ETSU is one of very few universities in the country that has a paleontology degree, and not only that, it has one of the largest and most diverse programs in the world.

  • (Photograph contributed)
  • ETSU faculty and students attended the International Paleontology Conference. (Photograph contributed)
  • (Photograph contributed)

Students can get their bachelors in geosciences with a concentration or minor in paleontology, and ETSU also offers a master’s of science degree in paleontology that is designed to prepare students to conduct research, which is an important facet of the paleontology field. It is rare for a university to have a paleontologist, let alone a program, but ETSU has four PhD level vertebrate paleontologists, making our program even more unique.

“The paleontology program at ETSU is unique in providing an active fossil site and on-site museum as part of its training for students,” said Dr. Blaine Schubert, executive director of the Center of Excellence in Paleontology and professor in the Department of Geosciences.

The program also features field trips, hands-on excavation experiences and plenty of research opportunities. The 5-million-year-old Gray Fossil Site greatly enhances student experiences within the program and guarantees hands-on field experience in the heart of the Appalachians. There, students participate in fossil excavation, recovery and preservation, while also helping with research to characterize the paleontology and geology of the site.

The site is an important aspect of the program, as it trains students in paleontology and fosters research between students and faculty of ETSU and other universities. The program has many ongoing research projects, ranging from Mio-Pilocene floras and faunas of eastern North America and Eurasia to Ice Age faunas of our region and Mexico, to the paleobiology of Neogene animals worldwide. Researchers at Gray Fossil Site are making discoveries all the time.

In addition, the Center of Excellence in Paleontology and its Museum of Natural History has been crucial in recruiting students, gaining funds and making the public aware. The current graduate paleontology program has fifteen students from all over the country.

“ETSU has attracted top-notch faculty and staff in paleontology, and has one of the largest and most extensive academic programs in the field,” Schubert said.