University of Georgia
A Certificate Program for Pre-Dental Students – Offered by the Pre-Professional Advising Office and the Lamar Dodd School of Art

The Pre-Professional Advising Office (PPAO) and the Lamar Dodd School of Art (LDSOA) have partnered to offer a unique certificate program designed to help pre-dental students enhance their manual dexterity through hands-on art experiences. This interdisciplinary initiative provides students with the opportunity to develop fine motor skills essential for dental practice by engaging in creative, skill-building projects led by art school faculty or graduate art students.

 

Program Details

  • Semester Offered: Spring 2026 Registration is Closed
  • Schedule: Friday evenings, 4:00 PM – 6:40 PM
  • Duration: 9 sessions, plus exhibition/certificate celebration
  • Location: Lamar Dodd School of Art studios
  • Certificate: Awarded upon completion and participation in final exhibition

Final Exhibition

The program culminates in a gallery exhibition showcasing student work. Certificates of completion will be presented during this celebratory event.

Areas of Emphasis

Students will rotate through three distinct art disciplines, each taught over three sessions:

Jewelry/Metalwork

Participants will explore the fundamentals of jewelry and metalworking, including:

          • Tool and material safety
          • Cutting, shaping, and polishing techniques
          • Creation of original metal art pieces

 

Printmaking & Book Arts

Workshops will introduce students to:

          • Relief and intaglio printmaking (linocut, woodcut, etching, drypoint)
          • Japanese stab book binding
          • Paper types and image transfer methods
          • Use of professional-grade tools and facilities

 

Ceramics

Students will learn both utilitarian and sculptural ceramic techniques:

          • Clay and glaze formulation
          • Kiln building and firing
          • Hand-forming methods and ceramic processes

Benefits

According to the American Dental Education Association, superior eye-hand coordination is essential for dental professionals.

This program:

  • Strengthens manual dexterity through artistic practice
  • Enhances dental school applications in three key areas: manual dexterity description, experiences, and achievements
  • Provides a unique credential noticed by admissions committees.

Testimonials

“All of the activities have taught me how to be more intentional, detail-oriented, and to simply have fun with a challenge!” — KG, past participant

“An art certificate for manual dexterity will be noticed by the DCG admissions committee.” — R. Messer, PhD, MSBE, Associate Dean for Admissions, Dental College of Georgia