7
The history of the prehistoric world can now be discovered through a new minor recently implemented by the University of Indianapolis Shaheen College of Arts and Sciences according to You Indy. This past summer, the paleontology minor was added as an option, according to You Indy, and the 21-credit minor falls into the Earth and Space Science course, according to the UIndy Registrar’s Office. Those interested in adding the minor or who have questions can email Assistant Professor of Earth and Space Sciences Nick Soltis, according to the Registrar’s Office. Although the courses were offered, Soltis said it was a way for people to specialize in that specific interest.
“Minor paleontology is brand new this year,” Soltis said. “All courses have been offered in the past. It’s a mix of biology and space science courses, geology-type courses. But the minor has curated these so people who are interested will know what courses to take and would be best suited if you want to go on to graduate school or do paleontology down the road.”
According to Soltis, paleontology is interdisciplinary and the minor requires coursework that may seem surprising. Soltis said he offers a structure to support two types of students who want to major in paleontology: those who have already majored in earth-space science or those who have an interest in paleontology.
“I’ve noticed that we have a lot of students who are interested in paleontology, both in space science and a little bit in archaeology,” Soltis said. “And then general interest students like dinosaurs and past lives and fossils in general … We also saw it as a way to attract students who might be researching majors or students who [are] I’m doing something else.”
According to senior space science major Spencer Shroyer, his path to his senior year was exploring what he was passionate about. Although he started at UIndy in pre-physical therapy, Shroyer said he disliked the required courses. When discussing future options after opting out of his pre-physical therapy minor, Shroyer said he remembers always being a dinosaur fan.
“I was a big dinosaur kid, watching a bunch of dinosaur documentaries,” Shroyer said. “One year my dad bought me all these DVDs of dinosaur documentaries and I watched them all the time. And I love going to natural history museums. I grew up in Cincinnati and whenever my grandfather would watch me we would go there and then maybe spend too long there. But my grandfather sat while I looked at everything and it was amazing. And so do I [thought]”I think I really want to go down the path of paleontology.”
Senior space science major Connor Eppler said his passion for his major is also one that has followed him since childhood. Additionally, this new secondary deployment adjusts his plans for the final year, he said.
“It had a really big effect because I was going to graduate or at least finish my major last year in 2023 and I was going to be a part-time student to finish my senior research that year…” Eppler said. “It was a pretty big change for me and it changed my trajectory because I ended up shifting my focus from my research and maybe internships to wanting to get that minor and complete that as well. I’m glad I did because it was probably the most enjoyable year of classes I’ve had so far.’
Senior aerospace major Joshua Gamble had a different story about choosing his major, he said. When he came to college, he was asked to choose a major, so he chose earth and space science to pursue astronomy, Gamble said. However, Gamble said he took it for the space aspect, but fell in love with the rocks and fossils aspect, while also having to adjust his schedule for new course requirements for the paleontology minor.
“I got to have a really easy senior year and I got to add a few things that I wasn’t excited about, but I ended up really liking those classes,” Gamble said. “It probably provided a new perspective, because I mean through it, every aspect of Earth and space science, you can walk outside and get a new appreciation for everything around you and understand the world that you live in.” And that’s my favorite part of the major is that if I do work later in life that has nothing to do with earth and space science or paleontology or geology, I can still say that I got more out of it than I could have I hope because I can see and understand the world in which I live.
Last summer, Shroyer said, he was an intern at the Children’s Museum. By working on fossils and talking to curious visitors, he was able to share his knowledge and gain experience in his field of interest, according to You Indy. Although he is guaranteed admission to the master’s program in physical therapy, Shroyer took a path that followed his passion and said he has similar beliefs about his future career.
“I’m definitely grateful for that because, yes, there was a lot of stability and security with the three-plus-three, but the fact is I’ve been able to do so much with this major and all my secondary and this department,” Schroyer said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I don’t know, it was hard to get rid of it. And especially now because I applied to graduate school and I’m still waiting to hear from three or four and it’s a month until graduation. But even if I didn’t get anywhere, I still wouldn’t change it for the world. I would do it again. I had so much fun.”
