Microsoft Excel Foundations

In this course you’ll build the skills you need to manage, explore, analyze, and visualize data in Microsoft Excel using real-world projects and datasets.

We’ll start by introducing the Excel landscape and interface, then dive into spreadsheet fundamentals like table structures, data types, formatting, sorting, and filtering.

From there we’ll dig into formulas and functions, introduce key topics like syntax, reference types, and common errors, and practice applying some of the most common and powerful techniques for data management and analysis. We’ll use functions to count and aggregate values, create logical tests, join data across tables, manipulate text and date values, and more.

Next we’ll introduce pivot tables, an essential spreadsheet tool for data exploration. We’ll prepare raw data for analysis, create views to slice and dice the data, apply different calculation options, and use tools like sorting, filtering, and calculated fields.

Last but not least, we’ll dive into the world of data visualization and storytelling, review best practices for effective design, and bring our data to life using essential visuals like bar, line, and pie charts, scatterplots, histograms, and maps.

This is a hands-on and project-based course, designed to help you build practical data literacy and analytical thinking skills. You’ll work with unique, real-world datasets from Flight Delays to Sales Pipelines, and apply the skills you learn every step of the way.

COURSE CURRICULUM:

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

• Everyday people looking to build confidence and use data more effectively
• Anyone seeking a comprehensive introduction to Microsoft Excel
• Data professionals who want to build job-ready data management, analysis, and visualization skills

WHAT ARE THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS?

• Microsoft Excel 365 (some functionality may be unavailable on other versions)
• No advance preparation is required

WHAT ARE THE COURSE OBJECTIVES?

• Identify the basics for getting up & running with Excel, including creating & managing spreadsheets and navigating the menus & settings

• Identify and interpret fundamental spreadsheet and data literacy concepts, including data terminology, data types, data validation rules, conditional formatting, and sorting & filtering

• Identify and interpret formulas syntax, reference types, and errors, as well as math, logical, text, date, and lookup functions

• Identify and interpret examples of analyzing data with pivot tables, including their source data structure, calculation options, calculated fields, and sorting & filtering

• Identify and interpret examples of visualizing data with charts & graphs, including line & area charts, bar & column charts, combo charts, pie & donut charts, histograms, scatterplots, and maps

CPE ACCREDITATION DETAILS:

• CPE Credits: 9

• Field of Study: Information Technology

• Delivery Method: QAS Self Study

Maven Analytics LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints or refunds, please contact us at admin@mavenanalytics.io or (857) 256-1765.

*Last Updated: March 27, 2025