If you live in Atlanta and are exploring dental careers, you might wonder: Does Clark Atlanta University (CAU) have a dental program?
Short answer: Clark Atlanta University does not have its own dental school or predoctoral Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) / Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program.
However, it can still be a meaningful part of the path toward dental school, especially because of its location in Atlanta and its strong science programs.
Below is a clear breakdown of what CAU offers, what it doesn’t offer, and what options exist nearby in the Atlanta area if you are serious about becoming a dentist or working in dental care.
Clark Atlanta University, located in Atlanta’s historic Westside, is a private, historically Black university known for programs in:
However, CAU does not currently operate:
So, if you’re looking for a professional dental degree in Atlanta itself, you will not find that directly at Clark Atlanta University.
Even without a dental program, CAU can still be used as a pre-dental stepping stone. Many future dentists nationwide complete a bachelor’s degree first, then apply to dental schools elsewhere.
At Clark Atlanta, students interested in dentistry often:
If you are already in Atlanta or planning to move here, CAU can provide the undergraduate foundation you need before applying to dental schools in Georgia or around the country.
For Atlantans, the main question then becomes: “If Clark Atlanta doesn’t have a dental school, where can I go?”
Georgia only has one public dental school, and it is not in Atlanta. It is located at:
Students from Atlanta commonly:
If you study at CAU and maintain a strong GPA, complete your prerequisites, and gain good experience, you can be a competitive applicant to dental schools, even though CAU itself does not grant dental degrees.
While Clark Atlanta does not run a dental program, Atlanta as a city has several options for people interested in dental hygiene, dental assisting, or other dental support roles. These are not at CAU but may be useful if you want to stay in the metro area.
Here are typical routes Atlanta residents use:
| Goal | Typical Path in/near Atlanta | Involves Clark Atlanta? |
|---|---|---|
| Become a dentist (DDS/DMD) | Bachelor’s degree (e.g., at CAU) → Apply to dental school (e.g., The Dental College of Georgia in Augusta or other out-of-state schools) | Yes, as an undergraduate/pre-dental option only |
| Become a dental hygienist | Enroll in an accredited dental hygiene program at a community/technical college or university (not CAU) | No dental hygiene program at CAU |
| Become a dental assistant | Certificate or diploma from a technical or vocational program in the Atlanta area | No dental assisting program at CAU |
| Work in healthcare administration or public health related to oral health | Degrees in public health, biology, business, etc., then work with dental agencies or clinics | CAU can be a good academic home, but training is indirect |
If your priority is a clinical dental role that does not require a DDS/DMD, you would typically look to technical colleges or specialized programs in or around Atlanta rather than CAU.
If you like the idea of studying at a historically Black university in Atlanta and later going on to dental school, you can treat CAU as your pre-dental base.
Choose a strong science major
Many pre-dental students at schools like CAU choose:
Complete dental school prerequisites
Dental schools often expect:
Use Atlanta’s healthcare environment
Being based in Atlanta means you may find:
Prepare for the Dental Admission Test (DAT)
While CAU does not run its own dental program, students can:
Connect with pre-health or STEM organizations
Student groups, mentoring programs, and alumni networks may help you:
If you want a hands-on dental career more quickly than dental school allows, or you prefer a technical route, you might explore:
These are typically found at:
These options are separate from Clark Atlanta University, but many Atlanta residents choose them for faster entry into the dental workforce.
Clark Atlanta University may be a good fit if you:
You should look elsewhere in or near Atlanta if you:
If you’re in Atlanta and trying to decide your route:
🎯 Interested in becoming a dentist?
🦷 Interested in dental hygiene or assisting?
🗂️ Already at CAU and thinking about dentistry?
Bottom line for Atlanta consumers:
Clark Atlanta University does not have its own dental program or dental school, but it can still serve as a pre-dental undergraduate choice for students who want to live and study in Atlanta before attending a separate dental school, such as The Dental College of Georgia in Augusta or other programs across the country.
