Dedika is a platform where you learn by doing—like creating a business proposal, becoming a nail technician, or mastering a new tool. No matter your goal, the best content on the topic already exists. But it’s often in another language, expensive, scattered online, lacking hands-on activities, or part of a course that’s too long for busy people. That’s why Dedika has its own method: we find the best material wherever it is, organize what fits your goals, review it with experts who are available to answer your questions, and create practical exercises so you can learn by doing. You’re at the center of your learning journey and know yourself best: choose the content and course length, whether you want to study online or offline, and in the format you prefer—video, text, audio, or summary. Learn your way, with only what makes sense for you. Here, every moment you dedicate counts more, and you reach what matters faster.

Our courses include a summary at the end of each chapter, which you can download as a PDF and print.

More than 2 million learners worldwide

Present in more than 180 countries

Certificate valid in your country

Home Page

...

Paleontologist Course

All courses

Natural Sciences and Research

Biological Sciences

Paleontologist Course

For all levels

Paleontologist Course

Name: Paleontologist Course
Price: 2994 PHP

Master the full spectrum of paleontology — from reading rock sequences in the field to reconstructing ancient ecosystems in the lab. This course gives you the scientific tools, technical skills, and professional knowledge to work with fossils at a serious level. Whether you're pursuing research, museum work, or fieldwork, this is where your paleontology career begins.

Dedika for businesses

What you will learn:

You will build a complete foundation in paleontology, covering geological time, stratigraphy, fossil identification, and the scientific method as applied to the fossil record. You will learn systematic field survey techniques, excavation methods, and laboratory preparation skills including mechanical and chemical approaches. The course covers phylogenetic analysis, paleoecological reconstruction, and geochemical methods for interpreting ancient environments. You will also gain practical knowledge in digital tools such as photogrammetry and CT scanning, museum curation standards, science communication, and the legal and ethical frameworks governing fossil collection and research.

How you study in a practical way Paleontologist Course

How you practice Paleontologist Course

For companies who want to train their team

With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.

Click here

Course content

8 Chapters • 40 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of Paleontology

Lesson 1 • Classification and Taxonomy
Covers Linnaean hierarchy and phylogenetic nomenclature for fossil organisms. Enables accurate identification and communication of specimens.
Lesson 2 • Basics of Fossilization
Explains taphonomic processes that convert organisms into fossils. Connects preservation mode to the quality and bias of the fossil record.
Lesson 3 • Scientific Method in Paleontology
Applies hypothesis testing and peer review to fossil-based research. Grounds all subsequent fieldwork and analysis in rigorous scientific practice.
Lesson 4 • History and Scope of Paleontology
Traces the discipline from early fossil collectors to modern science. Establishes why historical context shapes current research questions.
Lesson 5 • Geological Time and Stratigraphy
Introduces the geologic time scale and stratigraphic principles. Provides the temporal framework essential for interpreting all fossil data.

Chapter 2See details

Geology for Paleontologists

Lesson 1 • Structural Geology and Outcrop Reading
Introduces folds, faults, and unconformities as they affect fossil distribution. Prevents misinterpretation of stratigraphic position in deformed terrains.
Lesson 2 • Stratigraphic Mapping Techniques
Teaches measured section construction and correlation across outcrops. Produces accurate spatial records of fossil occurrences within a formation.
Lesson 3 • Geochronology Methods
Covers radiometric, magnetostratigraphic, and biostratigraphic dating tools. Allows precise age assignment to fossil-bearing horizons.
Lesson 4 • Rock Types and Fossil Potential
Distinguishes sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks by fossil-bearing potential. Directs prospecting effort toward productive lithologies.
Lesson 5 • Sedimentary Environments
Examines fluvial, marine, lacustrine, and aeolian settings and their fossil assemblages. Links environment to expected organism types and preservation quality.

Chapter 3See details

Field Prospecting and Survey Methods

Lesson 1 • Pre-Field Planning and Permits
Covers literature review, map analysis, and regulatory permit acquisition. Ensures legal compliance and efficient use of field time before departure.
Lesson 2 • Field Safety and Environmental Ethics
Addresses hazards, first aid protocols, and minimal-impact field practices. Protects personnel and preserves site integrity for future researchers.
Lesson 3 • Field Documentation and Notebooks
Establishes standards for written, photographic, and sketch-based field records. Produces legally and scientifically defensible documentation of discoveries.
Lesson 4 • Surface Survey Strategies
Teaches transect, grid, and opportunistic survey designs for fossil detection. Matches survey design to terrain type and research objectives.
Lesson 5 • GPS and Spatial Data Collection
Applies GPS devices and GIS software to record precise fossil localities. Creates reproducible spatial datasets for publication and future revisits.

