Curriculum
Floral Design Curriculum
Penn Foster’s online Floral Design Career Diploma consists of courses geared toward helping students to gain the foundational skills and practical knowledge to help prepare for a career in the field. Your floral design classes cover design basics, techniques, and styles, as well as specific designs for weddings and holidays.
Floral Design
Floral Design Curriculum
- 9 courses
- 37.1 continuing education units (CEUs)
- 27 exams
- 1 submitted final project
Estimated completion time:
- Fast track = 7 months
- Average time = 12 months
With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.
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In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. You’ll learn how you can improve your study skills so you’re able to use a number of tools that will help you to be successful.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
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In this course, you’ll explore the history of floral design, get tips on becoming a valuable designer, and learn how to distinguish yourself from other floral designers.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe how floral-design concepts from the past influence modern floral design
- List the career opportunities available to professional floral designers
- Recognize floral gift-giving as an expression of emotions
- Discuss the qualities needed to distinguish yourself as a designer
- Identify several varieties of flowers and explain their individual characteristics
- Describe the four design categories by which florists classify flowers
- List the four design categories of foliage
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In this course, you’ll learn the procedures for creating arrangements using various tools and techniques.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Apply the care and handling procedures for different kinds of flowers
- Identify the tools of floral design
- Perform various wiring techniques
- Discuss the seasonal availability of flowers
- Select the most appropriate flowers and arrangements for a hospital arrangement, a funeral piece, and a table centerpiece
- Discuss the creative perspective in floral design
- Create a wire-and-ribbon bow
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In this course, you’ll learn how to incorporate color and basic design into floral arrangements, and explore more design techniques to create high-quality, beautiful arrangements.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- List and discuss the principles of design
- Discuss scale and proportion as used in floral design
- Recognize how visual weight creates balance in an arrangement
- Describe the value of accent and rhythm in creating exciting floral designs
- List and discuss the five elements of design
- Describe the types of line used in floral design
- Distinguish between the use of positive and negative space in arrangements
- Describe the various forms of floral designs
- Explain color theory as it applies to floral design
- Describe the different design techniques
- Identify the major traditional floral design styles
- Identify the major contemporary design styles
- Recognize the design techniques used in the major design styles
- Prepare containers to hold your arrangements
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In this course, you’ll be introduced to the major floral design styles.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Explain what’s meant by Ikebana, western line, Hogarth, formal linear, crescent, mille de fleur, Biedermeier, and parallel-system design styles
- Describe the techniques required to design arrangements in these styles
- Describe the mechanics involved in designing arrangements in these styles
- Discuss some of the possible applications of each style
- Explain what is meant by vegetative, landscape, new convention, abstract, new wave, waterfall, and hand-tied design styles
- Describe the techniques required to design arrangements in these styles
- Describe the mechanics involved in designing arrangements in these styles
- Discuss some of the possible applications of each style
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In this course, you’ll learn how to design appropriate arrangements for weddings and funerals.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe a floral consultant’s role in helping brides prepare for their weddings
- Explain how floral consultants budget and price their wedding-related services
- Discuss color themes and design styles to match a bride’s preferences and her dreams for her wedding
- Define industry-specific terms used to describe wedding fabrics and attire
- Coordinate wedding fabrics with flowers
- Describe the various styles of bouquets used for weddings
- Understand the different design techniques used to construct wedding arrangements
- Construct bouquets for brides and their attendants
- Recognize the most suitable flowers and arrangements for male and female wedding participants
- Define the term body flowers
- Describe the various kinds of corsages
- Apply the rules for basic corsage construction
- Create a corsage, hair wreath, and lapel boutonniere
- Explain how to decorate wedding environments with flowers
- List the possible uses of floral decorations during wedding ceremonies
- Describe how to offer brides exciting choices for reception flowers
- Discuss how some ceremony flowers may be reused at the reception
- Explain how to coordinate the floral designs with the reception site and furniture
- Describe the role of a funeral-floral consultant
- Create the proper atmosphere for funeral consultations
- Explain what’s meant by the term casket spray
- Discuss the various types of funeral sprays, including their various methods of construction and design techniques
- Describe the other types of floral arrangements commonly used for funerals and the techniques for their construction and design
- Explain how florists add professional touches to funeral arrangements
- Discuss carnation arrangements and design techniques to create these arrangements
- Describe the varieties of roses and the construction of rose arrangements
