Build your Microsoft Excel skills from the ground up and progress to advanced data analysis techniques, all in one comprehensive training day with exclusive bundle pricing!

In Excel Level 1 Fundamentals, you will learn how to navigate the Excel environment, create and organize worksheets, and use simple formulas and foundational functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and COUNT. Through hands-on instruction and guided practice, you will develop practical skills for entering and editing data, using AutoFill, formatting cells and values, managing worksheets, and preparing files for printing or PDF distribution. You will also receive a comprehensive reference guide with step-by-step instructions, keyboard shortcuts, and helpful tips to reinforce what you learn in class.

In Excel Level 2 Working with Data, you will use Excel tables, structured references, advanced formulas, conditional calculations, lookup functions, and dynamic arrays to work with professional datasets. Through hands-on instruction and guided practice, you will sort and filter data, apply absolute and mixed references, use functions such as IF, IFS, COUNTIF, SUMIF, AVERAGEIF, XLOOKUP, FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE, and summarize results with PivotTables, PivotCharts, and slicers. You will also receive a comprehensive reference guide with step-by-step instructions, keyboard shortcuts, Microsoft documentation links, and helpful tips to reinforce what you learn in class.

This live online training course is offered by a collaboration of Minnesota State colleges and universities.

Course Objectives

Upon completion, students will be able to:

Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 Level 1 Fundamentals

• Navigate the Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 desktop environment and identify key interface components
• Create, open, save, and organize Excel workbooks
• Enter, edit, clear, move, and copy worksheet data
• Enter a data series using AutoFill and copy content with the fill handle
• Create simple formulas using cell references and mathematical operators
• Use foundational functions, including SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and COUNT
• Copy formulas that use relative cell references
• Apply cell, font, alignment, border, and fill formatting to improve worksheet readability
• Apply appropriate number formats, including currency, accounting, percentage, date, and decimal formats
• Adjust column widths and row heights and insert or delete rows and columns
• Create, rename, move, copy, color-code, and navigate worksheets
• Use worksheet views and prepare a worksheet for printing or PDF distribution

Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 Level 2 Working with Data:

• Sort and filter datasets using multiple fields, custom criteria, and table filters
• Create and manage Excel tables, including table names, calculated columns, Total Rows, and structured references
• Use absolute and mixed cell references to control how formulas behave when copied
• Nest functions to perform multi-step calculations and return results based on multiple conditions
• Apply logical and conditional functions, including IF, IFS, COUNTIF, SUMIF, and AVERAGEIF
• Use XLOOKUP to retrieve related information and recognize when VLOOKUP may appear in existing workbooks
• Create and customize PivotTables to summarize, group, filter, and analyze data
• Create PivotCharts and slicers to visualize trends and interactively explore summarized data

Course Format

This class is completely virtual. You will join the Zoom classroom using your own computer from your chosen location. Please DO NOT travel to campus for this class. Demonstrations use the current Microsoft Excel desktop application in Microsoft 365 for Windows. Excel for the web and Excel for Mac may look or behave differently, so participants should use the Windows desktop application during the training.

Equipment Requirements

• Windows computer with the current Microsoft Excel desktop application included with Microsoft 365, a webcam, microphone, and high-speed internet. The version of Excel must be 2021 or later.
• Two monitors are strongly recommended. One large, high-resolution screen that can display Zoom and Excel at the same time is an acceptable alternative
• Before class, sign in to a licensed Microsoft 365 account, install available Microsoft 365 and Zoom updates, and confirm that Excel opens correctly

Required Materials

Zoom access information and Excel practice files will be emailed several days before the class. Before class, download and extract the files, open them in the Excel desktop application, and confirm that you can save changes. Do not rely on Excel for the web for hands-on activities. Print the participant activity guide if you prefer to follow the instructions on paper.

Total Hours 

• Level 1 or Level 2: 4 hours
• Level 1 and Level 2: 8 Hours

Credential(s) Awarded

Upon completion, you'll be awarded a digital badge from Credly to verify your new professional skills and share on social media. You'll also earn a Certificate of Completion that you can download and print from the Credly platform. For HR professionals, each 4-hour course provides 3.5 professional development credits for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP.

Instructor:

David Clisbee