Floral and Special Events Coordinator Certificate of Achievement

The Floral and Special Events Coordinator curriculum is designed to train floral design students to execute all details necessary to create a variety of events, such as seminars, conferences, trade shows, executive retreats, incentive programs, golf events, conventions, weddings, and other special occasions with an emphasis on floral decorations. Topics such as conducting a consultation and developing a client proposal and contracts specific to the floral industry and the financial aspects of floral events will also be covered.

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 and event planning. 

Historically, our courses in this discipline have enrollments of 15-30 in each section. Expected completion is 10-15 students per year.

The purposes of this Certificate are to prepare completers for employment in buying flowers, the art of arranging and selling them to the public and operating a Floral Event Business. 

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

• Synthesize essential fundamental principles of design, hospitality, tourism, and business functions.
• Perform professionally in customer sales, service, delivery and installation of floral and related products for events.
• Use appropriate tools and technology to work effectively in the diverse floral event planning industry.

The curriculum is designed to give students thorough, well-balanced training in the buying and selling of floral products, the art of creating floral arrangements and the operation of a floral event enterprise. Students are to completed 33.5 units.

Course	Units	Sequence (year, sem)
Year One
R F 80A - Flower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs	5.00	Y1, S1
MRKT 180 Social Media Marketing	3.00	YI, S1
CAHS - 208 - Intro to Event and Meet Planning	4.00	Y1, S2
R F 80B - Intermediate Floral Design	5.00	Y1, S2
*R F 81A - Fall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care	2.00	Y1, S1
OR	OR	OR
*R F 81B - Spring and Summer Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care	2.00	Y1, S2
Year One Total:	19.00
Year Two
R F 84 - Flower Shop Operations	3.00	Y2, S1
R F 88 - Designs in Floristry	2.50	Y2, S1
R F 98 - Retail Floristry Work Experience	3.00	Y2, S1
R F 98 - Retail Floristry Work Experience	3.00	Y2, S2
ENTR - 101 Introduction to Entrepreneurship	3.00	Y2, S2
Year Two Total:	14.50
Program Total:	33.50

Students who complete the curriculum satisfactorily are qualified for employment as designers, salespersons and buyers and prepared to operate a floral event business.

This program is new and unique to the Bay Area. It is intended to train people to work specifically in and is designed around the needs of Retail Floriculture settings. It also features full semester, credit classes offered by primarily full-time instructors. This curriculum and certificate, was recommended by our Floristry Advisory Committee. Since 1945 City College of San Francisco has had 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.