GEO2160 – Paleontology and Paleoecology
Course description
Course content
The course introduces you to how fossils are formed and preserved, and how they can be used to reveal how the continents and the environment have changed, both on land and in the sea, through the Earth’s history up to the present day. You will learn about fossils that represent totally different groups of organisms, from microfossils to dinosaurs, and how they can contribute to our understanding of evolution and the great mass extinctions, and how these phenomena are related to climate and environment.
Learning outcome
When you have completed this course, you will know about
- how fossils are formed, what they are composed of, and when during the Earth’s history selected groups lived
- fossils'/organisms’ relationships to each other and to their surroundings
- the most important stable isotopes and trace fossils, and how we can use these in palaeontological interpretation
- the major mass extinctions and their consequences for evolution, which organisms were hit hardest, and which processes are considered to have caused the extinction
- the chief biostratigraphic principles and what they are based on
- how to use modern statistical methods for ecological analyses
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The course includes a compulsory field course and excursions. A health-and-safety course for safety in the field must be passed before you can go on these:
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with GEL2120 – Sedimentology, paleontology and stratigraphy (discontinued).
Teaching
During the course of the semester, there are 24 double lectures and up to 12 additional double periods with compulsory practicals.
There is one compulsory excursion in the course.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Read general information about excursions at the Department of Geosciences.
Examination
Participation in the mandatory practicals and the field trip / excursion must have been approved before the final written examination.
The final written examination counts 100% towards the final grade.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Examination support material
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.