. Extinct and ancient mammals and insects are also studied.
Geological science departments and earth science departments that offer paleontology programs examine the types of fossil records that are hidden in sediment and rock. Students learn about the different types of soil that existed in earlier times and how climate change has affected the soil. The majority of academic hours are devoted to courses on topics such as hydrology, environmental changes, and carbonate evolution.
Paleontology programs offered by the departments of environment and plant biology focus on paleobotany, which is the study of ancient plants, plant fossils, and ancient molds and fungi. Students learn the structure and reproductive nature of the planets, as well as the evolution of various plant species. The effects of carbon deposits, climate, and terrestrial changes on vegetation are also studied. Anthropology-based paleontology programs, also called paleoanthropology, provide students with preparation in the study of ancient primates and human evolution.
Regardless of the course, all students in a paleontology pathway learn the fundamentals of paleontology research, including how to use imaging devices such as laser scanners, digital microscopes, and fluorescent microscopes to make outlines of buried fossils. Students also learn how to process photos created by these instruments. Paleontology students spend a portion of their studies in laboratories learning how to properly prepare fossils using casting equipment, molds, and extraction methods. Advanced students, such as graduate students, can also participate in research projects that take them to the actual site of a paleontological dig to work with professional paleontologists.