GEO3030 – Evolution of Life
Course description
Course content
The course covers evolution from the earliest life on Earth to modern life forms. Only fragments of life in earlier times are known, and we use fossils to best document the major stages in the evolution of life. Key themes are the transition from single-celled to multi-cellular life, the establishing of life on land, the main transitions within the vertebrates, the plants changing the landscape, species extinction and formation, and humankind’s earliest relatives. Studies of unique fossil deposits (lagerst?tten) and fossils from the Natural History Museum’s collections form the basis of the subject. The fossilisation processes that are reviewed require knowledge within geology and biology.
Lagerst?tten are sedimentary deposits that contain extraordinary fossils. These give unique possibilities to study both the environment and the biota connected to these extraordinary occurrences. We use such fossils during the course to develop an understanding of evolutionary lineages and fossilisation processes taking place over millions of years.
Learning outcome
After taking this?course, you will be able to
- describe the evolution of life through the Earth’s history and understand how the processes of fossilisation limit this knowledge
- compare complicated fossilisation processes under extraordinary conditions and evaluate how fossils can be used to?interpret evolutionary stories
- evaluate the processes that influence fossilisation quality which in itself is the data background for palaeontological innovation
- apply fossils in subsequent studies in geology, evolution and palaeobiology
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with GEO3710 – Evolution of Life (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with GEO4710 – Evolution of life (discontinued).
Teaching
Lectures, group sessions and exercises include 6 hours of tuition a week. You must submit a mandatory report that must be approved for you to be able to take the final written exam.
There are two mandatory whole-day visits to the Natural History Museum (University of Oslo) collections at ?kern.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
Examination
A mandatory report must be approved before you can sit the final written examination.
A final written examination counts 100% towards the final grade.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:
Examination support material
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.