Program overview
Paleontology and stratigraphy is a research direction under geology. Simply put, it involves studying fossils and strata to understand what Earth was like in the past. You will learn how to identify fossils from different eras, such as trilobites, dinosaurs, and early plants, as well as how to analyze sedimentary environments in strata. Core courses include paleontology, stratigraphy, evolutionary biology, sedimentology, geochemistry, and more. This major is especially suitable for students who are curious about natural history, enjoy field trips, and don't mind slowly cleaning fossils in the lab. China has unique advantages in this field, such as the Cambrian fossil Lagerstätte in Yunnan (Chengjiang biota), the Jehol Biota in Liaoning, and the fossil records on the Tibetan Plateau, all of which are hotspots for global scientists. Many Chinese universities, such as Nanjing University, Peking University, and China University of Geosciences, have strong paleontology research teams and frequently collaborate with international institutions. International students have the opportunity to participate in these cutting-edge projects.