Chapter 4See details

Excavation Techniques and Site Management

Lesson 1 • Hand Tools and Mechanical Equipment
Covers selection and safe use of picks, brushes, air scribes, and heavy machinery. Matches tool choice to matrix hardness and specimen fragility.
Lesson 2 • Excavation Planning and Grid Setup
Establishes site datum, grid systems, and excavation strategy before digging begins. Ensures spatial relationships among specimens are preserved throughout recovery.
Lesson 3 • Specimen Packaging and Transport
Covers labeling, padding, crating, and vehicle loading for safe specimen transport. Maintains specimen integrity and chain-of-custody from field to lab.
Lesson 4 • Consolidants and Field Stabilization
Introduces chemical consolidants and mechanical supports for fragile specimens. Prevents specimen loss during exposure and transport.
Lesson 5 • In-Situ Documentation and Mapping
Records three-dimensional position, orientation, and association of each specimen. Provides irreplaceable contextual data lost if documentation is skipped.

Chapter 5See details

Laboratory Preparation Techniques

Lesson 1 • Mechanical Preparation Methods
Teaches use of air scribes, vibro-tools, and micro-blasters to remove matrix. Develops fine motor control for exposing delicate anatomical features.
Lesson 2 • Molding and Casting
Produces silicone molds and resin casts for research, education, and display. Enables specimen sharing without risking original material.
Lesson 3 • Chemical Preparation and Acid Techniques
Applies acetic and formic acid baths to dissolve carbonate matrix from bone. Requires strict safety protocols and neutralization procedures.
Lesson 4 • Laboratory Setup and Safety
Establishes workspace organization, ventilation, and chemical handling protocols. Creates a safe, efficient environment for all preparation activities.
Lesson 5 • Consolidation and Repair
Covers adhesive selection, gap filling, and structural repair of broken specimens. Produces stable, reversible repairs that meet conservation standards.

Chapter 6See details

Fossil Identification and Morphological Analysis

Lesson 1 • Plant and Microfossil Identification
Covers vascular plants, pollen, spores, foraminifera, and conodonts. Expands identification competency to groups critical for biostratigraphy.
Lesson 2 • Vertebrate Fossil Identification
Identifies fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals from skeletal elements. Develops comparative anatomy skills critical for vertebrate paleontology.
Lesson 3 • Anatomical Terminology and Orientation
Establishes directional terms, body planes, and skeletal nomenclature for major groups. Enables precise, unambiguous communication of morphological observations.
Lesson 4 • Invertebrate Fossil Identification
Covers key phyla including mollusks, echinoderms, arthropods, and corals. Builds identification skills for the most abundant fossil groups.
Lesson 5 • Morphometric and Comparative Analysis
Applies linear measurements, landmark-based morphometrics, and comparative collections. Quantifies morphological variation for taxonomic and evolutionary studies.

Chapter 7See details

Paleoecology and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction

Lesson 1 • Paleoecological Guilds and Food Webs
Assigns organisms to feeding guilds and reconstructs trophic networks. Reveals community structure and energy flow in ancient ecosystems.
Lesson 2 • Taphonomy and Assemblage Interpretation
Distinguishes biological from physical biases in fossil assemblages. Corrects for taphonomic filters before drawing ecological conclusions.
Lesson 3 • Paleobiogeography
Maps fossil distributions to reconstruct ancient continental configurations and migration routes. Integrates plate tectonics with biogeographic patterns.
Lesson 4 • Mass Extinctions and Recovery
Analyzes causes, selectivity, and ecological recovery patterns of major extinction events. Contextualizes modern biodiversity loss within deep-time precedents.
Lesson 5 • Paleoclimate Proxies
Uses stable isotopes, leaf morphology, and sedimentary features as climate indicators. Quantifies past temperature, precipitation, and seasonality.

Chapter 8See details

Phylogenetics and Evolutionary Analysis

Lesson 1 • Principles of Phylogenetic Inference
Introduces parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods for tree building. Establishes the logical basis for all subsequent phylogenetic work.
Lesson 2 • Molecular Clocks and Tip Dating
Integrates fossil calibration points with molecular data to estimate divergence times. Bridges morphological and genomic approaches to evolutionary timing.
Lesson 3 • Macroevolutionary Patterns and Rates
Quantifies speciation, extinction, and morphological evolution rates across lineages. Connects phylogenetic results to broader evolutionary theory.
Lesson 4 • Character Coding and Data Matrices
Teaches scoring morphological characters and constructing data matrices for analysis. Produces the primary input for all phylogenetic software.
Lesson 5 • Phylogenetic Software and Tree Interpretation
Applies TNT, PAUP*, and MrBayes to generate and evaluate phylogenetic trees. Develops ability to read, annotate, and critique published cladograms.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

Undergraduate student: building credentials for graduate school in paleontology or geology.
Amateur fossil collector: wanting to apply rigorous scientific methods to their finds.
Museum volunteer: seeking professional-level curation and identification knowledge.
Biology or geology teacher: expanding subject expertise to include deep-time life science.
Career changer: transitioning from an unrelated field into natural history or geoscience work.
Field technician: formalizing practical excavation skills with systematic scientific training.

What our students say

Your classes are perfect. I purchased the one-year package and finally have the opportunity to follow various topics of my interest without needing to change platforms... I thank you for everything you do, I've already recommended you to other people...