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This question is about what a paleontologist does.
What degree do you need to be a paleontologist?
You need a master's or doctorate degree in paleontology or a related field to be a paleontologist. To be a paleontologist requires an advanced degree (Master's or Doctorate). If you wish to do research and publish in scientific journals, then a Ph.D. is essential.
That's not to say that you can't find a job with just a bachelor's degree in paleontology. With the right networking and eagerness to learn, you may be able to land an entry-level position, but advancement in this scientific field will be impossible without postgraduate qualifications.
Aspiring paleontologists should have extensive knowledge of biology and geology. A double major with full training in both is the best educational option. Chemistry, physics, calculus, statistics, and computer science are also very important.
Undergraduate geology classes typically include mineralogy, stratigraphy, sedimentary petrology, vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and genetics.
During graduate school, a future paleontologist studies the history and process of evolution by examining fossils and preserved traces of long-dead animals and plants.
Using data from fossilized bones, ancient pollen, and other clues, paleontologists dig up the details on past climates and past extinctions. They tell us about the history of the earth, the evolution of life, and our own place in the world.
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