Vertebrate Paleontology, GEOL/BIOL 334/534
4 Credits (3 lecture + 1 lab), currently offered in the Fall semester
Vertebrate Paleontology explores the evolution of vertebrates from the early Paleozoic to Recent. The course will cover the systematics, anatomy, paleogeography, and ecology of extinct vertebrates. Discussions will include fishes, early tetrapods & amniotes, dinosaurs, birds and mammals. Lab portion includes paleontology techniques, analysis, and study of fossil specimens and casts.
Vertebrate Paleontology explores the evolution of vertebrates from the early Paleozoic to Recent. The course will cover the systematics, anatomy, paleogeography, and ecology of extinct vertebrates. Discussions will include fishes, early tetrapods & amniotes, dinosaurs, birds and mammals. Lab portion includes paleontology techniques, analysis, and study of fossil specimens and casts.
Evolution and Extinction, GEOL 134
3 Credits, currently offered in the Spring semester. Also qualifies as a Mason Core, Natural Science course.
Evolution and Extinction is a science class for non-science majors that explores how diversity of animals and plants has changed through geologic time, when mass extinctions occurred, when major diversifications of life occurred, and how the position of continents on the surface of the earth influenced the evolution, extinction, and distribution of life, landforms and the atmosphere.
Designated a Green Leaf Course.
Fulfills Mason Core requirement in natural science (nonlab).
Evolution and Extinction is a science class for non-science majors that explores how diversity of animals and plants has changed through geologic time, when mass extinctions occurred, when major diversifications of life occurred, and how the position of continents on the surface of the earth influenced the evolution, extinction, and distribution of life, landforms and the atmosphere.
Designated a Green Leaf Course.
Fulfills Mason Core requirement in natural science (nonlab).
Paleontology Minor
Banner Code: PLEO
This program of study is offered by the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences in the College of Science.
This has been designated a Green Leaf program. For further information, please go to Green Leaf Programs and Courses.
For policies governing all minors, see the Undergraduate Policies section of this catalog.
Course WorkTo receive this minor, students must successfully complete 18-21 credits, 8 credits of which must be unique to the minor, with a minimum GPA of 2.00, distributed as follows:
Required Core (12 credits)
Electives (6-9 credits chosen from the following)NOTE: Many of the courses below have additional prerequisites beyond the required core courses above. Please check the individual courses carefully.
Choose two courses from:
Option 1
Option 2
and
Option 3
Option 4
Total 18-21 credits
This program of study is offered by the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences in the College of Science.
This has been designated a Green Leaf program. For further information, please go to Green Leaf Programs and Courses.
For policies governing all minors, see the Undergraduate Policies section of this catalog.
Course WorkTo receive this minor, students must successfully complete 18-21 credits, 8 credits of which must be unique to the minor, with a minimum GPA of 2.00, distributed as follows:
Required Core (12 credits)
- GEOL 102 - Introductory Geology II Credits: 4
- GEOL 312 - Invertebrate Paleontology Credits: 4
- GEOL 334
or BIOL 334 - Vertebrate Paleontology Credits: 4
Electives (6-9 credits chosen from the following)NOTE: Many of the courses below have additional prerequisites beyond the required core courses above. Please check the individual courses carefully.
Choose two courses from:
- GGS 321 or BIOL 374 - Biogeography: Space, Time, and Life Credits: 3
- BIOL 377 - Applied Ecology Credits: 3
- BIOL 470 - Dinosaur Biology Credits: 3
- BIOL 471 - Evolution Credits: 3
- BIOL 468 or EVPP 468 - Vertebrate Natural History Credits: 4
- GEOL 304 - Sedimentary Geology Credits: 4
- GEOL 364 - Marine Geology Credits: 3
Option 1
- BIOL 310 - Biodiversity Credits: 5
- BIOL 320 - Comparative Chordate Anatomy Credits: 4
- BIOL 322 - Developmental Biology Credits: 4
- BIOL 331 - Invertebrate Zoology Credits: 4
- BIOL 332 - Insect Biology Credits: 4
Option 2
and
- EVPP 468 or BIOL 468 - Vertebrate Natural History Credits: 4
Option 3
- GEOL 309 or BIOL 309 - Introduction to Oceanography Credits: 3
Option 4
- BIOL 305 - Biology of Microorganisms Credits: 3
- BIOL 407 - Microbial Diversity Credits: 4
Total 18-21 credits