Which is best for an undergrad looking into vertebrate paleontology?

Question

A Biology major with a Geology minor? Or a Geology major with a Biology minor?

Answer 1

I am a geologist and I would say the geology degree will serve you best at undergraduate level. Take whatever bio courses you can however. When you get to grad school they will put you into a specialized program to concentrate on your degree objectives

Answer 2

Depends on the department and university the courses are offered at.

For whatever reason, a Geology major with a Biology minor seems to be the most common route for those more interested in invertebrate paleontology - probably because those taxa are highly useful for biostratigraphic purposes, particularily in oil exploration.

A Biology major with Geology minor would probably be the way to go if your interest lies in vertebrate paleontology. This gives more detailed information about specific groups of vertebrates, as well as more training in things like ecology, physiology and animal behaviour than you'd get in the other program.

Anthropology and Archaeology courses are also very useful, although they are often found in a totally different Faculty within most universities.

Some institutions actually have paleontology programs that will attempt to give you a fair grounding in all of these disciplines, as well as such things as systematics, taxonomy, evolutionary biology, taphonomy and others that many other fields don't delve into as much as most paleontologists do.

Answer 3

Geology with a Bio Minor.. Additionally, take as many paleo electives as you can. Unfortunately, most undergrad geo programs dont have a Paleo concentration you specialize in. You usually have to wait until Grad school. Also, you have to think what your job prospects are after that degree. I did the Geology degree and wanted to get in Paleontology but decided against going to grad school because of lack of jobs. Email me or message me and we can talk about this more.

Answer 4

First one, definitely... Hmm now I think about it I'm not so certain - anatomy and classification are going to be the two most important things but then if you're going to be digging you sure need to know your rocks. I'd contact staff at the place of education, explain your intentions and ask their advice. Really as long as you pay attention in both it shouldn't matter terribly, you should be able to learn all you need. It's just that geology isn't normally the most exciting subject in the world...

Get yourself some good books so you can study in your own time - teach yourself about cladistics - Michael Benton has a good textbook on vertebrate palaeontology and there's another good one called Dinosauria.

Good luck. If I had my time over again I might have studied something like that!

Answer 5

Look at the *particular* paleontology graduate programs you are interested in. Look at their course pre-requisites, and at the departments in which the programs reside.