Aug. 29 Introduction; What are Dinosaurs?

Aug. 31 What is Science? The Meaning of Fossils

Sept. 3 LABOR DAY -- No class

Sept. 5 The History of Prehistory; the Great Exposition through Great Expeditions

Sept. 7 Basics of Geology: Every Rock is a Record of the Environment in Which It Formed

Sept. 10 Fossils and Fossilization

Sept. 12 Deep Time I: Ruins of an Older World

Sept. 14 Deep Time II: Plate Tectonics and the Earth Engine

---SEPT. 17-21: Online Test 1---

Sept. 17 The Living Earth: Ecology

Sept. 19 Our Bodies, Our Selves: Introduction to Vertebrate Osteology

Sept. 21 Taxonomy and Species

Sept. 24 Evolution I: Descent with Modification
Smithsonian Assignment available

Sept. 26 Evolution II: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

Sept. 28 Evolution III: Patterns and Processes

Oct. 1 Systematics I: The Tree of Life

Oct. 3 Systematics II: Cladistics

Oct. 5 The Colonization of Land

---OCT. 8-12: Online Test 2---

Oct. 8 Life on Land before the Dinosaurs

Oct. 10 The Rise of the Dinosaurs
Video Assignment available

Oct. 12 Thyreophora: Defense! Defense! Defense!

Oct. 15 Ornithopoda: Beaks, bills & crests

Oct. 17, 19 During the week of Oct. 15-19, you will be required to view a set of videos online (over the Internet in general, or over ELMS). You will be required to turn in your answers to the take-home video quizzes on Wednesday October 24.

Oct. 22 Marginocephalia: That's using your head!

Oct. 24 Sauropodomorpha I: Dawn of the Thunder
Video Assignment is DUE!

Oct. 26 Sauropodomorpha II: Neosauropoda: Size Matters and Theropoda I: Basal Theropods

Oct. 29 Sandy-based cancellation

Oct. 31 Theropoda II: Dinosaurs Red in Tooth and Claw

Nov. 2 Theropoda III, Coelurosauria: Tyrant Kings and Lesser Royals

Nov. 5 Theropoda IV, Maniraptora: The Feathered Dinosaurs
Smithsonian Assignment is DUE!

---Nov. 7-12: Online Test 3 (includes material from Nov. 5 lecture)---

Nov. 9 Dinosaur Olympics: Locomotion and Dinosaurs in the World of Physics

Nov. 12 Through the Eyes of a Dinosaur: Dinosaur Senses

Nov. 14 Tyrannosaurus Sex: Dinosaur Social Behavior

Nov. 16 Bringing Up Baby: Dinosaur Families and Growth

Nov. 19 The Hot-Blooded Dinosaurs

Nov. 21 Heart Beats & Deep Breaths

Nov. 22-23 Thanksgiving Recess: enjoy your roasted maniraptoran

Nov. 26 So You Want To Be An Endotherm?

Nov. 28 Dinosaur Physiology roundup
Reading: Chap. 12

---Nov. 28-Dec. 3: Online Test 4---

Nov. 30 In the Shadow of the Dinosaurs: Pterosaurs, Marine Reptiles, Mesozoic Mammals, Mesozoic Plants

Dec. 3 The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction I: All Good Things...

Dec. 5 The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction II: One REALLY Bad Day!

Dec. 7 The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction III: End of an Era

Dec. 10 Bringing Fossils to Life; The Future of Dinosaur Science

Dec. 19 (WEDNESDAY!!) FINAL EXAM, PLS 1130, 8:00-10:00 am

For a formatted printable copy of the complete syllabus, click here.

Last modified: 2 November 2012