Program Overview

---

Program Details

Introduction

The University of Copenhagen offers a comprehensive program in Palæontologi – fortidens liv og miljøer (Paleontology - Past Life and Environments).

Program Description

The program is divided into two main parts:

• Grundlæggende Palæontologi (Basic Paleontology), which covers topics such as fossil formation, species and classification, fossils as time markers, paleoecology, paleoclimate, and paleoenvironments.
• Introducering til Fossil Invertebrater (Introduction to Fossil Invertebrates), which focuses on invertebrate biology and anatomy, fossil invertebrate life history, and the relationship between fossil invertebrates and sedimentary environments.

Program Objectives

The objective of the program is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of paleontology. The program consists of a series of lectures and hands-on exercises, where students work actively with the description and classification of fossils.

Program Structure

The program is designed to focus on the relationships between past life and paleoenvironments, as well as the relationships between geological time and different fossil groups.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, students are expected to be able to:

• Describe the processes that lead to fossil formation.
• Define a species and understand the classification of life.
• Recognize and describe the most important groups of fossil invertebrates.
• Understand the temporal occurrence of different fossil groups and their significance as fossil markers.

Course Content

The program covers a range of topics, including:

• Fossildannelse (Fossil Formation)
• Arter og klassifikation af fossiler (Species and Classification of Fossils)
• Fossiler som tidsmarkører og livets historie (Fossils as Time Markers and the History of Life)
• Palæo-økologi, palæo-klima, palæo-miljøer (Paleoecology, Paleoclimate, Paleoenvironments)
• Fossil invertebraters biologi og anatomi (Biology and Anatomy of Fossil Invertebrates)

Assessment

The program is assessed through a combination of written and oral exams. The written exam consists of a portfolio report on the course, including drawings and descriptions of the different groups of fossil invertebrates studied during the course. The oral exam involves presenting fossils from three different groups of invertebrates and answering questions based on the course material.

Program Details

• Program Code: NIGB21016U
• ECTS Points: 7.5
• Level: Bachelor
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 2
• Schedule Group: A (Tuesday 8-12 + Thursday 8-17)
• Program Capacity: 55

Faculty and Department

• Faculty: Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet (The Faculty of Natural and Biochemical Sciences)
• Department: Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning (Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management)
• Study Board: Studienævn for Geovidenskaber og Planlægning (Study Board for Geosciences and Planning)