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 NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
RF 80AFlower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs5 

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 ACommunication and Analytical Thinking3 
ENGL 1A + 1ASUniversity-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support4-6 

Total Units: 14-16

Semester 2

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
RF 80BIntermediate Floral Design5 
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 86ABeginning Oriental Style Flower Arranging2 
GE Area DSocial and Behavioral Sciences Requirement3 
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 Requirement3-8 

Total Units: 13-18

Semester 3 (Summer)

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
GE Area EHumanities Requirement3 
GE Area HEthnic Studies, Women's and Gender Studies and LGBTQ Studies3 

Total Units: 6

Semester 4

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
RF 80CAdvanced Floral Design4 
RF 82Interior Plant Identification3 
ACCT 10Introduction to Accounting5 
RF 98Work Experience3 

Total Units: 15

Semester 5

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
RF 84Flower-Shop Operations3 
RF 98Work Experience2-6 

MRKT 122

or

MRKT 140

or

MRKT 170

Professional Selling

 

Introduction to Marketing

 

Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication

3 
GE Area CNatural Sciences Requirement3-6 
GE Area FUnited States History and Government Requirement3 

Total Units: 14-21

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses 

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
R F 85AIntroduction to Floral Design - Spring2 
R F 86ABeginning Oriental Flower Arrangement2 
R F 81AFall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care2 
R F 82Interior Plant Identification3 
R F 86BOriental Flower Arrangement II2 
R F 86COriental Flower Arrangement III2 
R F 86DOriental Flower Arrangement IV2 
R F 86EOriental Flower Arrangement V2 

Total Units: 17

Overall Total Units: 17 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
R F 80AFlower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs5 
R F 80BIntermediate Floral Design5 
R F 80CAdvanced Floral Design4  
R F 82Interior Plant Identification3 
R F 84Flower Shop Operations3 
R F 86ABeginning Oriental Flower Arrangement2 
R F 98Retail Floristry Work Experience6Students 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

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
CAHS 208Meetings, Conventions & Special Events3 
ENTR 101 Introduction to Entrepreneurship3 
MRKT 180Social Media Marketing3 
R F 80AFlower Shop Procedures and Basic Designs5 
R F 80B Intermediate Floral Design5 
R F 81AFall and Winter Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care2 
or   
R F 81B Spring and Summer Flower and Foliage Identification/Culture and Care2 
R F 84Flower Shop Operations3 
R F 88Designs in Floristry2.5 
R F 98Retail Floristry Work Experience6 

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.