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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Investment Banking: Financial Analysis and Valuation
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Investment Banking, Financial Forecasting, Business Valuation, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flows, Benchmarking, Spreadsheet Software
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
172 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Statistics Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Bayesian Statistics, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Inference, Sampling (Statistics), Data Modeling, Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Methods, Data Analysis Software, Statistical Modeling, Marketing Analytics, Tableau Software, Data Analysis, Spreadsheet Software, Quantitative Research, Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
334 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Automating Team Communication with Google Sheets and Apps Script
Skills you'll gain: Google Workspace, Google Sheets, Stakeholder Communications, Communication Planning, Scripting, Project Management Software, Email Marketing, Web Applications
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
127 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Gemini in Google Sheets
Skills you'll gain: Workflow Management, Productivity Software, Google Sheets, Prompt Engineering, Google Workspace, Generative AI, Project Planning, Spreadsheet Software
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Business Analytics for Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Business Analytics, Risk Analysis, Business Analysis, Decision Making, Analytics, Business Intelligence, Predictive Analytics, Simulation and Simulation Software, Business Modeling, Data Analysis, Process Optimization, Market Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Microsoft Excel, Probability Distribution
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Google
Google Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Presentation, Data Storytelling, Presentations, Data Cleansing, Data Visualization, Rmarkdown, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Validation, Data Ethics, Analytical Skills, Dashboard, Spreadsheet Software, Ggplot2, SQL, Data Visualization Software, Data Literacy, Data Collection, Sampling (Statistics), Data Analysis, Google Analytics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
314 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Minnesota
Analytics for Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Simulations, Operations Research, Probability Distribution, Mathematical Modeling, Supply Chain, Probability, Predictive Modeling, Business Modeling, Business Analytics, Analytics, Regression Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Forecasting, Data Modeling, Process Optimization, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistics, Business Mathematics, Manufacturing Operations
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
260 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
What is Financial Accounting?
Skills you'll gain: Accounting Systems, Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Accounting Records, General Accounting, Bookkeeping, Ledgers (Accounting), Standard Accounting Practices, General Ledger, Financial Reporting, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Business Ethics, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Excel Formulas, Transaction Processing, Microsoft Excel
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
492 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Create a Simple Gantt Chart using Google Sheets
Skills you'll gain: Timelines, Project Schedules, Google Sheets, Scheduling, Spreadsheet Software
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
70 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Google Cloud
Google Apps Script: Access Google Sheets, Maps & Gmail in 4 Lines of Code
Skills you'll gain: Scripting, Google Workspace, Gmail, Web Development Tools, Javascript, Scripting Languages, Spreadsheet Software
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
14 reviews
Beginner · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving, Part 3 (Projects)
Skills you'll gain: Peer Review, Microsoft Excel, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Project Design, Simulations, User Interface (UI), Automation, Debugging, Data Management
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
460 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Tableau Software, Data Visualization Software, Excel Macros, Analytics, Accounting and Finance Software, Specialized Accounting, Analytical Skills, Pivot Tables And Charts, Accounting Systems, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Data Collection, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Analysis, Regression Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
442 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months