About Floristry

Opportunities for creative expression, a desire to work with a beautiful product, enjoyment of hands-on creativity, and a determination to make the most important moments in life truly special, are just a few of the reasons students choose to study floristry at City College of San Francisco. 

Learn from internationally recognized and honored floral design instructors while building excellent industry connections. The Floristry Program is designed to give students a thorough well-balanced training in the buying and selling of floral products, the art of creating floral arrangements and the operating of various types of floral enterprises. By completing the Floristry program, you will  be qualified for employment as designers, salespersons, and buyers in a variety of retail floral businesses

Explore Potential Careers

Studying Floristry can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Floral Designer
  • Designer Assistant or Salesperson
  • Floral Manager
  • Carriage Trade Shop: Catering to an elite clientele
  • Studio Operation: Concentrating on special events, catering or freelance designing
  • Wholesale Florist-Supplies: Selling fresh/silk and decorative accessories

Program Options 

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish.

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals.

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
RF 80A Flower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs 5  

RF 81A

or

RF 81B

Fall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care

 

Spring and Summer Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care

 2  
GE Area A Communication and Analytical Thinking 3  
ENGL 1A + 1AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4-6  

Total Units: 14-16

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
RF 80B Intermediate Floral Design 5  
RF 85 (A, B, C, or D)

(A)Introduction to Floral Design - Spring,

(B)Introduction to Floral Design-Summer,

(C)Introduction to Flower Arranging Fall,

(D)Introduction to Flower Arranging Winter

 2  
RF 86A Beginning Oriental Style Flower Arranging 2  
GE Area D Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirement 3  
MATH 46, MATH 60 or 860, ET 108B, or ET 50, or PSYC 5, or ECON 5, or LALS 5, or PHIL 12A, or FIN 136M or higher math course (or equivalent) Math Graduation Requirement 3-8  

Total Units: 13-18

Semester 3 (Summer)

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
GE Area E Humanities Requirement 3  
GE Area H Ethnic Studies, Women's and Gender Studies and LGBTQ Studies 3  

Total Units: 6

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
RF 80C Advanced Floral Design 4  
RF 82 Interior Plant Identification 3  
ACCT 10 Introduction to Accounting 5  
RF 98 Work Experience 3  

Total Units: 15

Semester 5

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
RF 84 Flower-Shop Operations 3  
RF 98 Work Experience 2-6  

MRKT 122

or

MRKT 140

or

MRKT 170

Professional Selling

 

Introduction to Marketing

 

Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication

 3  
GE Area C Natural Sciences Requirement 3-6  
GE Area F United States History and Government Requirement 3  

Total Units: 14-21

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
R F 85A Introduction to Floral Design - Spring 2  
R F 86A Beginning Oriental Flower Arrangement 2  
R F 81A Fall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care 2  
R F 82 Interior Plant Identification 3  
R F 86B Oriental Flower Arrangement II 2  
R F 86C Oriental Flower Arrangement III 2  
R F 86D Oriental Flower Arrangement IV 2  
R F 86E Oriental Flower Arrangement V 2  

Total Units: 17

Overall Total Units: 17 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
R F 80A Flower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs 5  
R F 80B Intermediate Floral Design 5  
R F 80C Advanced Floral Design 4   
R F 82 Interior Plant Identification 3  
R F 84 Flower Shop Operations 3  
R F 86A Beginning Oriental Flower Arrangement 2  
R F 98 Retail Floristry Work Experience 6 Students must achieve six units of work experience, which may be taken over multiple semesters in increments of two or more units.

R F 85A

or

R F 85B

or

R F 85C

or

R F 85D

Introduction to Floral Design - Spring

 

Introduction to Floral Design - Summer

 

Introduction to Flower Arranging Fall

 

Introduction to Flower Arranging Winter

 2  

R F 81A

or

R F 81B

Fall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care

 

Spring and Summer Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care

 2  

Total Units: 32 

Overall Total Units: 32

Required courses

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CAHS 208 Meetings, Conventions & Special Events 3  
ENTR 101  Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3  
MRKT 180 Social Media Marketing 3  
R F 80A Flower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs 5  
R F 80B  Intermediate Floral Design 5  
R F 81A Fall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care 2  
or      
R F 81B  Spring and Summer Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care 2  
R F 84 Flower Shop Operations 3  
R F 88 Designs in Floristry 2.5  
R F 98 Retail Floristry Work Experience 6  

Total Units: 32.5

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities.

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.