Paleontology is basic naturalistic science which takes up position between Earth sciences and Life sciences. Paleontology studies fossil organisms, its vital functions traces to determine following things:

How did Life develop on the Earth?

What organisms did replace each another in the variable environmental conditions during the hundreds of millions years?

How did growing up Life influence on the Earth's environmental conditions?

Approach and methods of adjoin branches of science -geology, geochemistry, biochemistry, theory of evolution and other are employed in modern paleontology for researches. Paleontological material let to create very detailed periodization of Earth's history for more than three milliard years. Paleontological dates were used to create the geological time scale.

Applied paleontological branch is biostratigraphy. This science uses fossils to divide and correlate deposits. The biostratigraphy is very important for all geological investigations: geological maps' constraction, exploration activity.

The Department of Paleontology is the oldest center for teaching paleontologists and scientific research in our country. The students get broad knowledge in geology, biology and other special paleontological disciplines. The main directions of education are:

Paleontology of invertebrates

Paleontology of vertebrates

Micropaleontology

Paleobotany and palinology

Biostratigraphy

The Department graduates with bachelor degree (in 4 years), master degree (in 6 years) and specialist degree (in 5 years) and prepares the most qualified staff in post-graduate and doctor course.

The Department has long-term relations with Paleontological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences and other research institutions. The graduate students of the Department work in different scientific and production organizations in our country and abroad.