• Discussion Section Sept. 3: Introduction to the Course
• Lecture Notes:
  • Introduction to Course; the Nature of Science
  • The History of Paleontology

Week II (Sept. 8-Sept. 11)

• Discussion Section Sept. 10: Quiz 1; Commando Geology & Paleontology
• Lecture Notes:
  • The Geologic Record
  • The Fossil Record

Week III (Sept. 14-Sept. 18)

• Discussion Section Sept. 17: Quiz 2; Understanding Geologic Time & Ancient Environments
• Lecture Notes:
  • Geologic Time
  • Earth System & Ecology

Week IV (Sept. 21-Sept. 25)

• Discussion Section Sept. 24: Quiz 3; Interpreting Form & Function from Anatomy
• Lecture Notes:
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Taxonomy & Species
  • Evolution

Week V (Sept. 28-Oct. 2)

• Discussion Section Oct. 1: Quiz 4; Reconstructing the Tree of Life
• Lecture Notes:
  • Phylogenetic Systematics

Week VI (Oct. 4-9)

• Discussion Section Oct. 8: MID-TERM EXAM 1
• Lecture Notes:
  • Life on Land Before the Dinosaurs

Week VII (Oct. 12-16)

• Discussion Section Oct. 15: No in-class meeting
• Lecture Notes:
  • Dinosaur Origins

Week VIII (Oct. 19-23)

• Discussion Section Oct. 22: Quiz 5; Understanding Ornithischians
• Lecture Notes:
  • Thyreophora
  • Marginocephalia
  • Ornithopoda

Week IX (Oct. 26-30)

• Discussion Section Oct. 29: Quiz 6; Understanding Saurischians
• Lecture Notes:
  • Sauropodomorpha
  • Basal Theropoda
  • Basal Coelurosauria

Week X (Nov. 2-6)

• Discussion Section Nov. 5: Quiz 7; Birds as Dinosaurs
• Lecture Notes:
  • Eumaniraptora
  • Origins of Bird Flight
  • Dinosaur Diversity Over Time

Week XI (Nov. 9-13)

• Discussion Section Nov. 12: MID-TERM EXAM II
• Lecture Notes:
  • Dinosaur Locomotion
  • Dinosaur Trace Fossils
  • Dinosaur Senses

Week XII (Nov. 16-20)

• Discussion Section Nov. 19: Quiz 8; Trace Fossil Analysis
• Smithsonian Field Trip Report due online
• Lecture Notes:
  • Dinosaur Behavior
  • Dinosaur Growth

Week XIII (Nov. 23-25)

• Discussion Section Nov. 24: No in-class meeting: Thanksgiving
• Lecture Notes:
  • Dinosaur Physiology

Week XIV (Nov. 30-Dec. 4)

• Discussion Section Dec. 3: Quiz 9; Dinosaur Physiology
• Lecture Notes:
  • Pterosaurs & Marine Reptiles
  • Mesozoic Mammals & Plants

Week XV (Dec. 7-11)

• Discussion Section Dec. 10: Quiz 10; Dinosaur Extinction
• Lecture Notes:
  • Dinosaur Extinctions
  • Dinosaurs in Modern Society

FINAL EXAM: Dec. 18 (FRIDAY!!) TWS 1100, 4-6 pm