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
Microsoft
Microsoft Power BI and Power Platform for Productivity
Skills you'll gain: Extract, Transform, Load, Star Schema, Microsoft Power Platform, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Storytelling, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Excel Formulas, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Analysis, Microsoft Copilot, Data Presentation, Spreadsheet Software, Data Transformation, Data Literacy, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Productivity Software
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
507 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
PwC
Data Analysis and Presentation Skills: the PwC Approach
Skills you'll gain: Analytics, Business Analytics, Data Analysis, Microsoft PowerPoint, Data Presentation, Presentations, Excel Formulas, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Business Intelligence, Microsoft Excel, Customer Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Visualization Software, Data Literacy, Big Data, Verbal Communication Skills, Data Cleansing, Spreadsheet Software
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Assess for Success: Marketing Analytics and Measurement
Skills you'll gain: Media Planning, A/B Testing, Marketing Budgets, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Marketing Analytics, Marketing Effectiveness, Performance Measurement, Data Visualization, Google Analytics, Google Ads, Return On Investment, Spreadsheet Software, Data Presentation, Web Analytics, Online Advertising, Digital Marketing, Pivot Tables And Charts, Stakeholder Communications, Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate II
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Excel Macros, Data Validation, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Predictive Modeling, Financial Modeling, Workflow Management, Data Integrity, Business Modeling, Automation, Process Optimization
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 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
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business: Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Cleansing, Finance, Business Intelligence Software, Data Validation, Financial Modeling, Data Visualization, Loans, Depreciation, Automation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Process Data from Dirty to Clean
Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Sampling (Statistics), Data Integrity, Data Quality, Data Validation, Sample Size Determination, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, SQL, Data Transformation, Spreadsheet Software
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 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
12K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
Bayesian Statistics
Skills you'll gain: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Bayesian Statistics, R Programming, Forecasting, Statistical Inference, Statistical Modeling, Technical Communication, Data Analysis, Probability, Statistical Machine Learning, Statistical Methods, Statistical Analysis, Advanced Analytics, Mathematical Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Markov Model, Probability Distribution, Probability & Statistics, Unsupervised Learning, Regression Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
SAS
SAS Programmer
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, SAS (Software), Data Access, Data Import/Export, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Consolidation, Data Transformation, Requirements Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Validation, Statistical Programming, Statistical Analysis, Data Processing, SQL, Data Presentation, Data Cleansing, Descriptive Statistics, Debugging
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
ChatGPT + Excel: AI-Enhanced Data Analysis & Insight
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Prompt Engineering, Data Presentation, ChatGPT, Excel Macros, Excel Formulas, Data Synthesis, Microsoft Excel, Productivity, Infographics, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Data Cleansing, Large Language Modeling, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Import/Export, Statistical Reporting
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Business Statistics and Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Microsoft Excel, Pivot Tables And Charts, Regression Analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Graphing, Spreadsheet Software, Probability Distribution, Business Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Statistics, Business Analysis, Statistical Methods, Sample Size Determination, Statistical Inference
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
13K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months