Introduction to Data Analysis using Microsoft Excel Course Syllabus

Overview: This guided project offers a hands-on introduction to data analysis using Microsoft Excel, completed entirely in-browser within two hours. You'll work with real-world sales data to learn essential Excel functions and tools. The split-screen interface allows you to follow step-by-step instructions while applying techniques directly in Excel Online via Office 365. No software installation is required. By the end, you'll have practical experience organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data—skills directly applicable in business, finance, and analytics roles.

Module 1: Introduction to Data Analysis using Microsoft Excel

Estimated time: 2 hours

• Upload and explore sales data using Microsoft Office 365 and Excel
• Use sorting and filtering to reorganize datasets
• Apply functions like IF and VLOOKUP to generate new insights
• Create PivotTables and charts to summarize and analyze data

Module 2: Hands-on Data Manipulation in Excel

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Work in a browser-based, split-screen environment
• Import and navigate a real-world sales dataset
• Apply basic formatting and data cleanup techniques

Module 3: Sorting and Filtering for Data Exploration

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Sort data by single and multiple columns
• Use filters to isolate specific data segments
• Identify trends and outliers in sales data

Module 4: Applying Excel Functions for Insights

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Use the IF function to categorize data
• Apply VLOOKUP to merge related datasets
• Generate new analytical fields from raw data

Module 5: Summarizing Data with PivotTables and Charts

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Create PivotTables to aggregate sales data
• Group and summarize data by categories such as region and product
• Visualize results using Excel charts

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Upload a sales dataset into Excel Online
• Apply sorting, filtering, and functions to clean and enrich data
• Build a PivotTable and chart to present key business insights

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic spreadsheet navigation
• Experience with opening and saving files in Excel
• Basic understanding of rows, columns, and cells

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Upload and explore real-world datasets in Excel
• Sort and filter data to identify key information
• Use IF and VLOOKUP functions to derive new insights
• Create PivotTables to summarize and analyze data
• Produce charts to visually communicate findings