What is a spreadsheet?

A spreadsheet is a sheet of paper or digital file that's divided into rows and columns that allows you to store and analyze data in an organized format. Paper spreadsheets allow you to physically enter data into the rows and columns, but you have to manage your own calculations. Computer spreadsheets can take care of the calculations for you, but you have to enter the formulas into the spreadsheet. Popular computer and web-based spreadsheet applications include Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, and Google Sheets.

Why is it important to learn about spreadsheets?

Spreadsheets are useful tools in the business world, and many companies rely on them, and even if you don't use numbers or formulas, spreadsheets come in handy if you're making charts and organizing information. Spreadsheets are helpful for organizing data of any kind, so it's worth your time to gain familiarity with how to use them. If you work with numbers—from complex formulas to simple budgeting—learning how to use spreadsheets will help you become more productive at work and at home.

How does knowing about spreadsheets affect my career?

There was a time when spreadsheets were only common in the financial sector, but because they're so versatile, they're increasingly prevalent everywhere. If you have a working knowledge of spreadsheets, you can make good use of them in your workplace. If you can gain a deeper knowledge of how spreadsheets work, you'll possess a skill that can make you more productive in your career or help you advance in your career. Some employers look for candidates with extensive spreadsheet knowledge when they're hiring or promoting employees, so the more you know about using spreadsheets, the more value you have as an employee.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn spreadsheets?

Taking online courses on Coursera can help you learn the various features and formulas of spreadsheets at a pace and schedule that fits your needs. The courses are led by some of the best instructors in the academic and business world, from organizations like IBM and the University of Pennsylvania. You can be confident that whether you're learning the basics or gaining more advanced knowledge, you won't only know about how spreadsheets work, but you can apply that knowledge with ease.

What are the benefits of taking an online Spreadsheet course?

Online Spreadsheet courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Spreadsheet skills. Choose from a wide range of Spreadsheet courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Spreadsheet courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Spreadsheet, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Spreadsheet Courses - Learn Spreadsheet Online

Explore the Spreadsheet Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Finance & Quantitative Modeling for Analysts
Skills you'll gain: Return On Investment, Financial Reporting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Statements, Financial Modeling, Mathematical Modeling, Statistical Modeling, Regression Analysis, Business Modeling, Income Statement, Financial Analysis, Risk Analysis, Cash Flows, Business Mathematics, Financial Planning, Corporate Finance, Predictive Analytics, Spreadsheet Software, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Operations Research, Regression Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Risk Analysis, Business Modeling, Resource Allocation, Statistical Analysis, Process Optimization, Financial Analysis, Predictive Analytics, Transportation Operations, Linear Algebra
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Emory University
Management Consulting
Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Presentations, Microsoft PowerPoint, Management Consulting, Executive Presence, Business Consulting, Benchmarking, Microsoft Excel, Storytelling, Data Storytelling, Proposal Development, Oral Expression, Business Research, Interviewing Skills, Six Sigma Methodology, Consultative Approaches, Analytical Skills, Data Quality, Professional Networking, Business Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Data Analysis with Spreadsheets and SQL
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization Software, Spreadsheet Software, Correlation Analysis, Google Sheets, Pivot Tables And Charts, Dashboard, Data Analysis, Data Storytelling, Tableau Software, Descriptive Statistics, Data Cleansing, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Analysis, SQL
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
227 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Meta
Meta Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Business Metrics, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Data Management, Data Collection, Data Governance, Bayesian Statistics, Data Analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Information Privacy, Data Cleansing, Pandas (Python Package), Data Visualization Software, Statistical Inference, Spreadsheet Software, Correlation Analysis, Google Sheets, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Modeling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Corporate Finance Institute
Data Skills for Excel Professionals
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Pivot Tables And Charts, Star Schema, Spreadsheet Software, Data Transformation, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Storytelling, Data Analysis, Excel Formulas, Exploratory Data Analysis, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Visualization Software, Data Presentation, Data Modeling, Business Intelligence, Competitive Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Integration
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
103 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Requirements Elicitation, Risk Mitigation, Business Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Risk Analysis, Process Mapping, Process Optimization, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Work Breakdown Structure, Scope Management, Process Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Visualization Software, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
13K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Meta
Meta Marketing Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Business Metrics, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Marketing Analytics, Bayesian Statistics, Descriptive Statistics, Marketing Effectiveness, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Target Audience, Marketing Strategies, Data Cleansing, Pandas (Python Package), Data Modeling, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Spreadsheet Software, A/B Testing, Data Collection, Marketing, Interviewing Skills
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Master Microsoft Office 365 and Power Platform
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Copilot, Prompt Engineering, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Power BI, Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Word, Microsoft 365, Data Visualization, Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Outlook, Data Integration, Business Intelligence, Business Process Automation, Productivity Software
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Excel Formulas, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, User Story, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Data Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visio, Software Development Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Requirements Elicitation, Quality Management, Pivot Tables And Charts, Power BI, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Scrum (Software Development), Business Analysis, Project Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
997 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Google
Speed Up Data Analysis and Presentation Building
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Data Storytelling, Sampling (Statistics), Prompt Engineering, Presentations, Graphing, Data Ethics, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis, Oral Expression, Artificial Intelligence
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
41 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Generative AI Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Prompt Engineering, Data Presentation, ChatGPT, Data Synthesis, Microsoft Excel, Productivity, Infographics, Document Management, SQL, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Data Visualization, Data Cleansing, Large Language Modeling, Data Import/Export, Statistical Reporting, Data Integration, Data Transformation, Data Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.4K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months