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This course discusses both the increasing popularity of growing indoor plants and using artificial and dried flowers and foliage in your arrangements.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Select appropriate plants for beautifying particular environments
- Describe the proper care of potted plants
- List the factors to be considered when decorating commercial interiors
- Explain the differences among terrariums, bottle gardens, dish gardens, bulb gardens, plant baskets, European gardens, and air gardens
- Describe ways to create plant gardens featuring cacti and other succulents
- Discuss the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of plant infestation
- Pronounce the botanical names of some popular indoor plants
- List the basic cultural requirements of some popular indoor plants
- Identify the types of artificial flowers and foliage
- Handle and work with artificial floral materials
- Properly store artificial flowers
- List the tools and supplies needed to work with artificial flowers and plants
- Explain the various processes used to dry and preserve flowers and foliage
- Handle and work with dried flowers and foliage
- List the tools and supplies needed to work with dried flowers and foliage
- Properly store dried floral materials
- Make three types of silk and dried flower arrangements
- Describe various uses for artificial and dried materials
- Explain how to coordinate a collection of designs to follow a single idea or theme
- Describe efficient production methods to create multiples of one design
- Explain how interior decorating affects dried and silk flower designs
- Describe how color marketing coordinates many different industries to create compatible products
- List the various parts of a professional proposal for a custom installation
- Describe the procedure for pricing a custom installation
- Explain how to recycle containers by painting or covering them
- Describe faux-finish painting techniques
- Prepare any container for a silk and dried flower design
- Explain the design mechanics used by floral designers for containerless designs
- Explore wreath-making techniques and materials
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This course will prepare you to create fresh and artificial arrangements for major and minor holidays, as well as special occasions that occur throughout the year.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe some of the legends surrounding the Christmas tree
- Explain how florists prepare for the Christmas sales season
- Describe the preparation, care, and handling of fresh evergreens
- Identify the various decorative materials used in connection with the Christmas holiday
- List several types of candles and safety considerations for using them in arrangements
- Describe the construction of fresh Christmas arrangements and their components
- Discuss the advantages of working with Christmas artificials
- Explain the techniques and mechanics of arranging Christmas artificials
- Describe the techniques for combining artificial and fresh materials
- List the commonly offered Christmas plants
- Describe the care and handling of poinsettias
- Discuss the use of both real and artificial Christmas trees
- Describe the influence of floral wire services on the industry and the Christmas holiday
- Make a planning calendar to organize your shop for the fourth and often most profitable quarter
- Describe the most popular Valentine’s Day flowers and arrangements
- Explain how florists plan carefully for the high volume of sales on Valentine’s Day
- Outline the proper care of Easter lilies
- Describe the variety of arrangements and miniature gardens that are appropriate for Easter
- Explain the significance of the carnation in the celebration of Mother’s Day
- List the various alternative flowers, gift plants, and arrangements often requested for Mother’s Day
- Describe the floral arrangements best suited to the celebration of Thanksgiving
- Discuss how to combine floral displays with the celebration of the New Year
- Explain how to create attractive gift baskets
- Identify important minor holidays and other specialty days that can be celebrated with flowers
- Determine whether a particular occasion will be financially beneficial enough to invest merchandising time and money
- Explain how to target your merchandising efforts to attract the attention of as many customers as possible
- List ways that you can plan ahead for minor holidays
- Explain how you should budget your time and expenses when a major and minor holiday occur close together
- Describe how theme arrangements are designed using accessories appropriately
- Create examples of appealing designs appropriate for some minor holidays
- Define the role of floral decorators and how their businesses differ from the businesses of retail florists
- Explain when you should hire subcontractors
- List guidelines for creating effective centerpieces to be sold in multiples
- Discuss how to approach potential clients
- Explain how to upgrade reception flowers when explaining choices to a host
- List ways to control costs during installation and teardown
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The final course in the program explains how to establish, manage, market, and merchandise your floral design business.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- List the qualifications needed to be a successful business owner
- Describe the qualities of a good business location
- Analyze the strength of your competitors
- Describe the issues involved in funding a new florist shop
- List the types of insurance required either by law or by wise practice
- List the permits, licenses, taxes, and miscellaneous expenses that new business owners must take into account
- Explain the options written into leasing contracts to protect business owners
- Describe how the yearly cycle of the floral business will affect your planning
- Explain the importance of establishing a unique business identity
- Identify the essential furnishings required by a florist shop
- Calculate the space requirements needed for a full-service flower shop
- Explain the basic issues involved in employer/employee relations in business
Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
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