Does Clark Atlanta University Have a Dental Program? What Atlanta Students Should Know

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.

What Clark Atlanta University Offers (and Doesn’t) for Dental Careers

No standalone dental school at Clark Atlanta

Clark Atlanta University, located in Atlanta’s historic Westside, is a private, historically Black university known for programs in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Health sciences–related majors
• Business, education, social work, and more

However, CAU does not currently operate:

• A dental school
• A DDS or DMD program
• Dental hygiene or dental assisting degree programs
• A clinical dental clinic for public patients as part of a dental school

So, if you’re looking for a professional dental degree in Atlanta itself, you will not find that directly at Clark Atlanta University.

How Clark Atlanta can still fit into a dental career path

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:

• Major in Biology, Chemistry, or related sciences
• Complete common pre-dental prerequisites, such as:
  • General Biology with lab
  • General Chemistry with lab
  • Organic Chemistry with lab
  • Physics with lab
  • Biochemistry (often strongly recommended)
• Join health-focused or pre-professional student organizations (offerings can change by year)
• Seek guidance from academic advisors on building a strong application for dental school

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.

Where Is the Actual Dental School in Georgia?

For Atlantans, the main question then becomes: “If Clark Atlanta doesn’t have a dental school, where can I go?”

The University of Georgia’s dental school (not in Atlanta)

Georgia only has one public dental school, and it is not in Atlanta. It is located at:

• The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University
• 1430 John Wesley Gilbert Dr
• Augusta, GA 30912
• Main switchboard (Augusta University): (706) 721-0211

Students from Atlanta commonly:

• Do their undergraduate work in Atlanta (at schools like Clark Atlanta, Spelman, Morehouse, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, etc.)
• Then apply to The Dental College of Georgia or other dental schools across the U.S.

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.

Options in Atlanta for Dental-Related Education (Beyond CAU)

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.

Common Atlanta-area pathways into dental fields

Here are typical routes Atlanta residents use:

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.

Using Clark Atlanta as a Pre-Dental Launchpad

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.

Steps Atlanta students often take from CAU toward dental school

1. Choose a strong science major
   Many pre-dental students at schools like CAU choose:

   • Biology
   • Chemistry
   • Sometimes Biochemistry or related fields if available

2. Complete dental school prerequisites
   Dental schools often expect:

   • One year of General Biology with labs
   • One year of General Chemistry with labs
   • One year of Organic Chemistry with labs
   • One year of Physics with labs
   • English and other general education coursework
     Individual school requirements vary, so it is important to plan early with advising.

3. Use Atlanta’s healthcare environment
   Being based in Atlanta means you may find:

   • Dentist offices and dental clinics where you can shadow professionals
   • Volunteer opportunities in community health or free/low-cost dental events
   • Health fairs and outreach where oral health education is provided

4. Prepare for the Dental Admission Test (DAT)
   While CAU does not run its own dental program, students can:

   • Use the university’s academic support services
   • Form study groups with peers interested in health professions
   • Take advantage of Atlanta’s libraries and quiet study spaces

5. Connect with pre-health or STEM organizations
   Student groups, mentoring programs, and alumni networks may help you:

   • Learn how other Atlanta graduates successfully entered dental school
   • Understand application timelines and expectations

If You Live in Atlanta and Want Direct Dental Training

If you want a hands-on dental career more quickly than dental school allows, or you prefer a technical route, you might explore:

• Dental hygiene programs (to become a registered dental hygienist)
• Dental assisting programs (shorter training, support role in dental offices)

These are typically found at:

• Technical colleges
• Community colleges
• Specialized training institutes in the greater Atlanta area

These options are separate from Clark Atlanta University, but many Atlanta residents choose them for faster entry into the dental workforce.

Who Should Consider Clark Atlanta for a Dental Path?

Clark Atlanta University may be a good fit if you:

• Want to live and study in Atlanta, Georgia
• Value attending a HBCU with a strong sense of community
• Are comfortable with the idea of:
  • Doing your undergraduate degree at CAU
  • Then leaving Atlanta (or commuting from Atlanta) for dental school elsewhere, such as The Dental College of Georgia in Augusta or schools in other states

You should look elsewhere in or near Atlanta if you:

• Specifically need a dental hygiene or dental assisting program
• Want a DDS/DMD program located in Atlanta itself

Practical Next Steps for Atlanta Residents

If you’re in Atlanta and trying to decide your route:

• 🎯 Interested in becoming a dentist?

  • Consider Clark Atlanta, Spelman, Morehouse, Georgia State, or other Atlanta institutions for your undergraduate degree.
  • Plan to apply later to The Dental College of Georgia in Augusta or another dental school.

• 🦷 Interested in dental hygiene or assisting?

  • Look into Atlanta-area technical and community colleges that offer accredited dental hygiene or assisting programs.
  • These are separate from Clark Atlanta but keep you based in metro Atlanta.

• 🗂️ Already at CAU and thinking about dentistry?

  • Meet with an academic advisor about aligning your major with pre-dental requirements.
  • Start exploring local shadowing or volunteer opportunities in Atlanta dental settings.

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.