Excel is an indispensable tool for business, personal, and academic use. Many professionals rely on Excel to organize information, track projects, manage budgets, analyze data, and present information clearly.
Taking an Excel course can help you move beyond basic spreadsheet use and develop the confidence to work with Excel more efficiently. In this course, you will learn how to enter and organize data, format worksheets for clarity, use formulas and functions, create charts, and design workbooks that are easier to use and understand.
For beginners, Introduction to Microsoft Excel 365 provides a structured path for learning Microsoft Excel 365 from the ground up.
The Introduction to Microsoft Excel 365 course, offered through the University of Lynchburg, is a beginner-friendly course designed to help students build a strong foundation in Microsoft Excel 365. The course introduces essential spreadsheet skills, including data entry, worksheet formatting, formulas, functions, tables, charts, templates, and business forms.
What You’ll Learn in This Excel Course
This Excel course begins with foundational spreadsheet skills and gradually introduces more advanced features. You’ll start by learning how to navigate the Excel interface, understand workbooks and worksheets, and enter labels, numeric data, and fractions.
From there, you’ll learn how to structure and format worksheets so your data is clear, organized, and professional. The course covers how to insert, delete, and format rows and columns, apply number formats, style text, and make spreadsheets easier to read.
You’ll also practice Excel’s calculation tools, including formulas, aggregate functions, statistical functions, and financial functions. These skills can help you analyze data more effectively in business and professional contexts.
By the end of the course, you’ll have experience with:
- Navigating Microsoft Excel 365
- Entering labels, numbers, and fractions
- Modifying worksheet structure
- Formatting rows, columns, cells, and content
- Creating formulas and using functions
- Referring to cells and ranges
- Troubleshooting formula errors
- Using autofill and quick analysis tools
- Applying headers, footers, and themes
- Preparing worksheets for printing
- Working with multiple sheets and workbooks
- Creating and formatting tables
- Sorting and filtering data
- Building charts to visualize trends
- Using aggregate, statistical, and financial functions
- Creating business forms
- Working with templates
Excel Courses at a Glance
Beginner Course
- Course Name: Introduction to Microsoft Excel 365
- Institution: University of Lynchburg
- Topic Area: Computer Applications / Microsoft
- Level: Fundamental
- Software Focus: Microsoft Excel 365
- Course Length: 6 Weeks Access / 24 Course Hours
- Listed Price: $163 USD
- Instructional Materials: Included with enrollment and available online
Intermediate Microsoft Excel 365
- Course Name: Intermediate Microsoft Excel 365
- Institution: University of Lynchburg
- Topic Area: Computer Applications / Microsoft
- Level: Intermediate
- Software Focus: Microsoft Excel 365
- Course Length: 6 Weeks Access / 24 Course Hours
- Listed Price: $163 USD
- Instructional Materials: Included with enrollment and available online
Advanced Microsoft Excel 365
- Course Name: Advanced Microsoft Excel 365
- Institution: University of Lynchburg
- Topic Area: Computer Applications / Microsoft
- Level: Advanced
- Software Focus: Microsoft Excel 365
- Course Length: 6 Weeks Access / 24 Course Hours
- Listed Price: $163 USD
- Instructional Materials: Included with enrollment and available online
Excel Course Curriculum
Introduction to Microsoft Excel 365 includes 12 lessons that guide students from basic Excel navigation to practical workbook design and data analysis skills.
Lesson 1 — Getting to Know Excel
This lesson introduces the fundamentals of Excel, including the interface, workbooks, worksheets, and basic data entry. You’ll learn how to input labels, numeric data, and fractions, move through a worksheet efficiently, and save files in different formats.
Lesson 2 — Modifying a Worksheet’s Structure
Learn how to select, move, and copy data while modifying worksheet structure. This lesson covers inserting and deleting rows, columns, and cells, merging cells, and using shortcuts to work more efficiently.
Lesson 3 — Using Formulas and Functions
This lesson introduces Excel’s calculation capabilities. You’ll learn how to create formulas, use functions, and apply Excel tools to solve common spreadsheet problems.
