Floristry AS Major

Instruction in retail floristry is offered in cooperation with the American Institute of Floral Designers, San Francisco Bay Area Retail Florists Association and California State Florists Association. The two-year course of study is designed to give students thorough and well-balanced training in buying flowers, the art of arranging and selling them to the public, and operating a retail flower shop. Students who complete the curriculum satisfactorily are qualified for employment as designers and salespersons in the retail floral industry. The course of study includes instruction in the following: beginning, intermediate and advanced floral design, flower shop procedures, “hands-on” floral work experience, flower shop management, merchandising, marketing, basic business arithmetic, and record keeping. Students who complete the curriculum and other graduation requirements receive the Associate in Science in Floristry.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Arrange floral project proficiently and artistically.
• Identify, select, and purchase plants and flowers appropriate for floral design products and retail business
• Apply management practices necessary to operate a floral business.

Assuming students start this AS with transfer‐level math and English eligibility, the minimum time for completion is 4 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and number of units completed per semester. 

Historically Courses have enrollments of 15-30 in each section. Students achieving Associates Degrees are usually 3-5 per year. The certificate is more popular and is in progress.

Course number	Course Title	Annual Sections	Annual Enrollment/ Completions
R F 80A	Flower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs	3	60/60
R F 80B	Intermediate Floral Design	2	30/30
R F 80C	Advanced Floral Design	2	60/60
R F 81A	Fall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care	1	25/25
R F 81B	Spring and Summer Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care	1	25/25
R F 82	Interior Plant Identification	2	60/60

Students who complete the curriculum satisfactorily are qualified for employment as designers, salespersons, and buyers in a variety of retail floral businesses. Students may earn an Associate of Science Degree (A.S.) and an Award of Achievement in Retail Floristry or design their own course work, tailored to their individual needs.

Successful graduates work in public as well as private institutions, which may include running their own floral business, wholesaling to the retailer, or working as an independent freelance floral designer for hotels and special events. CCSF floristry graduates and alumni are in demand by such companies such as FTD, Teleflora, and 1-800-Flowers.

Consistent with City College of San Francisco vision and mission and with our Advisory Committee, the EnvironmentalHorticulture/Floristry Department provides unique educational programs that promote student achievement and life-long learning to meet the needs of our diverse community in San Francisco in areas of Horticulture and Floristry.

Our primary mission is to provide programs and services leading to

• Transfer to baccalaureate institutions;
• Associate Degrees in Arts and Sciences;
• Certificates and career skills needed for success in the workplace.

In addition, our department programs course offerings as resources allow and whenever possible, in collaboration with partnering agencies and community-based organizations.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
R F 80A	Flower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs	5	Y1, S1
R F 81	Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care	2	Y1, S1
One of the following
R F 85 (A, B, C, or D)	Introduction to Floral Design (A-Spring, B-Summer, C-Fall, D-Winter	2	Y1, S1
ACCT 10	Introduction to Accounting	5	Y1, S2
R F 80B	Intermediate Floral Design	5	Y1, S2
R F 82	Interior Plant Identification	3	Y1, S2
R F 86A	Beginning Oriental Flower Arrangement	1.5	Y2, S1
R F80C	Advanced Floral Design	4	Y2, S1
R F 98	Retail Floristry Work Experience	3	Y2, S1
R F84	Flower Shop Operations	3	Y2, S2
R F98	Retail Floristry Work Experience	2-6	Y2, S2
MRKT 122	Professional Selling	3	Y2, S2
or
MRKT 140	Introduction to Marketing	3	Y2, S2
or
MRKT 170	Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication	3	Y2, S2

Required Major total:  38.5 – 42.5 units

Completion of CSU GEBreadth or IGETC pattern: 21 units

Year 1, Semester 1: 15 units

Year 1, Semester 2: 15 units

Year 2, Semester 1: 15 units

Year 2, Semester 2: 15 units

Total: 60 – 62.5units

The program has been offered, but we find no BACCC recommendation in our records.

This program is unique to the Bay Area in that it trains people to work specifically in, and is designed around the needs of Wholesale and Retail Floriculture settings. It also features full semester, credit classes offered by primarily full-time instructors. All curriculum, certificates, and degrees are approved by our Floristry Advisory. Since 1945 City College of San Francisco District has held program agreements with all other Bay Area Districts that offer Floral Design Programs. Programs at Mission College and CSM in Horticulture and Floristry have been eliminated. Merritt College offers community service/fee-based floral design courses.