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

Coursera Project Network
Getting started with Microsoft Office 365
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Outlook, Presentations, Microsoft 365, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Productivity Software, Microsoft Word, Prioritization, Organizational Skills, Office Administration, Collaborative Software, Calendar Management, Workflow Management, Document Management, Microsoft Excel, User Accounts
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
148 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Universidad Austral
Estadística aplicada a los negocios
Skills you'll gain: Regression Analysis, Statistical Inference, Descriptive Statistics, Risk Analysis, Business Risk Management, Business Analytics, Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Probability, Statistical Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Probability Distribution, Statistical Modeling
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
756 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
ChatGPT & Zapier: Agentic AI for Everyone
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI Agents, Agentic systems, Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, AI Personalization, Expense Management, OpenAI, Expense Reports, Workflow Management, Google Workspace, Business Process Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Google Sheets, Automation, Travel Arrangements, Application Programming Interface (API), Natural Language Processing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
71 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Unilever
Using Data Analytics in Supply Chain
Skills you'll gain: Data Governance, Data Storytelling, Presentations, Data Management, Supply Chain Management, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Data Quality, Analytical Skills, Data Cleansing, Data Collection, Spreadsheet Software, Data Validation
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
67 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
How to Use Lookup Reference Math and Text Functions in Excel
Skills you'll gain: Spreadsheet Software, Data Validation
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
450 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Tableau Learning Partner
Data Ecosystem
Skills you'll gain: Data Governance, Data Ethics, Data Warehousing, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Quality, Data Management, Tableau Software, Data Lakes, Data Architecture, Data Literacy, Data Storage, Data Modeling, Data Infrastructure, Databases, Business Intelligence, Data Integrity, Spreadsheet Software, Database Management, Relational Databases
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
102 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Product Cost and Investment Cash Flow Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Cost Estimation, Cost Management, Financial Modeling, Investment Management, Risk Management, Finance, Spreadsheet Software, Financial Planning, Financial Analysis, Cost Accounting, Business Mathematics, Return On Investment, Cash Flows, Product Management
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
80 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
DeepLearning.AI
Applied Statistics for Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Statistics, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Visualization, Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Histogram, Probability, Probability Distribution, Correlation Analysis, Statistical Inference, Estimation, Simulation and Simulation Software, Sampling (Statistics), Analytical Skills, Spreadsheet Software, Generative AI
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
21 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Modern Data Warehouse Analytics in Microsoft Azure
Skills you'll gain: Azure Synapse Analytics, Power BI, Databricks, Microsoft Azure, Database Administration, Cloud Services, Data Warehousing, Dashboard, Data Architecture, Apache Spark, Database Systems, Cloud Storage, Databases, Data Lakes, Business Intelligence, Big Data, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Visualization Software, Data Integration, Apache Hadoop
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
119 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Inferential and Predictive Statistics for Business
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Inference, Business Analytics, Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Regression Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Mathematics, Statistical Methods, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Modeling, Predictive Analytics, Microsoft Excel
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
862 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Pivot Tables in Google Sheets
Skills you'll gain: Google Sheets, Pivot Tables And Charts, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Collaborative Software, Descriptive Statistics, Data Presentation, Data Manipulation
Intermediate · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Coursera Project Network
Charts, Pictures, Themes, and Styles in Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Spreadsheet Software, User Accounts
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours