ESSC 120 - Dinosaurs, Mammoths and Trilobites: An Introduction to Paleontology [GEKN]
An introduction to Paleontology designed for students who are not majoring or minoring in science. Includes exploration of the scientific method in the context of Paleontology, with hands-on lab-based activities, plus overviews of major groups of life, key ecosystems, and mass extinction events during the history of the biosphere.
Credit 4 hrs May not be repeated for additional credit
Grade Mode Normal (A-F) Course Rotation on an irregular basis
Class-Level Restriction Undergraduate standing
This course provides a detailed overview, including inquiry based modules, of how the scientific method is applied to understand: (1) the organic origin of fossils, (2) the key components of the process of fossilizations, (3) the Biosphere, and (5) mass extinction events in the history of the Biosphere, including their consequences and possible causes. Through these efforts the overarching goal of the course is to create scientifically literate citizens that are both willing and able to participate responsibly in a global community by: (1) carefully applying the scientific method as a tool for problem solving, in general; (2) critically evaluating the scientific merit of anything that is presented as science (is it really science?), especially in the area of Paleontology; and (3) thoroughly examining key issues pertaining to interactions between humans and their environment by employing the unique perspective that only a full and complete understanding of the history of the Biosphere, including our place in that history, can provide.
Notes -
Updates Course Rotation added 12/2014; Credit Hour and Course Description Change 04/2012, effective Fall 2012
Summer 2024 Course Sections
Fall 2024 Course Sections
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