Lesson 4 — Formatting Cells and Their Content
Learn how to improve the appearance and readability of your spreadsheets by formatting cells and content. You’ll work with number formats, text styling, and other formatting tools that help transform plain data into professional worksheets.
Lesson 5 — Formatting and Printing a Worksheet
This lesson focuses on preparing worksheets for presentation and printing. You’ll learn how to apply headers, footers, themes, and print settings to create polished, cohesive spreadsheets.
Lesson 6 — Referring to Cells, Ranges, and Formulas
Learn how to use cell and range references effectively. This lesson also introduces techniques for troubleshooting formula errors and improving spreadsheet accuracy.
Lesson 7 — Using Multiple Sheets and Workbooks
Build confidence working across multiple worksheets and workbooks. You’ll learn how to reference data between sheets and organize larger Excel projects more effectively.
Lesson 8 — Working with Tables
This lesson covers creating and formatting tables, as well as sorting and filtering data. These skills help make information easier to manage, analyze, and interpret.
Lesson 9 — Charting Data
Learn how to create charts that visualize data, highlight trends, and communicate insights. Charting skills can help turn raw spreadsheet information into more meaningful visuals.
Lesson 10 — Using Aggregate, Statistical, and Financial Functions
Explore functions commonly used for analysis in business and professional settings. This lesson introduces aggregate, statistical, and financial functions that help you summarize and interpret data.
Lesson 11 — Creating Business Forms
Learn how Excel can be used to create professional business forms, including calendars, invoices, and purchase orders. This lesson focuses on layout, formatting, and formulas that make forms functional and easy to use.
Lesson 12 — Working with Templates
The final lesson covers Excel templates. You’ll learn how to use built-in templates, create custom templates, and build chart templates that save time and support consistency across projects.
Learn Excel Online with Practical Examples
This Excel course is designed to help students learn Excel online through hands-on practice and real-world examples. The course introduces practical spreadsheet tasks that can be applied in business, school, and everyday life.
Because the course starts with foundational skills and progresses into more advanced workbook features, it is well-suited for students who are new to Excel or who want a more structured introduction to Microsoft Excel 365.
Who Should Take This Excel Course?
- This Excel course is a good fit for beginners who want to learn Microsoft Excel 365 and build practical spreadsheet skills. It may be useful for:
- Professionals who work with data, reports, budgets, or schedules
- Students who need stronger spreadsheet skills for academic work
- Job seekers who want to improve their Microsoft Excel confidence
- Small business owners who manage information, forms, or records
- Anyone who wants to organize personal or professional data more effectively
Benefits of Learning Microsoft Excel 365
Learning Microsoft Excel 365 can help you work more efficiently with data and create spreadsheets that are easier to understand. With Excel training, you can improve your ability to organize information, perform calculations, analyze results, and present data visually.
This introductory Excel course also helps students develop confidence using common tools such as formulas, functions, tables, charts, templates, and formatted worksheets.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Excel Course
Do I need prior Excel experience?
No. There are no prerequisites to complete this Excel course.
What version of Excel does the course use?
The course focuses on Microsoft Excel 365. For the best experience, students should use Excel 365 for Windows or Excel for Mac.
There are other versions of Excel courses available.
Can I take this Excel course on a Mac?
Yes. The course can be taken on either a PC or Mac. Mac users should have macOS 12 or later.
Are course materials included?
Yes. The instructional materials required for the course are included in enrollment and available online.
How long is the course?
The course is 6 weeks and 24 course hours.
How much does the course cost?
The course page lists the price as $163 USD. Pricing can change, so confirm the current price on the live enrollment page before publishing or linking paid campaign materials.
Enroll in Introduction to Microsoft Excel 365
Ready to build practical spreadsheet skills? Introduction to Microsoft Excel 365, offered through the University of Lynchburg, can help you develop a strong foundation in Excel.
This beginner-friendly Excel course covers essential Microsoft Excel 365 skills, including data entry, worksheet formatting, formulas, functions, tables, charts, business forms, and templates. With hands-on practice and real-world examples, you can gain the confidence to use Excel more effectively for work, school, and personal projects.
